Can you tell me which cards are future proof?

SkScotchegg · 7 Oct 2007 at 16:23

Hi there, please can you help me to understand what I need to look for in a graphics card so that it can play the latest games for the next 2-3 years atleast?

I understand that the shadow model is important? is the most recent shader model 3.0? and if so is it going to be like that for a while? Or is 4.0 coming soon?

And is there any other details I need to look for on a card to make sure its future proof appart from shader model?

Please help, because I dont want to spend £250 on a card that only last a couple of months before going out of date, not sure if this is possible like?

SkScotchegg

james.miller · 7 Oct 2007 at 16:29

new cards are released every 6 months or so. in short, nothing is future proof. you simply need to make an (informed) desicision on what to buy and buy it. the last time we saw a card hold its value for as long as the 8800gtx has, was the 9700pro. before that......umm.....

with cards released as quickly as they are, worrying about future proofing will end up with you twiddling your thumbs and sitting n a pile of cash with nothing to show for it

easyrider · 7 Oct 2007 at 16:35

SkScotchegg said:
Please help, because I dont want to spend £250 on a card that only last a couple of months before going out of date,

You cannot escape this.

There is always something new around the corner.

8800GTX is a year old now and thats a long time in GFX cards.

Just get the fastest you can afford at the time of buying.

james.miller · 7 Oct 2007 at 16:40

tis true. though ask here first, 9 times out of 10 we'll know about impending releases that would be worth the wait

LoadsaMoney · 7 Oct 2007 at 17:00

Yeah theres no such thing as future proof, i doubt any card would last 2-3 years, unless you turn the details, AA/AF down, and even then games 3x years away would still probably run like crap on lowest settings on todays cards.

Greebo · 7 Oct 2007 at 19:27

LoadsaMoney said:
Yeah theres no such thing as future proof, i doubt any card would last 2-3 years, unless you turn the details, AA/AF down, and even then games 3x years away would still probably run like crap on lowest settings on todays cards.

I'm quite proud of making my x800xt pe last three and half years. To be fair on my 17" screen it still wasn;t really struggling (turn down AA and af but leave everything else on max) but the lack of shader 3 support finally made me change it.

I think the last 3 years have being kind to pc owners as I have never uprgaded my computer as little as the rest of my life.

So IMO a 8800 GTX will last you another year or two to be sure. However, you should have got one a year ago as with the repalcement jus round the corner in 3-4 months time which is supposedly 2 -3 times faster than a 8800 GTX, that might be the one to buy for it to last the longest.

silversurfer · 7 Oct 2007 at 19:52

gtx will last at least another 3 or 4 years before it stops working with the latest game requirements I reckon.

It all depends what you mean by future proofing because obviously the market will move on.

The 9800pro is about 4 years old, so in the same way 3 years from now the gtx will reach the end of its 'plays anything I like ' period

555BUK · 7 Oct 2007 at 22:19

Never buy the top of the range model. There is normally a "junior" performance model available that gives 85% of the power for 50-60% of the price (example 8800GTX/GTS and 2900XT/Pro). They both generally last the same time before needing retirement.

J.D · 7 Oct 2007 at 22:24

555BUK said:
Never buy the top of the range model. There is normally a "junior" performance model available that gives 85% of the power for 50-60% of the price (example 8800GTX/GTS and 2900XT/Pro). They both generally last the same time before needing retirement.

Anyone who bought the 8800GTX on launch will disagree. I've played my friends system with 8800GTX SLI'd so I'll disagree too. In just under 1 months time the 8800GTX/Ultra will still be the top end card

.

Greebo · 7 Oct 2007 at 22:27

J.D said:
Anyone who bought the 8800GTX on launch will disagree. I've played my friends system with 8800GTX SLI'd so I'll disagree too. In just under 1 months time the 8800GTX/Ultra will still be the top end card .

But in 3 months time it won't

J.D · 7 Oct 2007 at 22:51

Greebo said:
But in 3 months time it won't

Yeah but I said on launch and the GTX has stood solidly since day one so anyone lucky enough to have one early have got a lot for their money and it's not usually the case.

Stellios · 7 Oct 2007 at 22:51

LoadsaMoney said:
Yeah theres no such thing as future proof, i doubt any card would last 2-3 years, unless you turn the details, AA/AF down, and even then games 3x years away would still probably run like crap on lowest settings on todays cards.

My 6800 still does well 3 years on, but it is showing its age. Got an 8800GTS coming tomorrow though

J.D · 7 Oct 2007 at 22:56

Stellios said:
My 6800 still does well 3 years on, but it is showing its age. Got an 8800GTS coming tomorrow though

Hisses and spits at the GTS as I await my 2900Pro

(a joke, to all fanboys who want to stone me to death). Both cards are good, end off

.

