Second opinions on upgrade path.

[pyrojoe34]

So I have been saving up for some PC upgrades and am having a hard time deciding on what to do first and if I should be waiting a little longer or not.

 

There are two items I would like to upgrade next, my GPU and my monitor (see signature for my current specs).

 

Right now I am trying to decide which to prioritize.

 

GPU: I want to either get a 1080Ti (which would be the final upgrade to my build for at least 5 years or so) or wait another 6-8 (8-12 more likely) months for Vega VOLTA and upgrade then. I currently use a GTX980 which is starting show its age and even when running at 1080p I can't max out the newest games without terrible framerates, much less use my 4k monitor. However, if Vega VOLTA will be a huge improvement over Pascal I can hold off a while longer since even the 1080Ti can just barely max out 4k now and will quickly get surpassed by games in the coming years. Obviously, nobody has any real info on Vega VOLTA so it's a gamble and I'm having a hard time deciding but I'm wondering what other people think.

 

Monitor: I want to abandon my 4k TV/monitor (use it as an actual living room TV instead) and get a real monitor. I'm currently looking at either a 38", 3840x1600, 21:9, 10bit, 75hz (still too expensive so I'd have to wait for a price drop anyway), or a 34", 3440x1440, 21:9, 10bit, 75+hz (currently looking at one for $500). I would rather have a larger screen (I like a large screen and don't want a major downgrade from my current 43" setup, even the 34" 21:9 is on the border of how large I would like). Either way I would get better framerates and higher refresh rates than my current 4k solution (less pixels to push and higher native refresh), way better image quality and lower GTG/latency, and the fiance would be happy with a living room TV upgrade. I also worry a bit about backlight bleed on these huge, curved, IPS displays and wonder if waiting for price and tech improvements on OLEDs would be worth it.

 

What are your opinions?

 

*Edit: by "get a 1080Ti now" I mean in a month or so when the AIB cards are out. I'm thinking either an EVGA ICX (either SC2 or FTW3) or ASUS Strix.

[Mira Yurizaki]

I don't have any high hopes for Vega outright smashing the GTX 1080 Ti or driving its price down all that much. The GTX 1080 Ti is almost twice as powerful as the GTX 980, so you'll still be getting a massive upgrade either way. And even then, 6-8 months is edging the point where everyone is going to say "WAIT FOR VOLTA".

 

As for the monitor... I'd say wait a bit on that one and see if anyone is actually pushing an HDR monitor out soon.

[pyrojoe34]

36 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

I don't have any high hopes for Vega outright smashing the GTX 1080 Ti or driving its price down all that much. The GTX 1080 Ti is almost twice as powerful as the GTX 980, so you'll still be getting a massive upgrade either way. And even then, 6-8 months is edging the point where everyone is going to say "WAIT FOR VOLTA".

 

As for the monitor... I'd say wait a bit on that one and see if anyone is actually pushing an HDR monitor out soon.

Haha, wow I'm dumb... I actually meant Volta not Vega... malapropism... they sound too similar.

 

I actually want to stick with Nvidia anyway for the occasional CUDA use.

 

I edited the post

 

By the way, both the 38" and 34" 21:9 monitors I am looking at are 10bit color (which is HDR) so that is already a common thing in new monitors (many gaming monitors are already HDR and professional monitors have been for quite a while). The big thing I would be waiting for with monitors would be OLED for no backlight issues (because there is no backlight) and way better dynamic range and/or better prices on the larger 38" 21:9s.

[Mira Yurizaki]

Just now, pyrojoe34 said:

Haha, wow I'm dumb... I actually meant Volta not Vega... malapropism...

You know, I should've looked up if Vega really has a 6-8 month window.

[BluJay614]

28 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

You know, I should've looked up if Vega really has a 6-8 month window.

Vega is supposed to be coming out by the end of Q2 2017. No date besides that time frame has been set. Even the RX500 (i can't recall the name of the current gen is named) refresh is only roomered.

[pyrojoe34]

1 hour ago, BluJay614 said:

Vega is supposed to be coming out by the end of Q2 2017. No date besides that time frame has been set. Even the RX500 (i can't recall the name of the current gen is named) refresh is only roomered.

Yea, I misspoke, I meant to say Volta (similar names) not Vega. I don't expect Vega to beat a 1080Ti. I was more referring to Volta which according to the Nvidia roadmap should double performance/watt of Pascal and release Q4 2017 or Q1 2018. Assuming they keep similar TDPs and die sizes as Pascal that could mean double the Pascal performance and (hopefully) HBM2.