R9 Nano or wait for Polaris

[Ticonderoga]

Hi Guys

Currently running a r9 280x, but recently upgraded my old x 58 system to an I7 6700K so now I am also looking for a gpu upgrade.
The prices for the R9 Nano have dropped to around 350 gbp in Denmark where I live so I am thinking about pulling the trigger on one of those.

The only thing holding me back is the fact that Polaris will be released later this year.

Would it be a mistake buying a highend gpu like the r9 nano now?

 

[r7slayer]

Polaris probably will be out later this year but if it brings anything that is faster than the fury line up is IMO unlikely this year. Most likely to bring out cheaper cards than are just below the fury line up performance wise.

Upto you how long you can wait or if you will be happy to stick with a Nano for a while?

 

[Tute]

I'm about to pull the trigger on a Nano myself. The only thing making it difficult is that Fury X cards are selling in the MM for that now and the 980Ti is around £400 second hand.

 

[ukxenon]

I would wait a few month

 

[r7slayer]

I would wait a few month

The waiting game is allways a ongoing game though. Your always waiting.

Wait few month only low mid range cards come out just under the performance of high end but they are cheaper however a few months after this high end are due to come out wait some more and so on lol. It's what you would be happy with now. I don't think we will see any good performing cards that beat what is out currently until 2017.

 

[ICDP]

If you are unhappy with your gaming performance right now then upgrade. If not then wait. The only reason to upgrade is because your gaming is not enjoyable due to performance not being adequate.

 

[Poneros]

The waiting game is allways a ongoing game though. Your always waiting.

There'a difference between waiting an hour and waiting a year. Likewise, there's a difference between waiting for Polaris and just waiting for the "next thing".

My advice OP, wait.

 

[Ticonderoga]

If the high end Polaris will be out around summer I will definitely wait for Polaris.
However if only entry/ mid level gpu show up around autumn and high end several months later I will pull the trigger on the Nano now.
Decisions.. decisions

 

[nashathedog]

If the high end Polaris will be out around summer I will definitely wait for Polaris.
However if only entry/ mid level gpu show up around autumn and high end several months later I will pull the trigger on the Nano now.
Decisions.. decisions

I'd still wait a 280x is fine till then.

 

[Freddie1980]

If you are unhappy with your gaming performance right now then upgrade. If not then wait. The only reason to upgrade is because your gaming is not enjoyable due to performance not being adequate.

This.

If your gaming at 1080p there's not much that's going to be taxing a 280x that hard, I would wait and see what Polaris brings.

 

[FoxEye]

This.

If your gaming at 1080p there's not much that's going to be taxing a 280x that hard, I would wait and see what Polaris brings.

Do you have a 280x?

At 1080p there are today more than a few games that will not even run at 30FPS on very high settings.

Sure you can turn things down, and not suffer much loss of quality - and I'm certainly not an advocated of "have to max everything" syndrome - but the 280x certainly is struggling with the latest games. MGS5 is just one example. Turn settings up from "high" to "very high", and it become a jerky almost-slideshow experience.

I recommend waiting but it's just not true to say that a 280x is all you need for 1080p.

 

[Ayahuasca]

If you have the money and upgrading now will make your current gaming more enjoyable then just go for it.

2nd hand is a good idea if you don't want it to sting too hard if the new GPU's are launched soon.

 

[Freddie1980]

Do you have a 280x?

At 1080p there are today more than a few games that will not even run at 30FPS on very high settings.

Sure you can turn things down, and not suffer much loss of quality - and I'm certainly not an advocated of "have to max everything" syndrome - but the 280x certainly is struggling with the latest games. MGS5 is just one example. Turn settings up from "high" to "very high", and it become a jerky almost-slideshow experience.

I recommend waiting but it's just not true to say that a 280x is all you need for 1080p.

I do own a card of equivalent performance (GTX670) and I agree these days it won't play games at max settings any longer I'm not at the stage where everything is set to low by default and I'm having to see what I can get away with.

It's a tough call but I would wait unless OCUK and Caseking can get another batch for £300 it might then be worth while and then upgrade again in 18 months time.

 

[Insanties_birth]

Depends on how long you are willing to wait. Nano is in a particularly good spot as it had a huge price cut not too long ago so it's not likely to see a very big price cut down the line so worth buying now if you needed it. I personally usually tend to wait for the next cards and get them sooner to when they launch but the nano isn't likely to be spoiled too hard price wise, all cards will suffer performance wise (potentially) against the new cards anyway but that is largely guesswork as we have no clear indicators of performance.

I'd say go for nano if you don't want to wait several months, can always sell it before the other cards come out and upgrade to them if need be (as stated, I can't see the resale price dropping as much as a 980ti would if it were outclassed in performance for example). If you're happy to wait though then that is my usual recommendation but as stated it's just down to your choice to wait or not as the nano is in a far better position than most cards.