Graphics for the future

[claptrap]

Well, right now my system... im well pleased with it.

But theres one thing in my PC im not too sure with at the moment and thats my ATI 9800 XT 256 mb card

ive had this card for 2 to 3 years now, it's been fun I tell yeah, back when Call Of Duty and Half-Life 2 were the rage at the time.

but now these games, like Crysis (hope you are all well aware) the new FarCry engine coming out and whatnot, that will support the DirectX 10 feature.

now my question for all of you out there who have jobs and all, which im getting one next monday. But the saying is those who play a lot of games on the PC upgrade their graphics card every 8 months or so, estimate.

my question to you all is to wait for a new card that will support a DirectX10
or get one of these beastly new ATI or the 7900 GTZ 512MB
i make like 200 bucks every two weeks. So what should i go for? or wait?

[WildLegba]

Re: Graphics for the future

Well, right now my system... im well pleased with it.

But theres one thing in my PC im not too sure with at the moment and thats my ATI 9800 XT 256 mb card

ive had this card for 2 to 3 years now, it's been fun I tell yeah, back when Call Of Duty and Half-Life 2 were the rage at the time.

but now these games, like Crysis (hope you are all well aware) the new FarCry engine coming out and whatnot, that will support the DirectX 10 feature.

now my question for all of you out there who have jobs and all, which im getting one next monday. But the saying is those who play a lot of games on the PC upgrade their graphics card every 8 months or so, estimate.

my question to you all is to wait for a new card that will support a DirectX10
or get one of these beastly new ATI or the 7900 GTZ 512MB
i make like 200 bucks every two weeks. So what should i go for? or wait?

The latest generation are incremental updates. Nothing of any real importance or import. Re: the 7900 releases, that is basically a marketshare/margin play. The price came down, nVidia's fab costs came down, and they stayed in the game. They are looking to scoop as much margin as possible before the next architecturally significant realease, IMHO.

If I were you I would wait, wait, wait until I could not wait any longer. Those who buy early lose, unless they have money to burn.

How much faster is a 7900 series card than a 7800 series card? Not much. Yes, it is faster, but as soon as it hit the market the 7800 became a good deal second hand.

We are at the tail end of one architecture and the beginning, come mid-06, of the next generation. I may not be earthshattering, it may not even be that much of an improvement, but the longer you can wait to buy in the better off you will be.

I love telling this tory, which is obvious although somewhat illustrative:

In 1994 I spend $5,800 on a Macinosh 9500 and a 32 mb Ram chip. The chip alone was $1,300.

About 6 months ago I put the same system, in fact upgraded with a bigger HD and more ram and a processor upgrade card, on the sidewalk for anyone to take. I could have gotten some moolah for it on eBay, but the hassle would not have been worth it.

The longer you wait, the better off you will be. Anything sooner than "way later" is function of what you need now either for business or because you are an early adopter with poor impulse control. :)

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Graphics for the future

How much faster is a 7900 series card than a 7800 series card? Not much. Yes, it is faster, but as soon as it hit the market the 7800 became a good deal second hand.

Quite alot actually.

Anyhow, you'd be better off waiting for DX10 cards.

[ataxy]

Re: Graphics for the future

definitly wait for the dx10 card the current crop of card will all have a hard time with dx10 i think