Is it a bad time to buy a GTX?

[Sinnerx96]

I plan on ordering my new system very soon. This will be my first build. I'm going with a Q6600, an Abit IP35 Pro, and probably 2X1gb of DDR2 1066 Ram. I have a Samsung 226BW S-Panel with a res of 1680x1050. I plan on getting more into PC gaming. FPS's, and Action games. And I want to be able to play the new games when they come out.

I have everything decided on but the GPU. The GTX was my first choice, but it's SO expensive for such an old part. And the new cards are right around the corner. Should I just get a 1950XT, or GTS 640 for now while I wait for the newer cards? Or is it still a safe bet to get a GTX? I've also been hearing about latest drivers increasing the performance of the 2900XT's, but I'm not sure about that.

Any suggestions? What's the word on the best choices for this point in time?

Thanks guys.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Depending on what you are playing right now, the x1950xt that's on sale wouldn't be a bad choice at all. I'm still on an x19xtx and everything (for the most part) plays fine at 16x12. A GTS (even a 320mb) would help with games like Oblivion though.

I would look for that XT that's on sale or a $250-ish GTS 320mb. I wouldn't get a GTX until October or so. And I would make sure it was an evga so I could do the step-up in Nov/Dec... granted, all of that is dependant on nV's new line coming out at that time which isn't official. I'm not a big fan of the step-up, but in that case, it would work out.

Grab either the XT or a GTS320 and you'll be fine for a little while. Crysis coming in November would probably be a good time for a GPU upgrade to the next gen if they arrive by then.

 

[JustaGeek]

I would just get a cheapest possible VC and wait for the 9800.

Even $200 is too much if you are to upgrade in 3 months, IMHO.

 

[JPB]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102067

 

[Sinnerx96]

Thanks a lot guys.

The games I'll be playing are games like HL2, Stalker, Fear, Far Cry, Splinter Cell Series, Hitman series, UT, etc. Games like that. Action and FPS's. The new games that are coming out soon are really interesting me also, and I'm looking forward to them. Like Crysis.

I've mostly been a Xbox guy in the past. I want to get into PC gaming. I have a Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb card now.

This seams like a very awkward time to buy a video card. But I'll need to buy one regardless, as I'm building my new pc within a few weeks tops and I can't re-use my AGP 9800. This is tough decision. Would a GTS 320mb or 1950XT hold me over for a while with the new games, until the next gen cards come down in price a bit? If so, I'll just do that.

I don't know how much the next gen cards will sell for at first, but I don't think I'd be willing to spend more than $500 or so on a new card. So this would have to hold me over until the next gen cards come down to around that price.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Gophermofur]

I'd say you can probably get away with an X1950 for the time being. I doubt the new vid card launch will have mid range cards right off the bat (mid range = GTS type card). It will probably be quite similar in price to the GTX when the 8xxx series cards were launched 8xxx series. On the bright side, that means all the 8xxx series cards will drop in price!

But you shouldn't have any problem picking up a solid card for $500. Either a mid-range 9xxx series cards, or a top-end 8xxx series card. If you playing Bioshock with your DX9 card as soon as it's launched, you may miss out on a few DX10 elements here and there, but I doubt it'll make that much of a difference.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

A GTS 320mb will probably hold you over at your resolution, at least with those games you mentioned. Rumor has it that new nV cards may hit the channel in November. Conveniently, so does Crysis. At that time, the GTX will drop in price to the $350ish range, I'm guessing. The new top-end cards should be a little over $500 like usual. The GTS 320 should keep some resale value in the $200 range, so your upgrade costs might be around $300 at that time.

The main idea is to see how your GTS handles Crysis (and other new games that should be out by then). And then upgrade if needed.

 

[defiantsf]

I'd buy a card that you could live with long term just in case. GTS or GTX now or in 2-3 weeks time would be safer, and take a chance on the EVGA step-up program? November is 90 days from now. Each additional day now increases the chance of step-up availability to the next Nvidia gpu.

 

[woolfe9999]

I'm in s similar situation (setting up a rig at 1600 rez), and I picked up a BFG 8800 GTS 320 (factory OCed) at Fryes for $274 (open box). My plan is to wait a few months until I can get a second one for under $200 and set up SLI. Then I'll grab a flagship GF9 in a little over a year, when those have come way down.

It is indeed an awkward time to get a good gaming card right now in part because the lack of real competition from AMD has kept the GF8 prices high, and all indications are that we'll be seeing a new generation from Nvidia relatively soon.

- woolfe