How often do you get a new GPU?

[Blackjack Davy]

Annualy? Every couple of years? Every single time a faster card is released? Once in a blue moon?

curious. A card used to last me quite a few years but this jump to 4K is going to force me to buy a new card within 12 months I think

Every couple of years when I think its worth it or I have a monitor resolution jump (went from 1200p to 1440p a few months ago)

 

[Flying_Hellfish]

Approx every 2 gens, or when performance is 200%. I took a break between Voodoo 3 and AMD 9600 though.

Something like this:

Voodoo3
9600
6800
x1950 TX
8800 GT
480 GTX
670
670 SLI
970
1080 ?

 

[VincentHanna]

I can't remember all my older cards as I had Voodoo 2's and Riva TNT's, but it's something like:

Nvidia 8800GT - October 2007
AMD 6870 - October 2010
AMD 290x - October 2013
AMD 295x2 - September 2014
Titan X SLI - March 2015

No plans now to upgrade until 1080ti

I think between 2005 and 2010 I went off PC gaming a bit and mainly played Xbox games. Got back in to PC gaming in a big way and have clearly spent a fortune in the last 3 years!

 

[sgavan]

I only ever upgrade when I feel that I have to turn the visuals down too much or if my card dies, or if it's at least two generations after the current card.

 

[nomadd]

Voodoo 1
Voodoo 2
..

All been bit hazy since then...

 

[nashathedog]

Stuck with the 7970 from release day to 980 release, as AMD did nothing but rebrand the card rather than bring out anything particularly new.

Hawaii??

 

[ScT_Feeling]

As others have said, when games no longer run smoothly at the current resolution (which for me is still 1080p).

As far as I can remember back, it goes something like this...

2001 - nVidia GeForce3
2003 - ATI Radeon 9800 PRO
2004 - nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra
2005 - nVidia GeForce 7800 GTX 512
2006 - 2x ATI Radeon X1900 XTX in CrossFire
2006 - nVidia GeForce 8800GTX
2007 - nVidia GeForce 8800GTS 512
2008 - nVidia GeForce 8800GTS 512 (SLI)
2008 - ATI Radeon 4870X2
2009 - ATI Radeon 5870
2010 - ATI Radeon 6970
2012 - nVidia GeForce 670GTX
2014 - nVidia GeForce 780GTX

Purchases have slowed down for me now, house / kids / wife / cars are a higher priority these days as much as I would like to splash out on the latest and greatest! Next card purchase for me is a friends nVidia 980GTX as he trades up for a nVidia 1080GTX.

 

[TeknoJunkie]

As a follow on question to this, what do you guys do with the old cards/kit that you are replacing?

 

[Flying_Hellfish]

Sell them on usually. Wish I had kept Voodoo, 8800 though. Classics.

 

[VincentHanna]

As a follow on question to this, what do you guys do with the old cards/kit that you are replacing?

I gave a 6870 to my Nephew, sold my 290x, sold my 295x2 on the members market here.

I'm keeping them anyway, but the Titan X's will be more difficult to sell because I fitted both with the Hybrid cooler and I either have to dismantle them and reassemble the old cooler/shroud or find some packaging allowing me to send them and keep them safe and secure.

 

[Rannoch]

My mates last GPU was a VIC 6560/61

 

[Evian]

Only had 2 GPU's, Rather new to the PC scene.

First was a Reference PNY GTX 580 B grade which I got from OCUK for £199

Then I got a Gigabyte GTX 780 Windforce on release, Still have it.

 

[DBT85]

I had a 6950 from near launch, then got a 980ti near launch. Same kind of timescales as my CPU/mobo which went Q6600, 2500k and just this week a 6700k.

I was considering a second 980ti once people start upgrading to the 1080, but with me also needing a second block and a new PSU to make it work, its a £500 upgrade that Just isn't worth it.

Instead, I'll be waiting to see how fat Pascal turns out.

I don't play the likes of GTA or The Witcher or anything that intense anyway.

 

[modez]

Is your graphics card company playing games with YOU? Yes they are.

But not the game you would like to play.

They have all learned from other companies such as the I-phone products, Samsung, etc.etc. They realized people are never happy with what they have. So, every 9 months they add a little (a little) more icons or a little spec, or change the shape, to make it look like the "Next Big Thing Is Here." And people run, swim, dash, fly, trip and stumble, to go get "the next big thing." When in reality is not a big deal. But, they get you with all the commercials and fuss.



Did you know that manufacturing an I-phone in China by poor kids (and adults) cost around (£80.00). Yet Apple brings it to you for only (only) £600.00 every 9 months. Smile.



The same with Nvidia, Intel, etc. etc. They know the tricks and let it go on you little by little, squeezing all the juice ££££ they can. So, before you buy your next phone or video card, ask yourself. Do I really need to spend this money on that? (9 out of 10 times- the answer is NO)

 

[bledd]

Every 3 years or so..

Geforce 3, Geforce 4 440, 8800GT, GTX 260, GTX 460, GTX660ti, getting another soon, posisbly the 1080

I tend to upgrade when a Valve game comes out that I can't max out.



I'm hoping the 1080 can finally play Crysis at a decent FPS.

 

[Tom B]

Depends on my finances and need to upgrade. My history: voodoo 3 > geforce 3 ti200 > 9800 Pro > 8800GTX > 5870 > 750ti > 980ti

So every 3 years or so. I'll probably wait until the 1180ti before my next upgrade

 

[uksoldierboy]

I upgraded as often as possible really, normally on every new release or as soon as i can after, depending on price, reviews etc.

Only because i love testing new hardware tbh, i like benchmarking, overclocking and of course gaming, i don't drink or smoke, so all my spare cash either goes towards getting my bike on track or being a massive geek.