How does Vid Card memory interface (128-256 bit) affect performance?

Exactly what I was looking for, Rayvin, thanks. For my purposes would you recommend a less expensive card then?camzaman

Anything else you're planning on using the computer fo besides Creative Suite? Movies? Games?

Also, are you running dual monitors? 

I was thinking of a 7900GS or 8600GS for some limited games, but I decided I won't be gaming because I don't have time. Probably just for Creative Suite and video, not 2 monitors (but maybe if those cards aren't much more). camzaman

Assuming you have a PCI-e slot, the 8600GT would be a prety good buy if you're big into movies and are considering a dual-monitor setup. If not, just about any card will be sufficient for your needs though. Something passively cooled might be nice if you're into a quiet machine.

Get a evga 7600 GT. Like this one.

It is one of the best budget cards on the market right now. You will run newer games quite nicely with it.

Also, resolution heavy (2D) graphics editing like to eat RAM. Through an extra gig of ram, and get the 7600 GT, and you will have quite a nice machine, for gaming, and graphics editing.

Also also (lol :P) you can get the cheapest possible RAM here. I have a stick of that in there, along with 2 other 512MB modules, and they work beautifully. 

Photo and video editing will both put additional VRAM to work, so a 512 MB card works for that, even on a mid-range card like a 7600, which normally (in games) cannot use more than 256 MBs because of its 128 Bit memory system. Kiwi_1

for me, i have an IGP 340M so getting my 7600GT will greatly enhance my performance in C4D, PSCS2, and PSCS3...

but if you go from say a radeon 9600 or 9600 mobility to a 7600GT, then the performance increase will be hardly noticeable... except in things like C4D and movies and games, etc.

Now, MBs mean nothing. Dont be a GPU noob and think of the MBs. If something like the IGP 340M had say 512 MB, then it would be the same because the extra, unneeded MB would do nothing. so for the 7600GS with 256 MB, if you get a 512 MB version, there will be virtually no difference between the 256MB. The radeon HD on the other hand with 320 pipelines, needs lots of MB to support it...

[QUOTE="Kiwi_1"]Photo and video editing will both put additional VRAM to work, so a 512 MB card works for that, even on a mid-range card like a 7600, which normally (in games) cannot use more than 256 MBs because of its 128 Bit memory system. JN_Fenrir

Indeed. Those programs use the system memory to store the image. The GPU has nothing to do with that.