Should I get a mid-range card now and upgrade in a few years or get a high-range card and upgrade later on?

BarbleBapkinsPI · Apr 7, 2016

So right now I don't have any graphics card and I'm playing using integrated graphics (Intel hd 530).

I currently have a 1080p monitor, but I intend to upgrade to a 1440p or 4k soon. I have enough money saved up to get an R9 390/ 290x or a GTX 970, and will have enough for a 980ti before the end of summer. However I don't know if I should go ahead and get a cheaper graphics card now or wait and get a 980ti or possibly a Polaris card during the summer.

Here are my specs:
CPU: Intel Core i5-6600k
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 evo
MoBo: MSI z170 gaming m5
RAM: Corsair vengeance 16 GB (2x8GB)
PSU: Corsair hx1000i
Case: Cooler Master Master Case 5 Pro
Storage: 256 GB ssd and 1 TB hdd

Thank you for any advice you have to offer!

brynlds · Apr 7, 2016

I would buy one the ones you mentioned, then wait for the new cards coming out later this year, the polaris or pascal gpus... If they are priced so high you cant afford one, the high end cards of now prices will drop..

The biggest decision you'll make is the monitor, that will dictate what your going to need.. I'm trying to decide myself...

I'm running an I5-6600k with sapphire nitro fury, and I would like a 4k monitor for future proofing, but I dont want to lose so much performance that games become unplayable right now. That leads me to a decision of a 4k monitor and turning settings down, or 1440 monitor and be able to turn settings up and the 4k be acceptable in a couple years and a 1440p not so much..

smorizio · Apr 7, 2016

the new nviida pascal paper launch was a day or so ago. if you watch nvidia web spech the pascal gpu not going to be around for a long time before it replaced with volta.
http://wccftech.com/nvidia-pascal-nvlink-200-gbs-interconnect-hbm2-stacked-memory-1-tbs-bandwidth-powering-hpc-2016/
i would buy your gpu and monitor at the same time if you can wait for black friday or one of those large discount sales. like back to school in sept. your better off going wiht the new gpu pascal pr amd and then when the card fails out of warranty then replace it.

PNWGUY · Apr 7, 2016

You buy a graphics card based off the needs. If you are going to game at only 1080p there is zero reason to go above a 970. If you are gaming at 4k there is zero reason to get a 970.

So put it this way.

1440p and max settings @144hz - 980 ti.
1440p and mid settings @ 144hz - 970
1080p max settings @ 144hz - 970
4k @ 60hz 980ti/SLI

Once you go 4k you will need the vram from the 980ti.

If you only game at 1080, you will not even notice a difference between a 980 ti and 970.

970 and 980 ti difference shows up at 1440p @ 100hz/144hz/165hz. Which mind you, those are $500-$1300 monitors. G-Sync (Nvidia) adds about $100-$200 compared to free-sync (AMD/ATI)

jerdle · Apr 7, 2016

R9 390 + 1440p + Freesync = plenty to tide you over for awhile

or throw in the money saved from not shelling out for g sync and make it a 390X

brynlds · Apr 8, 2016

I'm running an Sapphire nitro fury and decided on a Crossover 32s its 32" 2560x1440 with freesync.. I'm currently running a 29" 2560x1080..

I was afraid to go up to a 4k monitor and not be able to power the monitor good enough without having to run in different resolutions and such.. I've been told 1440p is what the Fury is made for... The pixel density from 1440p to 4k is what mostly concerned me, there is a huge difference, like 2 1/2 times as much pixels in a 4k monitor, that means you would be powering roughly 2 1/2 1440 monitors..

Until later this year when pascal or polaris release I think the sweet spot is 1440p for current higher end and high end gpu's.

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Should I get a mid-range card now and upgrade in a few years or get a high-range card and upgrade later on?

BarbleBapkinsPI

Commendable

smorizio

brynlds

Commendable

smorizio

Titan

PNWGUY

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jerdle

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brynlds

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