HD 6000/ NVIDIA 500 or wait for 7k and Kepler?

[wshinds]

this is a carry over from my system building thread. the question though seems more fitting over here. i have saved $1000 for the GPU(s) in my next system and acknowledge that every day componens are being outdated. I have read up on the 7000 and Keplers on the proposed prices but the features are above my head. if i buy and build a system right now should i get the current series or should i wait out ivy bridge and grab one of the new GPUs as the timing is scheduled to roughly coincide (April 2012ish)?

I do gaming of all kinds AND do video production in the Adobe suite. Also I dont really get all the specifications like my knoledge may be perceived. I just do my research. Card(s) to be parked on an ASUS board of some ilk in a Thermaltake Level 10
GT.

 

[wshinds]

Or just to buy the Mars by Asus... drools...

 

[spasmolytic46]

Since you do video production and gaming I would wait and look at the benchmarks, unless you need something now.

 

[wshinds]

I had read channel partners were already using the new editions so was hoping someone might have some preliminary data.

 

[spasmolytic46]

I had read channel partners were already using the new editions so was hoping someone might have some preliminary data.

AFAIK nothing but rumors at this point... Do you have an AMD or nVidia preference?

 

[wshinds]

Not really. If I come back to NVIDIA, I will not buy EVGA but that is all.

 

[spasmolytic46]

Not really. If I come back to NVIDIA, I will not buy EVGA but that is all.

My understanding of the rumors are that AMD will drop it's high end card first and that nvidia will drop it's high end cards last, meaning that AMD's top of the line will be ready around the end of January or beginning of Feb while nVidia's high end won't start dropping till Q3 of 2012.

 

[Warmacblu]

Hmm ... the waiting question. It really depends on you and if you can wait or not. Depending on what you want to do, a nice single fast card from the GTX 500 or HD 6000 series may be enough for your future needs and you will not have to wait.

All I can say with confidence is that a single GTX 580 or HD 6970 will be able to play any game you throw at it for years to come.

 

[wshinds]

I am leaning towards dual 6950s if I go now with an HD 6k series. I have read that the 6950's perform identically to the 6970s. For FERMI I have been told to go dual 560 GIs but I am less impressed by the 560(2x) when it is stacked against the Dual 6950s.

 

[spasmolytic46]

I am leaning towards dual 6950s if I go now with an HD 6k series. I have read that the 6950's perform identically to the 6970s. For FERMI I have been told to go dual 560 GIs but I am less impressed by the 560(2x) when it is stacked against the Dual 6950s.

I would do a single 580 over two 560Ti's because of heat, power, and SLI not always being what it should if I were going the nVidia route. If I were going the AMD route I would wait and buy top of the line in 3 months or so. Do you play games with physX? do you have anything that plays with either openCl or CUDA? Are you likely to do 3d anytime soon? Those would be big factors for me choosing a new card.

 

[wshinds]

I do not have stereoscopic eyesight, so 3d is not an option at at.

 

[spasmolytic46]

I'm pretty sure I'd wait and go with AMD

 

[Warmacblu]

I'm pretty sure I'd wait and go with AMD

I agree. If you want an AMD card then wait. If you want a nVIDIA card then that's a different story.

 

[jjtober1]

I think you should hold off for a month and see what things are looking like. The rumors are early January release for AMD's high end cards, so hopefully early January you will at least have an idea if the new cards are worth it. Also, it is bound to push prices down a bit on AMD and Nvidia gpu's of current gen when they release.

 

[spentshells]

im not really a fan of waiting but that is up to you.

570 and 580 and 6950 and 6970 are all really awesome

 

[Warmacblu]

I think you should hold off for a month and see what things are looking like. The rumors are early January release for AMD's high end cards, so hopefully early January you will at least have an idea if the new cards are worth it. Also, it is bound to push prices down a bit on AMD and Nvidia gpu's of current gen when they release.

Prices on the high end cards shouldn't drop that quickly, maybe 4-6 months before we see an actually price drop. I am in the same boat as spentshells, the current graphics cards offer more than enough power for mostly any task.

 

[ChoKe iZ BOSS]

are you running eyefinity or anything and what resolution you want to play at?

 

[wshinds]

I am starting to jones and think that way Warm, I do have a bit of instant gratification but new versions versus an entire new generation being a month or so away makes me feel ... dirty for wanting to build it today.

Currently running on a lone 2560x1600 30" LG Wall Mounted. I'm not "that" hardcore of a gamer but I am considering changing to 3 25" Asus monitors.

