When Do You Replace Your Card(s)?

[Khajiit Dealer]

As a rule of thumb, I replace my GPU every 2 generations. How many generations do you wait to upgrade, or do you just upgrade every generation? 

 

Does it depend on how well the next gen cards compare? 

[DigitalHermit]

When I need to...

 

i.e. when it breaks, when I need extra power, when I build another system

[AresKrieger]

When the experience from the old card is suboptimal

 

In my situation that would mean when my card can no longer run 60fps 1080p max minus AA<----I can't really notice aliasing

[rmac52]

I wait untill I can't run the things I want to, the way I want to. My 670 still runs every game I play at 1080 high settings.

[zzenigmaxzz]

when i need to basically 

[Guest Kloaked]

Whenever I can afford it.

[SkilledRebuilds]

As a rule of thumb, I replace my GPU every 2 generations. How many generations do you wait to upgrade, or do you just upgrade every generation? Does it depend on how well the next gen cards compare? 

I do like having details on High-Ultra. Keep in mind, I'm single, work a lot, and have plenty of disposable income compared to some (Not a boast, just how it is)

So basically, When I had my HD7950, it could max out games (BF3 days) easily with MSAA.

Over time, MSAA was killing too much performance, started using 2xMSAA instead of 4xMSAA, now games are getting 40-60fps with no MSAA.

It's about the time when I'm forced to disable AA in every game, or forced to use SMAA, as well as reducing details under High, that I will upgrade.

 

HD4870>HD5850>HD7950> Both 290x & GTX970 in separate rigs.

Soon to be replaced by either a 980Ti early next year when I move to 1440p or the next series of GPU's.

[byalexandr]

When I want a new one.

[Mew]

When it doesn't perform as well as I need or expect it to..... which is why I'm thinking of upgrading my 970 after 4 months. I kinda expected new graphics cards to be much faster than the 7950 that I had, but I guess performance hasn't improved that much lately. 

[alphaproject]

Yup, I added to OTHER.

 

A lot of times it varies. If I notice the card is not performing as when I got it that might give me reasons to RMA or upgrade.

 

A few times I've had card death and could not replace with RMA.

 

Occasionally I get lucky.

 

I had a 6870, then my buddy upgraded to the 670, gave me his 6870, so I sold both 6870 cards and bought the 7850 and got like 3 free games.

 

Sold the games I didn't want and bought an SSD with the leftover and I think another HDD and Raptor just for fun.

[Th3 Mans1ay3r]

When I need to.

 

It becomes a money sink other wise.

[Suika]

Every generation so far.

 

I started back at the HD 7000 / GTX 600 series, though, so it's not like I've had a bunch of GPUs. I think so far, I've owned the HD 7870 GHz, GTX 680, GTX 770, GTX 780, GTX 970, R9 390, and GTX 980. I had a GTX 560 Ti 448 for a short amount of time before I sold it, but I got that earlier this year, not when it was the midrange GPU to own.

[swifty7]

I went from gtx 460 to gtx 670 SC 4gb to gtx 980 evga b-stock

[Predator50]

I try using it for 2 years or 2 generations, before it was 1 generation.

 

4670 - 5770 - 6850 - 6870 - 7790- 7870 - r9 270x - gtx670 - gtx970

 

had no problem with amd and i wish try the nvidia side.

 

if your buying budget vcard it is more likely to upgrade every generation.

[acerayl]

I usually time the upgrade with both when I need to and when the holiday sales go on. For example I got my current R9 270X card during Neweggs Presidents Day sale for 80 bucks off. I may jump to the 300 series this season depending on the sales since I am looking for a new card. 

[incarnate]

My plan is about 3 years but basically it's when I need to. The next time I'll upgrade is when I get a 21:9 monitor. But I'm gonna wait a couple years to get that.

Aside from that, I will upgrade when I feel the increase in performance is worth the cost of the upgrade

[dysur]

personally i ll go every 2 gen or till the guarantee is over   or depend on the wallet and the promotion from local store haha

[winningsince1337]

If I'm not getting above 60 fps on ultra, it's time to upgrade. Hence why I just bought another 290

[ThatCarlosGuy]

When I have a bit of spare money and there's a newer generation

[Guest Generallee]

When it catches fire

 

then i run integrated and play low 720p until i sell enough drugs to buy a ballin gpu

[Mr Fister]

i got a HD 5850 GPU.. back in 2009 it was the best mid card out there... in two weeks from now il have an R9 390... so yeah... its been awhile since i replaced a GPU

[Fetzie]

When I need to. Which is why I'm running a 5820K and an HD 7950 right now. What's currently on the market just doesn't fill me with feelings of "SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY". I'll likely upgrade to Pascal or Arctic Islands next spring.

[0ld_Chicken]

whenever I want!   I kinda worked my way up to a 980 from a 960 from a r7 240 in less than a year.  I'll probably get a 980ti if I can find a good enough deal.  Upgrade and sell!!!

[TheRandomness]

Does it count if I go down 2 generations? Not as main but just as an experiment c:

[VagabondWraith]

Every gen. Big (or near) Maxwell, Big Pascal, Big Volta, etc.