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Longterm PC Gaming Enthusiasts, How often do you upgrade your GPU?
- Thread starter Boss Mog
- Start date
nightmare-slain
Member
Built my first PC in 2015. Upgraded GPU in 2016 then after that it was 2018 and 2022.
First GPU was a R9 290, replaced with a 1070, 2080, and 4080.
The 290 had already been out well over a year I think when I bought it and I was trying to stick to a budget so it was the best I could get. It soon struggled with games and started running hot so I upgraded. 1070 was a great card but I felt it was time to upgrade and raytracing seemed cool so got the 2080. The 2080 was another great card and even though i had it 4 years I feel I could've easily got more time out it but I had the money for a 4080, it had 16GB VRAM (I noticed games starting to use a lot more VRAM), and the performance was a significant upgrade so I thought fuck it why not??
I've only had the 4080 for 7 months so it's still early but it destroys everything and it's hard to imagine me wanting to replace it any time soon but I'll see how I feel when the 5000 cards come out lol. I'll get an itch to upgrade and if the price, VRAM, performance is right then I might go for it.
First GPU was a R9 290, replaced with a 1070, 2080, and 4080.
The 290 had already been out well over a year I think when I bought it and I was trying to stick to a budget so it was the best I could get. It soon struggled with games and started running hot so I upgraded. 1070 was a great card but I felt it was time to upgrade and raytracing seemed cool so got the 2080. The 2080 was another great card and even though i had it 4 years I feel I could've easily got more time out it but I had the money for a 4080, it had 16GB VRAM (I noticed games starting to use a lot more VRAM), and the performance was a significant upgrade so I thought fuck it why not??
I've only had the 4080 for 7 months so it's still early but it destroys everything and it's hard to imagine me wanting to replace it any time soon but I'll see how I feel when the 5000 cards come out lol. I'll get an itch to upgrade and if the price, VRAM, performance is right then I might go for it.
Pagusas
Elden Member
When I use to make an average salary I'd upgrade every 3-4 years. Now that GPU's are basically a write-off, I upgrade the silicone every generation (went from a 3090 to a 4090 last year) and upgrade the water blocks on them a few times a generation to try out new looks and designs. At this point in my life I enjoy the art of building machines more than using them.
STARSBarry
Gold Member
Had a fair few, but for the ones I built myself I honestly can't remember all of them so I will post the ones I can
9800GX2
2xGTX 480
2xGTX 680
2xGTX 980 Ti
RTX 3080
Depending on how the 5000 series does (honestly I'm I am not as fussed on preformance these days vs wattage + price) I'm planning to upgrade mid gen once they release the enviable second wave of Ti or Super or whatever versions.
9800GX2
2xGTX 480
2xGTX 680
2xGTX 980 Ti
RTX 3080
Depending on how the 5000 series does (honestly I'm I am not as fussed on preformance these days vs wattage + price) I'm planning to upgrade mid gen once they release the enviable second wave of Ti or Super or whatever versions.
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majorgamer10
Member
Every 10 years. Skipping generations feels soooooo good
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Edmund
Member
I used to upgrade every 2 years.
My rtx 2080 is still alive and kicking and going on its 5th year now and I intend to use it until its dead since I primarily play on the PS5.
When it's dead I'll probably just go for the xx60 or xx60ti version.
The days of overpaying for expensive cards are behind me.
My rtx 2080 is still alive and kicking and going on its 5th year now and I intend to use it until its dead since I primarily play on the PS5.
When it's dead I'll probably just go for the xx60 or xx60ti version.
The days of overpaying for expensive cards are behind me.
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existensmaximum
Member
It has depended a lot on the current pricing. I got myself a 3080 when it was released and I have no plans on upgrading as long as the prices are so ridiculous as they have been for the past years. So, looks like I'll be waiting at least 3 more years or so?
In the past I upgraded every 3 years or so.
In the past I upgraded every 3 years or so.
applesaucejaxon
Member
I went from a 970 to a 3060. Before that, I used to upgrade maybe every couple years.
Not really happy with the 3060, so I'll probably be upgrading much sooner next time.
Not really happy with the 3060, so I'll probably be upgrading much sooner next time.
Dream-Knife
Banned
When the games I want to play start performing poorly for me.
At this current rate I'll likely finish off the console gen with this 3080.
At this current rate I'll likely finish off the console gen with this 3080.
Freelance Yakuza
Member
I had a GTX 1060 and bought last year a rtx 3060. Took me six years to change my GPU. Unfortunately my 3060 lacks dlss 3 so there is a chance that I may get a 5060 in the future.
