Mid-low end GPU to hold over 20nm GPU or high end now?

[Exodus]

Hi everyone.

I managed to save up a decent amount for my next rig but I'm a bit worried to buy a high end GPU now for example, a r9 290 when the next gen of GPU are so near. I'm scared of seeing my 400$ GPU get crushed by low end newer GPU.

But I can't wait until fall. I want to buy my rig around this summer. So what I have tougth was either get a low end card to save up money and get a high end card when the 20nm GPU will be available or get a mid end card make SLI/CFX setup since the 28nm will most likely drop.

But I rather not make a dual GPU setup since I wanted to make a quiet rig and I'm worried about the temps I could get.

What do you guts think I should do and why?

Have a great day and vote on the poll even if you post in the thread so I can get a better idea how who voted or not.

 

[the54thvoid]

I see many people ask this but they always miss out the important thing - what resolution will you be using? If on 1080p you could easily make do with a R9 280x (aka 7970). Even an GTX 680 will suffice for now easily. You could also comfortably go for a GTX 670 or a R9 270/270X. If you're on 1440p or above, I'd suggest R9 290, 290x, 780 or 780Ti. I wouldn't bother with crossfire or sli.

Whatever happens, I think next gen won't be that awesome.

 

[Exodus]

I see many people ask this but they always miss out the important thing - what resolution will you be using? If on 1080p you could easily make do with a R9 280x (aka 7970). Even an GTX 680 will suffice for now easily. You could also comfortably go for a GTX 670 or a R9 270/270X. If you're on 1440p or above, I'd suggest R9 290, 290x, 780 or 780Ti. I wouldn't bother with crossfire or sli.

Whatever happens, I think next gen won't be that awesome.

Thanks for answering and is it your rig in your profile pic? It looks awesome man nice job.
I will be playing on 1080p 120hz monitor. If I want to make good use of that monitor what would you suggest?

 

[LaytonJnr]

Thanks for answering and is it your rig in your profile pic? It looks awesome man nice job.
I will be playing on 1080p 120hz monitor. If I want to make good use of that monitor what would you suggest?

For 1080p performance, you're looking at R9 270x or GTX 760 for decent performance at 1080p, and an R9 280x or GTX 770 for the maximum performance (but perhaps the card having some redundant periods when not during intensive gaming sessions). I personally own an R9 270x, and it provides excellent performance for my needs on my 1080p monitor, and I rarely have to turn down my settings from the max configuration. But if you're wanting to have up to 120FPS to make use of that 120Hz monitor, you might as well look at the higher options in my second set of suggestions, if not higher.

Layton

 

[Exodus]

For 1080p performance, you're looking at R9 270x or GTX 760 for decent performance at 1080p, and an R9 280x or GTX 770 for the maximum performance (but perhaps the card having some redundant periods when not during intensive gaming sessions). I personally own an R9 270x, and it provides excellent performance for my needs on my 1080p monitor, and I rarely have to turn down my settings from the max configuration. But if you're wanting to have up to 120FPS to make use of that 120Hz monitor, you might as well look at the higher options in my second set of suggestions, if not higher.

Layton

My problem here is not really about choosing the GPU, I'm wondering if I should wait for the next gen, because I'm scared I could get the same performances with a lower end GPU.

 

[LaytonJnr]

My problem here is not really about choosing the GPU, I'm wondering if I should wait for the next gen, because I'm scared I could get the same performances with a lower end GPU.

I should have mentioned that these are my suggestions generally because I think there won't be huge performance increases in next gen cards, and quite a lot of what GPU manufacturers are increasingly trying to do is get the same or better performance on a smaller die with a lower power consumption. From what I can see from trends, it seems the closest next gen cards that are almost around the corner are more oriented towards the top end of the performance spectrum (i.e. GTX 880), so perhaps less important for 1080p resolutions. Just my opinion of course.

Layton

 

[johnspack]

You never need the absolute high end card. Mostly it's bragging rights. I'd love 2 780Tis, but fact of the matter is 2 770s would do me for quite awhile. Titans.... god what a waste. Same thing with r series, get what you can afford, crossfire 2 later on when you need to. Upgrade when you have to.

