Trying to do both image gen and video gen, how do you pick a single card? The VRAM gap between Flux and Hunyuan Video is way too big.

The Forge / 工坊
1

I mainly cut short videos, and lately I’ve been thinking about generating some AI video assets locally, plus running some image gens on the side. So I was figuring one card could handle both. Then I read a comparison and realized the VRAM requirements for images vs video are on completely different levels. For Flux image gen, a 5080 with 16GB can manage with FP8.

But for stuff like Hunyuan Video, 24GB is the bare minimum, and 32GB is where it actually feels comfortable. The article’s compromise pick was the 4090—it can handle both without feeling like a huge sacrifice. My own experience is pretty similar—video is a real VRAM hog, especially when you crank up the resolution or add control, the card just dies.

If you’re on a budget and want to cover both use cases, you really have to buy based on the more demanding task. Pure image gen folks shouldn’t have to pay the video tax. I’m wondering—is a used 4090 still worth grabbing now, or should I wait for the next gen cards?

2

Everyone who runs it knows how much VRAM video generation eats.

3

Honestly, if you’re just generating images, there’s really no need to get a big GPU.

4

Honestly, the 4090 is still the safest all-rounder right now.

5

“32G is the sweet spot” — that hits way too close to home.

6

The secondhand price is kinda awkward right now, gonna wait a bit longer.

7

FP8 saves VRAM but there’s some quality loss.

8

Real talk