Buggy Loop
Member
I’m never consistent enough to observe a trend. Ampere was first gen I spent so much for a 3080 Ti. I was in low-mid range before and could hold on them for a long time.
Laptop1991
Member
Every 3 to 5 years now due to the much higher price's and to the state a lot of PC ports are released in, newer games don't really look amazing either, to need newer gpu's,
In the noughties i bought a new card quite often, they were much cheaper and it was for mostly fun reasons, only three times i had to, to play Pacific Assault which used shader model 2, to play FEAR 1, first powered graphic card and then GTA 4 which used more memory according to the settings than i had, which made no difference in the end anyway,
But it's the prices mostly i bought 5 or 6 cards back then for the price of a 4090 now.
In the noughties i bought a new card quite often, they were much cheaper and it was for mostly fun reasons, only three times i had to, to play Pacific Assault which used shader model 2, to play FEAR 1, first powered graphic card and then GTA 4 which used more memory according to the settings than i had, which made no difference in the end anyway,
But it's the prices mostly i bought 5 or 6 cards back then for the price of a 4090 now.
Sentenza
Member
Last update has been from a GTX 1070 bought in 2016 t0 a 3080ti bought in 2021. Worth noting that I was actually targeting a base 3080 and I've been forced into purchasing the first thing I found available at MSRP at the time (it was that dark era when GPUs on sale became pretty much unicorns).
The current idea is to stick to this one AT LEAST until a GTX 5080 will be a thing and possibly even past that generation into the GTX 6080.
It will really depends on when they'll come and what they'll offer.
The current idea is to stick to this one AT LEAST until a GTX 5080 will be a thing and possibly even past that generation into the GTX 6080.
It will really depends on when they'll come and what they'll offer.
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Stamps1646
Member
1996 - 3dfx Voodoo1 (built my first computer)
2000 - 3dfx Voodoo5 5500 (a goodbye gift when NVIDIA purchased 3dfx)
2003 - ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
2009 - AMD Radeon HD 5970
2014 - GeForce GTX 970 (replaced card twice due to hardware failure)
2019 - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070S (Computer failure due to liquid cooling leak)
2023 - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070Ti
2000 - 3dfx Voodoo5 5500 (a goodbye gift when NVIDIA purchased 3dfx)
2003 - ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
2009 - AMD Radeon HD 5970
2014 - GeForce GTX 970 (replaced card twice due to hardware failure)
2019 - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070S (Computer failure due to liquid cooling leak)
2023 - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070Ti
Celcius
°Temp. member
Current - RTX 3090
RTX 3080 Ti
GTX 1080 Ti
GTX 1070 Ti
GTX 780 Ti
GTX 580
GTX 480
GTX 285
8800 GTX SLI (first single card then dual)
7950 GX2
7800 GT
Radeon X800 Pro
6600 GT
old 256mb geforce fx
That's the history of videocards in my main rigs with a few videocards sprinkled in there that I didn't use for long. (GTX 280, RTX 3070 Ti, gtx 560)
RTX 3080 Ti
GTX 1080 Ti
GTX 1070 Ti
GTX 780 Ti
GTX 580
GTX 480
GTX 285
8800 GTX SLI (first single card then dual)
7950 GX2
7800 GT
Radeon X800 Pro
6600 GT
old 256mb geforce fx
That's the history of videocards in my main rigs with a few videocards sprinkled in there that I didn't use for long. (GTX 280, RTX 3070 Ti, gtx 560)
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NeonDelta
Member
I’ve gone voodoo 3000 to 960 to 1660 super to 3070, but with the way things are going and as I’ve been gaming less and less I’m planning to go back to playstation as main platform. not planning on another gpu upgrade until my 3070 can no longer match the highest tier Xbox.
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Hudo
Member
I began computing on my family's computer which was in the living room. I
don't remember anything about its specs. I remember that Windows 98 (or 95?) was installed on it.
3dfx Voodoo 3 3000 (was my father's old PC that I got as my very first)
Nvidia GeForce 4 MX440
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro
ATI Radeon X850 XT
ATI Radeon HD 3870
Nvidia GeForce GTX 480
Nvidia GeForce GTX 680
Nvidia GeForce RTX 1080
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
I think that's my GPU history
don't remember anything about its specs. I remember that Windows 98 (or 95?) was installed on it.
