So I have a hard time deciding.

[jacobsperl]

So I did not pay attention to GPUs for the last 3 years, I'm deciding to buy a new GPU after the release of Pascal and Polaris. But because I've been so long "out of the game" I'm unsure if there are still any benefits to nVidia over AMD. And wanted to see 'non fanboy' opinion on the new generation. Basically I'd like to form an opinion about what should I look forward to in next 2-3 months. Thanks

[jacobsperl]

1 minute ago, Quibiss said:

Wait until both vendors released their new GPU lineup, then wait for reviews (from reputable sources), then buy the  GPU that reigns superior (features and performance) in your pricebracket. And forget about the Company A vs Company B nonsense, it's silly limiting your choices by excluding or favoring a company over another.

You maybe misunderstood me a little. I'm not rooting for a Company A or Company B. I just wanted to know if one or the other have some important features the other has not. Like SLI which came a year before Crossfire. I just wanted to know it there is a known feature which one vendor would have whilst the other wouldn't.

[don_svetlio]

27 minutes ago, jacobsperl said:

You maybe misunderstood me a little. I'm not rooting for a Company A or Company B. I just wanted to know if one or the other have some important features the other has not. Like SLI which came a year before Crossfire. I just wanted to know it there is a known feature which one vendor would have whilst the other wouldn't.

SLI was developed by 3DFX actually

Anyway
Here's a list.

AMD - OpenCL, GPU Open, Bridgeless CF, Free-sync, True Audio, more VRAM, better DX12 performance (at the moment as Maxwell falls short under DX12)
Nvidia - CUDA, GameWorks, G-sync, Better Tess performance, Shadowplay

Drivers currently are a tie as the latest Nvidia ones have really been disappointing and AMD have stepped up their game on that department

[stealth80]

13 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

SLI was developed by 3DFX actually

Anyway
Here's a list.

AMD - OpenCL, GPU Open, Bridgeless CF, Free-sync, True Audio, more VRAM, better DX12 performance
Nvidia - CUDA, GameWorks, G-sync, Better Tess performance, Shadowplay

Drivers currently are a tie as the latest Nvidia ones have really been disappointing and AMD have stepped up their game on that department

You need to omit the direct X 12 part, polaris/pascal aren't out yet and that comment could be misleading as no knows how either platform will perform yet

 

[don_svetlio]

6 minutes ago, stealth80 said:

You need to omit the direct X 12 part, polaris/pascal aren't out yet and that comment could be misleading as no knows how either platform will perform yet

 

I'm talking about the 900 and R9 300 series. I cannot know what Polaris/Pascal will bring to the table

[stealth80]

1 minute ago, don_svetlio said:

I'm talking about the 900 and R9 300 series. I cannot know what Polaris/Pascal will bring to the table

Whilst that is true the OP's opening line "So I did not pay attention to GPUs for the last 3 years, I'm deciding to buy a new GPU after the release of Pascal and Polaris"

[don_svetlio]

Just now, stealth80 said:

Whilst that is true the OP's opening line "So I did not pay attention to GPUs for the last 3 years, I'm deciding to buy a new GPU after the release of Pascal and Polaris"

Ops, oh well. Missed that part

[stealth80]

and you missed PhysX omg how could you?

[SaladFingers]

8 minutes ago, stealth80 said:

and you missed PhysX omg how could you?

Technically PhysX is available to both brands. But yeah, it performs better on Nvidia because closed source monopoly tactics...

[SaladFingers]

Just now, Julian2000nl said:

TressFX?

Well yeah but I was talking about PhysX specifically. AMD cards can still run it, but they need to outsource stuff to the CPU because Nvidia patented their crap to avoid real competition, as always. Saying this as an Nvidia owner, they are very shady when it comes to these things.

[don_svetlio]

28 minutes ago, stealth80 said:

and you missed PhysX omg how could you?

 

20 minutes ago, SaladFingers said:

Technically PhysX is available to both brands. But yeah, it performs better on Nvidia because closed source monopoly tactics...

Yup. PhysX runs fine off the CPU - have tested. Only Advanced PhysX requires the Nvidia chip on the PCB but there are about 10 or less games in existence which use that. Most companies decide it's not worth the hassel to implement + it alienates half your audience

[SaladFingers]

7 minutes ago, Julian2000nl said:

You should watch this: 

 

 

 

Haha, actually, I have.

[WhiteSkyMage]

I am in this whole hassle as well as much as you are. I think my next GPU upgrade would determine:

1) The type of monitor id buy (a G-Sync or Free-Sync one)

2) The VR experience I would be getting when I purchase a VR headset (2nd generation) an year later

3) The FPS I will get on the upcoming Star Citizen (Squadron 42) and later on Persistent Universe.

 

The first point is kind of hard because I really want a 21:9 monitor with higher resolution than Full HD (something like 3440x1440) and refresh rate(100Hz) and I don't know of any yet existing out there with Free-Sync monitor which offers such thing. The only ones I know of are the Acer Predator X34 and the Asus PG348Q which are quite pricey with G-Sync.

Second point is kind of a top priority - LiquidVR (from AMD) seems to be well ahead for now, but we don't know what Nvidia is hiding around the corner with their next generation Pascal.

I really do want to max this game out and still play it with buttersmooth frame rate on Star Citizen, but it is only one game. The first two are future technologies that once I get into, id probably be using for quite much time.

[sapphirethunder]

As said by one of the others, wait until the reviews are out by LinusTechTips, NCIX Tech Tips, DigitalFoundry and other renown reviewers. Then see which has the best performance in your price range.

 

 

[don_svetlio]

9 minutes ago, 167776_1454180910 said:

As said by one of the others, wait until the reviews are out by LinusTechTips, NCIX Tech Tips, DigitalFoundry and other renown reviewers. Then see which has the best performance in your price range.

 

 

LTT aren't exactly a good reviewer anymore - I'd say TinyTomLogan and Anandtech are the go-to reviewers atm