How do I compare quality of a video card by seeing 256MB or 512MB?

I am getting a new video card. Before I am using a onboard video card. I use 19" LCD monitor. And how does this relate to the video card..256MB or whatever? I kind of play 3D games.|||As lanks said 256mb & 512 mb refers to onboard memory of the video card. Just like RAM on your PC the higher the number the better the memory/performance. Some of the newer video games require more memory than others & in the future they will require even more. Some video cards offer certain cards in both 256MB & 512MB. The answer to your question is you will see the differance in quality by how good the graphics are & how smooth the game runs on the top end games. Hope this helps you!|||256 mb or 512 mb is related tour memory ram. The higher the mb the faster the speed. It has no relation to your video card. So u should not have problem with your video card|||well the 512 mb card is definitely better than 256mb one as far as the memory part is concerned..but u should also consider the chipset of the card with the memory.....coz it is the chipset that utilizes the memory...better chipset better performance..

for example..

geforce fx 5200 128 mb and its 256mb is not too difff coz the 5200 chipst doesnt have the capability to fully utilize the extra 128 mb..it was designed for 128 mb..

but a higher chipset like 6200/6600 is good for 256 mb

and 6800gt/7000+ series is good for 512 mb...

and so on..