 

[Vario]

Buy something in the $250 to 350 range, R9 280x or 770. Maybe a 290 if you see one on sale.
It usually makes more sense to just buy a card in this range every 3-4 years instead of a $600 card now.

 

[Exodus]

Buy something in the $250 to 350 range, R9 280x or 770. Maybe a 290 if you see one on sale.
It usually makes more sense to just buy a card in this range every 3-4 years instead of a $600 card now.

Will it be enough to run games at 120hz? If its not the case and have to have to get a higher end card, shouldn't I wait for the next gen since card with lower prices will still perform as great as the higher end cards? Like today a gtx 770 performs pretty much the same than a 680.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

I should have mentioned that these are my suggestions generally because I think there won't be huge performance increases in next gen cards, and quite a lot of what GPU manufacturers are increasingly trying to do is get the same or better performance on a smaller die with a lower power consumption. From what I can see from trends, it seems the closest next gen cards that are almost around the corner are more oriented towards the top end of the performance spectrum (i.e. GTX 880), so perhaps less important for 1080p resolutions. Just my opinion of course.

+1

 

[64K]

Will it be enough to run games at 120hz? If its not the case and have to have to get a higher end card, shouldn't I wait for the next gen since card with lower prices will still perform as great as the higher end cards? Like today a gtx 770 performs pretty much the same than a 680.

The GTX 770 is the Kepler refresh of the GTX 680. It performs better than a 680 but it's still a Kepler. The Maxwell GTX 87/880 will come some time around the end of the year or possibly a little sooner. That will be based on the new Nvidia architecture and a good bit more efficient which leaves the ability to increase performance while maintaining the same TDP but it will still be on the 28nm process..

After that comes the big guns when 20nm Maxwell comes. I can only guess but maybe 1 to 1 1/2 years from now. Then you will see the Flagship Maxwell.

 

[Exodus]

The GTX 770 is the Kepler refresh of the GTX 680. It performs better than a 680 but it's still a Kepler. The Maxwell GTX 87/880 will come some time around the end of the year or possibly a little sooner. That will be based on the new Nvidia architecture and a good bit more efficient which leaves the ability to increase performance while maintaining the same TDP but it will still be on the 28nm process..

After that comes the big guns when 20nm Maxwell comes. I can only guess but maybe 1 to 1 1/2 years from now. Then you will see the Flagship Maxwell.

So the GPU that will be coming will just be another refresh of the gtx 6**? I thought that it was the new 20nm that were coming.

 

[64K]

So the GPU that will be coming will just be another refresh of the gtx 6**? I thought that it was the new 20nm that were coming.

No it will not be a refresh. It will be a new architecture (Maxwell) but it will still be on the 28nm process at first.

 

[rtwjunkie]

So the GPU that will be coming will just be another refresh of the gtx 6**? I thought that it was the new 20nm that were coming.

No, 20nm is delayed because of production problems. So the 8 series will just be improved-upon 28nm, with the 20nm set most likely for the 9-series.

 

[Exodus]

Okay then there is no big deal lol. I thought that it was a brand architecture that was coming. Thanks for you help guys. Although crossfire /SLI is still a concern to me. Do you think the cost and the heat augmentation is worth it?

 

[64K]

What happened is that TSMC (where the chips are manufactured) had trouble with the 20nm process so Nvidia had to go back and redesign Maxwell for 28nm. Maxwell is superior to what we have now (Kepler) but it won't be 20nm for a while. The GTX 870/880 will be a good bit more efficient than Kepler so that leaves the potential for a good bit more performance per watt but the 20nm Maxwells which I guesstimate will start rolling out some time around middle of next year will be the big leap in performance that you are probably looking for.

 

[64K]

Okay then there is no big deal lol. I thought that it was a brand architecture that was coming. Thanks for you help guys. Although crossfire /SLI is still a concern to me. Do you think the cost and the heat augmentation is worth it?

It is a new architecture that's coming around the end of the year. It's just not going to be 20nm at first. I think you might be thinking 20nm=New Architecture.

 

[Exodus]

Oh ok lol thanks for correcting me.