3dfx Voodoo 3 3000 (was my father's old PC that I got as my very first)
Nvidia GeForce 4 MX440
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro
ATI Radeon X850 XT
ATI Radeon HD 3870
Nvidia GeForce GTX 480
Nvidia GeForce GTX 680
Nvidia GeForce RTX 1080
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
I think that's my GPU history
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Optimus Lime
(L3) + (R3) | Spartan rage activated
In my 34 years of PC gaming, I've had the same rule - upgrade when your GPU manufacturer of choice gives a good reason to do so. Upgrading every gen is, generally, a waste of time and money. But, in recent history, I went from a 3080 > 4090 because NVidia (annoyingly) gave me a reason to do so; gimping the 3080's VRAM buffer, and lying about the 3080's status as a viable 4K card.
I'd go to 5090 if NVidia gave me a compelling reason to do so, but I suspect that they won't. In that case, I'll wait until the 6000 series. So, as a rule, roughly every second generation.
I'd go to 5090 if NVidia gave me a compelling reason to do so, but I suspect that they won't. In that case, I'll wait until the 6000 series. So, as a rule, roughly every second generation.
captainpat
Member
Every gen since the the 900 series. gone from gtx 970 > gtx 1060 > rtx 2070 super > rtx 3080 > rtx 4090
As soon as the new gen starts I buy the new cards at msrp and then sell my old card to subsidize some of the cost. My 2070S paid for more than half the price of a 3080 thanks to the gpu drought and was a crazy upgrade.
As soon as the new gen starts I buy the new cards at msrp and then sell my old card to subsidize some of the cost. My 2070S paid for more than half the price of a 3080 thanks to the gpu drought and was a crazy upgrade.
Unknown Soldier
Member
I upgrade when I feel like a new generation is worth it to me. Currently I'm happy with my 3090.
KungFucius
King Snowflake
I moved to the 2 year zone, but I want to get back to the 4 year zone.
JohnnyFootball
GerAlt-Right. Ciriously.
In 2012 I got a GeForce 670, in 2016, I got a 1070. In 2018, I got a 2080, then upgraded to a 2080 Ti using EVGAs upgrade program a month later. Then in early 2021, I received an email that I was on EVGAs 3080 10GB queue. Promptly ordered it. Felt like the luckiest mutherfucker alive. GPUs were VERY hard to come by at this time. Upgraded to a 3080 12GB FTW in May 2022. Beautiful GPU and sold my 10GB. In Dec. 2022 I upgraded to a 4080. In March I returned my 4080 to Microcenter and got the 4090 TUF from Asus.
In otherwords, I upgrade too damn much.
At the moment it will be until 2025 before I can consider a GPU upgrade since the 5000 won’t come until then if rumors are to be believed. Same with CPU, who knows when a better CPU than my 7800X3D will come out.
In otherwords, I upgrade too damn much.
At the moment it will be until 2025 before I can consider a GPU upgrade since the 5000 won’t come until then if rumors are to be believed. Same with CPU, who knows when a better CPU than my 7800X3D will come out.
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dreamstation
Member
I used to upgrade more regularly, maybe every 3-5 years depending on what good bang for buck cards were available but nowadays I don't upgrade too often at all, especially these last few years with pricing the way it has been. I'm still using a 1070, before that was a 680!
GetInTheRobot
Banned
I'm on a 4070ti now, will probably upgrade with the 60 series when that drops. I think 2-3 years is good when you game as often as I do 4-6 hours a day.
phant0m
Member
Every other gen (or thereabouts). I like to wait for a big uplift in performance. Went from 670 to 1070. Then 1070 to 3080. Gonna wait to see what 5xxx series offers, but as long as those cards still need DLSS to hold 60+ fps in new titles at 1440p I see no need to upgrade.
10 and 30 series were both absolute monsters. Hell, a 1080Ti is still roughly equivalent to PS5 in GPU horsepower (~10 TF) just without the hardware ray tracing.
10 and 30 series were both absolute monsters. Hell, a 1080Ti is still roughly equivalent to PS5 in GPU horsepower (~10 TF) just without the hardware ray tracing.
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twilo99
Member
That Voodoo 1 was a game changer for us Quake players... glorious 125FPS on CRT screens. Gold.
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Platinumstorm
Member
When I was younger it used to be fairly frequent. In today's console directed game world, it's often not needed. If I make a computer upgrade, sometimes I will just buy one because it will let it function more optimally; IE. I run 3440 x1440 right now; if I move to something bigger, then I might upgrade again. However, without EVGA now, I don't trust anyone.