Is there any point in buying a next gen video card?

[imported_lev]

Hi,

I have a 9800 pro and it suits me more than fine. I use it for everyday stuff like watching movies, surfing the net and gaming. I play both old and new games. We're talking commander keen to unreal tournament to far cry. They all play great. Far cry looks and feels awesome. My processor is respectable for my purposes, a 2500+ barton.

Even now there are no games really pushing my 9800pro back. All the games I've ever played with it look great and run silky smooth. But there is no game using extensive shaders or lighting effects that really push my present card back. So is there really a point to upgrading or building another system to house a next gen vid card?

The cards seem great from the demos. But that's all they are, demos. There is no practical application for the next gen cards. And unless the vid card companies can teach the gaming industry to build games for the upper crust of hardware, why would anyone ever buy a just-came-out vid card at a premium?

When a console comes out redefining graphics and displays, it comes out with a fleet of must-have-ems. Why is the pc vid card industry any different?

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[Genx87]

Really depends I guess. Far Cry is the only game so far that has taxed my system to the max. This means I get frames below 20 fps in some scenes at 1600X1200. I have a feeling games like Doom3 and HL2 will push it over the edge and force me to use a lower res. At that point it will be time for me to upgrade. After playing at 1600X1200 I dont want to go back.

 

[skace]

It would be wise to hang onto your 9800 Pro for now. Do not buy a card until YOU yourself have a game that you really want to play but are unable to do so.

 

[Corporate Thug]

i would say yes if you want to run farcry @ high Resolution and high detail (also future games like STALKER, etc...)

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: skace
It would be wise to hang onto your 9800 Pro for now. Do not buy a card until YOU yourself have a game that you really want to play but are unable to do so.

This is really sound advice. it's all about what you play and if you are satisfied with the results. If you are happy with the IQ and FPS of your 9800 Pro in Farcry, then there is no reason for you to upgrade at this time. Put your money aside for when you do buy a game that does require more for you to enjoy it. The longer you wait, the less you will spend on better hardware. Unless something drastically changes, this rule will hold true for a long time.

When a console comes out redefining graphics and displays, it comes out with a fleet of must-have-ems. Why is the pc vid card industry any different?

The reason for this is that the console is an entire platform, and the console manufacturers work with game developers to make sure that the titles are there when the console is released to ensure that people will buy the console. The video card market is much more of a "if you build it, they will come" market in that the market has to be saturated with cards at a given level before developers will make games for that level. Developers want to sell their game and they know that the vast majority of people are not going to spend +$200 for a video card, so they develop with that in mind.

 

[Cuular]

As noted above, if you are happy with the games you play, at the resolution you play them at, don't upgrade.

I play games at 1600X1200, and a few of the games I play often dip below 30fps at 1600X1200. So I bought an X800 XT PE. And I expect that the low point of anygame I play now will be in the 40fps range. Which for RPG's and such that I spend most my time on, I'm happy with.