Should I upgrade now? or should I wait?

EaglePerception

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Apr 3, 2013
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I have a question about upgrading my system, I built this computer on a budget over two years and a half years ago. For the beef of my system I have an AMD FX 8350, and an AMD Radeon HD 7870, I am by no means an AMD lover, I simply went with them at the time because they offered the best bang for the buck. My question basically revolves around whether or not I should upgrade my computer now or later. I have been keeping up with the latest release dates for new tech as well as their specs, and it would seem that AMD has some new stuff rolling out somewhere around Q2 2016. As for Nvidia they have cards lined up for 2017, and Intel just released their 6000 series so I presume we won't see a new generation within the next year, if anything it would be late next year. Now I want to upgrade, but with the information surrounding AMD's new processors (Zen) and their new graphics cards (Greenland) I am curious if I should hold off to see what those have to offer exactly. I know that most people don't expect Zen to outperform Intel's biggest guns, and I think that might be an honest stretch myself, being that they are redesigning their architecture entirely on a new socket (AM4), utilizing SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading), which is the principle Intel uses on their processors referred to as HyperThreading. So their is a lot of new ground for AMD to walk on, and when it comes to making that first step it usually isn't the best stride. As for what AMD has to offer in regards to their GPUs I am certainly very eager to see what they have to offer. Further pushing the limits of technology their Greenland cards will use 14nm technology, increasing performance, lowering heat, increasing available real estate, and having on-board memory capacities of 16/32 GB? It sounds like it really could be something worth waiting for, I am just curious what you guys think, and if you guys have any input. Thanks in advance! :)
Links (GPU): http://wccftech.com/amd-greenland-14nm-production-q2-2016/
CPU: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/amds-am4-platform-may-launch-soon-march-2016/
Tl;dr Have an old gaming rig, looking to upgrade, should I wait for AMD's new CPU's and GPU's
 
Dec 23, 2015
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It really depends on your budget and if you are ready to wait till the ZEN and Greenland arrive. I would suggest you go for a medium end High VFM GPU for now, so you can save on some cash and get the boost in performance as well.
Once the new chips start coming out, you can buy them when you see fit.
Honestly, once you get the urge to upgrade, its really difficult to calm it down :D , I have been there!
 

EaglePerception

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Well I would love to upgrade yes, my 7870 is not enough to play the latest titles, but it's a matter of would waiting be more cost effective, and beneficial in the long run. I don't want to get stuck in that 2003~2004 era when I bought an AGP mobo 6 months before the release of pci-e. I am curious if you think the new technology is going to be groundbreaking, leaps ahead of the competition to warrant the wait.
 

EaglePerception

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Haha, I totally feel you on that one, I just would really like to be able to enjoy some of the latest games I have come to own, Fallout 4, Witcher 3, GTA 5, in their true glory, but I don't want to waste say $650 for Nvidias flagship and then just watch it get toppled by AMD in 6 months or so
 

EaglePerception

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Apr 3, 2013
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So then you think the 980ti isn't worth the price?
 

EaglePerception

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Yeah I saw that, I was so surprised that the 6700 literally DOUBLES the performance of my 8350, that's just disgusting
 
Dec 23, 2015
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Most of the time, GPU is the predominant one that decides how the games run and the CPU doesn't really make a difference unless the game is very CPU intensive like Planetside 2 :) , else the games should run fine. Thats the whole point of inexpensive GPU's like the NVIDIA 750ti to even exist.
 


Yep all a matter of core IPC performance, 4years ago Intel was ahead by 10-20% now they are 40+%.