Hello to All
            I recently purchased a GT-240 1gb DDR5 card for this computer. This card has proven to be a great improvement over the GForce 6800 that it replaced. The 6800 was the original video card from Dell. I've been using this Dell 4700 for 5 year's and it works perfectly (only because I KEEP IT working that way) with ALL programs, including several flight simulators; Flight Simulator 2004, FSX, Combat Flight Simulator 2 and 3 and several other games, many of which have some steep operating requirements, ALL with better than average frame rates. NOW....everything simply LOOK'S better. I'm using it with the 258.96 driver.
             I've scoured the internet reading different forums and articles regarding not only the GT240 but the use of 1gb of VRAM on a video card. Finally, I decided that THIS forum would be the BEST place to ask my questions. There are several comments in other forums, etc. saying that the GT240 is simply NOT capable of fully utilizing 1gb of memory and that the 500mb version is "the way to go". Are people saying this because the card is NOT capable of PROVIDING ANY BENEFIT AT ALL with a GB of RAM?.....is it just a marketing ploy? I have no intentions of taking it out......it simply works to well......but I WOULD at least like to THINK that I made the RIGHT choice from a technical point of view and for what some people have been calling "future proofing". I've read that video card's with a lot of VRAM are needed for operating at high resolutions (which I am NOT using). Actually, I'm using the original CRT monitor that came with my first DELL 10 year's ago....a 19" flat screen Sony Trinitron.....but I DO plan to get a 24" LCD monitor as soon as I decide on which one. As far as resolution is concerned I'm only using 800X600 and the 240 has even made THAT resolution look better. I WILL, however, be using higher resolutions with the NEW monitor. I know that the new LCD monitors use a 16:9 aspect ratio and that was ANOTHER reason I wanted a new card. I'm using XP Home Edition, a 160gb hard drive and 4gb of RAM. XP will be supported by Microsoft until 2014 so I'm not losing any sleep over it. If this computer was a constant source of headaches it simply wouldn't be here......but it's not. Yes, I could have replaced the 305 watt power supply and used almost any other video card out there......I literally just didn't feel like doing it and cost was NOT an issue. The power supply requirements of the 240 were obviously a big selling point for me, not to mention the fact that it's simply a modern card. 
             In light of the reviews and comments that I referred to I would like to know what ADVANTAGES the 1GB version of this card has (in what condition's/circumstances) when compared to the 500MB version?
             I would GREATLY appreciate ANY and ALL replies to this post and I'm sure A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WILL AS WELL.   
                  
                                    Thank You Very Much,   RADIOHAM
 
  
 
        

Hi CraptacularOne
                      Thanks for your little explaination. I've ADDED one other question at the end of the post (about the ADVANTAGES) that I would like your response to.
                                       Thank You,  Radioham 

     I've been reading additional articles on other sites (mainly Tom's Hardware) since I started this post and and I'm finding out that (no surprise here) all of your comments are absolutely correct.
     Having said that, I'm just wondering if YOU feel that there are OTHER popular video card's (not just the EVGA GT-240 1gb DDR5) that are offered and being used that have more VRAM than they ARE EVEN CAPABLE OF USING not to mention the fact that they never would anyway.  I just don't want to feel that I'M the ONLY one who's driving a Corvette with a Volkswagon engine. It's the PRINCIPLE that really bother's me......it's not as though were dealing with high cost items here. 
                                  Thanks Again CraptacularOne
 
 
 

Just one other question that I can think of as we have pretty much discussed this to pieces already. In one of your earlier comments you mentioned that I could have have just bought the GT 240 500mb version. In the not to distant future I will, indeed, be using a new LCD monitor, I just don't know which one yet. At that point I will obviously be using higher resolutions. Is it POSSIBLE that when I AM using the higher resolutions with THIS card (1GB) I could actually find myself playing a game that the 500MB version would POSSIBLY have a problem with? This card has 1GB of vram on it but IN REALITY even IF it is just CAPABLE of using, 600 to 800 or 900 mb of vram woudln't THAT be an advantage over the 500mb version?  
                              HUMOR ME!!!   LOL

Thanks for ALL of your responses. I guess I can rationalize and say that I have the most powerful card I could get to use with a 305 watt power supply.....which WAS the critical factor. I just don't feel like changing it. In regard to VRAM....HEY.....I've got some HEAD ROOM!! LOL. I'm sure a lot of people will find your responses very informative and helpful.
                                      Thanks Again,  RADIOHAM   

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