I know the multiple screens would be divine for video production -- I think I might be overwhelmed at first in a video game with that kind of screen real estate.

Although I've always been taught to break it down to pixelation:

1 30" 2560x1600 = 4,096,000 pixels
2 25" 1920x1080 = 4,147,200 pixels
3 25" 1920x1080 = 6,220,800 pixels

Benefit there being the extra width. Although I like the depth the 1600 on my 30"er provides, 1080 seems a bit too small, 1200 would be perfect but I don't know many monitors (any in fact) with that as a native resolution that don't seem exorbitant on the pricing side.

 

[Warmacblu]

I am starting to jones and think that way Warm, I do have a bit of instant gratification but new versions versus an entire new generation being a month or so away makes me feel ... dirty for wanting to build it today.

Hah, "dirty"? I just upgraded my old GTX 275 for a GTX 500 series.

 

[wshinds]

I am sure all this concern is really ill-placed though War -- I mean the single 5870 running my monitor right now barely chokes at all, granted I normally run my games in 1920x1080 (reduction of 2mil pixels) and that allows me to set the graphics options to max without any stuttering (except in RAGE, sadly, and I think that is game related not graphic related). If I buy two 6950s or whatever I was mentioning up above, effectively quadrupling the GP power depending of course on the software situation etc. etc., I should be fine even 3 years from now. Frankly, it was only a year ago that DX11 got its bugs worked out anyhow.

Hmmm.... but I'm not calling you dirty, I just feel like I've got my toe in the sand, the rest of my body is falling toward the upgrade now side of the beach, and my little foot in some comically exaggerated way lingers on the other side nagging the rest of my frame.

 

[ChoKe iZ BOSS]

Might seem outdated but unless your looking at a 6990 or a gtx 590 id say grab this 5970 on newegg, it will be back since its on add to notify, keep an eye on it snag it. still wrecks 6970 and gtx 580,

Deal of a lifetime the raw power of this card is unreal for the price, i have it personally and i have it crossfired with 5870 and im on 3 displays at 1080p and run like a absolute monster. i purchased my 5870 at site listed below and they are very helpful and card is great brand new oem and ull have almost 500 left over when its all said and done, trifire scales amazing for these, especially now that all the kinks are worked out.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103195&Tpk=5970

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMD-ATI-Radeon-HD5870-HD-5870-PCI-e-3D-Video-Graphics-Gaming-3-Port-Card-w-HDMI-/130608691744?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item1e68e27a20

 

[spasmolytic46]

I am starting to jones and think that way Warm, I do have a bit of instant gratification but new versions versus an entire new generation being a month or so away makes me feel ... dirty for wanting to build it today.

Currently running on a lone 2560x1600 30" LG Wall Mounted. I'm not "that" hardcore of a gamer but I am considering changing to 3 25" Asus monitors.

I know the multiple screens would be divine for video production -- I think I might be overwhelmed at first in a video game with that kind of screen real estate.

Although I've always been taught to break it down to pixelation:

1 30" 2560x1600 = 4,096,000 pixels
2 25" 1920x1080 = 4,147,200 pixels
3 25" 1920x1080 = 6,220,800 pixels

Benefit there being the extra width. Although I like the depth the 1600 on my 30"er provides, 1080 seems a bit too small, 1200 would be perfect but I don't know many monitors (any in fact) with that as a native resolution that don't seem exorbitant on the pricing side.

27.5" 1920x1200 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254052

 

[ChoKe iZ BOSS]

if you already run a 5870, add this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103195&Tpk=5970

i promise you it will be back and for the money you cant beat it i have this with 5870 and its a monster...then either spend your money on other parts or pocket it. i promise you wont be dissapointed

 

[Warmacblu]

I am sure all this concern is really ill-placed though War -- I mean the single 5870 running my monitor right now barely chokes at all, granted I normally run my games in 1920x1080 (reduction of 2mil pixels) and that allows me to set the graphics options to max without any stuttering (except in RAGE, sadly, and I think that is game related not graphic related). If I buy two 6950s or whatever I was mentioning up above, effectively quadrupling the GP power depending of course on the software situation etc. etc., I should be fine even 3 years from now. Frankly, it was only a year ago that DX11 got its bugs worked out anyhow.

Hmmm.... but I'm not calling you dirty, I just feel like I've got my toe in the sand, the rest of my body is falling toward the upgrade now side of the beach, and my little foot in some comically exaggerated way lingers on the other side nagging the rest of my frame.

Do it man, upgrade now and be happy.

 

[cuecuemore]

TLDR, but wait!