Wait for southern Islands

[ctrlaltdelete]

I am about to build a new gaming rig and I feel like I've picked a configuration that offers some future proofing and a clear upgrade path. The rig I am building is a sandy bridge platform Z68 chipset so I can upgrade to Ivy down the road. Everything else in the build falls to preference and I think I've made the best choices for me. I was strongly considering the gtx 570 until I read that AMD might be releasing southern islands as soon as Sept. I didn't know the 28nm process was so far along so I feel like I'm in a pickle. I know the next gen of tech is always right around the corner and if you hold out for the newest thing you'll always be waiting but if I was to spend $320 right now on a gpu only to have a new line come out in a month I would feel burned. I'm honestly just looking for the community here to sway me one way or another. I have an ok gaming machine now but I just want to be able to upgrade by Oct. The only question I still have is can I use one of my old Nvidia cards as a dedicated physx card if a title comes out that I want to use hardware physx. I read that Nvidia made it impossible to do this anymore. Suggestions?

 

[mdd1963]

I'd be surprised to see the new series of AMD GPUs out before Christmas, truthfully....

(As far as I know, there are still quite a few folks using AMG GPUs with an Nvidia card for the PhysX duties...)

The GTX570 is a strong upper-midrange performer, and at a moderately nice price point of $289-ish....

 

[Dandalf]

I agree. I don't think we'll be seeing next-gen 28nm cards from anyone till jan at the earliest. A shame really as I was looking to upgrade my 5850 for battlefield 3. Hopefully it will be ok!

 

[swirlser]

Well I think its too easy to throw around "oh if you wait for next gen, you will always be waiting", theres a time when that argument is valid and a time when its not.

Details (read: rumours) of the next gen 28nm are slim, nV have stated its going to be a little into 2012 before you can expect their offering and AMD appears to still be aiming for something before this year is out. But note, it seems likely they will follow their 6000 series pattern and release the mid range first, so the flagship will probably be in or around the same time as nV launch.

IMO, build your machine and buy a gpu that you will be able to sell easy when whatever 28nm one that tickles your fancy does launch. (ie - a mid range gpu with a discounted price tag on it, easy to shift, minimum depreciation)