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Should I buy a new video card or should I wait?

spittledip

Diamond Member
The XFX 4870 is so cheap at Newegg right now- just 144. It would be either between that and a 260 core 216, but those are too expensive as they run about the same as a 4870 1 GB.

I currently have a 2900 pro (512 bit) which suits my purposes good enough I suppose, but i do get some little hickups from time to time and would appreciate a completely smooth playing experience. How much cheaper do you think the 4870 will get? Should I just wait until the next generation this fall, or will the prices stabilize and the product disappear, or is there some other reason I should wait?

Current CPU is a q9550 @ 3.1, so no worry about bottlenecks in that dept. The resolution I use varies from game to game.

Thanks
 
I'd personally wait but if you can sell the 2900pro to offset some of the cost then it would be a good idea.
 
The HD 5000 series is coming real soon, apparently AT already has their hands on at least one card atm. I read that september 10th was a possible launch date, which is close enough for me to wait 'til then at the very least. Even better if you could wait to see how NVIDIA stacks up with their new cards but that could possibly be a little while longer.
 
I'd wait for the next-gen ATi cards to show up - should be pretty soon, as TC91 said.
 
I'm not a big fan of the indefinite waiting game, but because the launch is likely to be within a month, I'd wait too.
 
If your card is still playing fairly well, there may not be a point in upgrading.

However, I just sold my 8800GTS and upgraded to 4890 OC. The total cash outlay was very low considering 4890s sell for amazing prices right now.

MSI Cyclone 4890 OC - $144

Sell your 2900Pro for $75 and you are looking at $70 upgrade for 2x the performance.

 
I would wait as well, but only because the prices on current cards will drop once ATI's next gen comes out. Prices are dirt cheap right now as it is, and they will only fall further once the HD 5000 series is out.

I would wait until prices drop, pick up a cheap 4890 and then upgrade in a year once the prices of the next gen ATI and Nvidia cards have fallen a bit. No sense is paying $200 or $300+ for a HD 5000 series card at launch when they'll be a lot cheaper in a year.
 
Originally posted by: Bateluer
I'm not a big fan of the indefinite waiting game, but because the launch is likely to be within a month, I'd wait too.

Launch date is probably over a month away. That September 10th date is a press event.
 
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