Good luck with your new card. It's a mighty upgrade!!!. I get mine on Tuesday.

thefishdude · 7 Oct 2007 at 22:58

i think it depends on what sort of system you using if you running realy high end with huge monitor and large resolutiuons then you more likely going to need new gfx sooner. i have a x1950 pro that i got at launcnh end of last year. i only run a 17inch lcd at 1280x1024 and it can run all games aroudn at the moment easy. it shodl be good for another 6-12 months and was only a £120 card.

how ever if i was running larger screen with higher res i would need to think about changing soonish

LabR@t · 7 Oct 2007 at 23:01

my x1800xt 512 is begging to be pulled out but was gonna get 8800 last week but what with all the specualtion I just got to wait a few more weeks, just a few more weeks ........... must wait a few more weeks ....... just .......a ...... few..... more ...

555BUK · 7 Oct 2007 at 23:10

J.D said:
Anyone who bought the 8800GTX on launch will disagree. I've played my friends system with 8800GTX SLI'd so I'll disagree too. In just under 1 months time the 8800GTX/Ultra will still be the top end card .

But if you bough a GTS 640 for ~£100 less it would still last just as long. How much extra life will a GTX/Ultra really give over the GTS? There is only 15-20% difference in performance.

HangTime · 7 Oct 2007 at 23:10

The only cards I would consider to be vaguely 'future proof' are the 8800gtx/ultra, in that they reasonably powerful, have a decent amount of VRAM and are SLI-capable.

To be frank I don't think we've had such a card since the 9700pro which was not only very fast but also sported the latest features such as dx9 support.

At the end of the day though your ambition is unrealistic, wanting a card that will play the latest games for at least 3 years. In 3 years time we will likely have budget cards offering the same performance as the 8800gtx for £50.

Kalpsn2000 · 7 Oct 2007 at 23:16

LabR@t said:
my x1800xt 512 is begging to be pulled out but was gonna get 8800 last week but what with all the specualtion I just got to wait a few more weeks, just a few more weeks ........... must wait a few more weeks ....... just .......a ...... few..... more ...

LOL

That’s what always happens with pc hardware, unless its gonna be very soon its just better getting the best for your budget and enjoying it, instead of worrying about the next gen hardware coming out, (there will probably be guys who disagree with me), but it can be a very expensive hobby to always to keep up with the latest hardware, and for not much performance increase. (excuse any typos as I have been having a session tonight).

Greebo · 7 Oct 2007 at 23:20

Kalpsn2000 said:
LOL
That’s what always happens with pc hardware, unless its gonna be very soon its just better getting the best for your budget and enjoying it, instead of worrying about the next gen hardware coming out, (there will probably be guys who disagree with me), but it can be a very expensive hobby to always to keep up with the latest hardware, and for not much performance increase. (excuse any typos as I have been having a session tonight).

Join the club

I finally swapped my x800xt pe after three and half years to a 8800 GTS 320Mb - all my budget could stretch to but very happy with the results

J.D · 7 Oct 2007 at 23:25

thefishdude said:
i think it depends on what sort of system you using if you running realy high end with huge monitor and large resolutiuons then you more likely going to need new gfx sooner. i have a x1950 pro that i got at launcnh end of last year. i only run a 17inch lcd at 1280x1024 and it can run all games aroudn at the moment easy. it shodl be good for another 6-12 months and was only a £120 card.

how ever if i was running larger screen with higher res i would need to think about changing soonish

Exactly why I'm upgrading. 2 screens - one is 1680x1050 and the other is 2048x1536 so I need to. It's only a stop gap card and at £176 it's a bargain. Also a good time for a minor upgrade while the next round gets ready. Just gutted that I didn't pick up a 8800GTX at the start but I had a 1280x1024 office reject CRT at the time so it would've been pointless then and I'm not wanting to spend £300 now when it's so close to xmas and when new cards are nearly here. It's also nearing a year at the top end so I think it's best to wait if you are on X1800/7800 level cards unless you go for a cheap 2900Pro/GTS and sell your old card.

LabR@t said:
my x1800xt 512 is begging to be pulled out but was gonna get 8800 last week but what with all the specualtion I just got to wait a few more weeks, just a few more weeks ........... must wait a few more weeks ....... just .......a ...... few..... more ...

I'd wait unless you think a 2900Pro or GTS would do as a stop gap card and then sell your x1800. A cheap upgrade, a boost in gaming and you can save up for this next round of cards. They still have to arrive then lose the brand new premium price so it could still take a while.