When Is The Best Time To Buy A Video Card?

[ir_cow]

The age old question; when is the best time to buy a new video card? The best answer is....generally when you can no longer run games at your desired settings. This could mean a video card running games on low settings is good for 10 years. For others it means every year or less.
 
I decided to ask this question today because I've experienced at times feeling burned by a recent purchases. You buy a new video card and 2 months later the next series is out that is cheaper and faster.
 
Well I have good news, After crunching the numbers I have a clear indications of when that is.
 

Information

 

Chart 1 shows the launch prices

 

Chart 2 shows how many months until the next series

 

Chart 3 shows the final prices I could official find from news articles. I've seem lower for flash sales to get rid of old stock, but that wasn't from Nvidia lowering the MSRP.

 

So when is the best time to buy a card? Well I haven't complied the last stuff like value vs. performance of buying a set (SLI), buying a card at launch and waiting for another when the prices drop.

 

But so far it seems the best time to buy a card is right after the first MRSP drop when the bigger card comes out a few months later.

 

What do you think is the best time to buy one?

 

 

[ET3D]

I'd say Wednesday at 9pm, although I can't offer a good analysis for the reasons at this moment.

 

Anyway, I think it would be once the initial shortage ends and cards drop to MSRP. Which is close to what you said. (Or, in the case of NVIDIA's latest shenanigans, when 'Founders' price drops to a more reasonable price.)

 

Still, it may be true that everyone likes to save money and everyone likes to get the best performance, but in the end if you buy a card and make good use of it, having the optimal performance/price solution doesn't matter that much.

Edited June 23, 2016 by ET3D

[N.E.A]

I think it depends on other factors too. 

Lets look at these scenarios: 

 

1. Someone in no hurry, has a decent card that can withstand what is being played at the given time but not at a desired settings or monitor setup. Then the best time as you said, when the prices first drop especially when the drop is more than 50$. 

 

2. Someone building a computer or like me can't run games at a decent frame rates with the current setup. Then I think in this case, the best time is as soon as possible.

 

Those two cases assume that the person has the enough funds either to wait or to get the card as soon as it gets out. Because lets face it guys, if we are going to wait for some cards to drop in their prices the competition has to be very tough from the other card manufacturers. Plus there is always the chance that for example AMD wouldn't be able to compete with 1070 and 1080 which makes Nvidia control how their prices go more freely. 

 

According to some articles I've read, some of the higher end GTX 900 series prices were adjusted after AMD launched their counterparts and they were able to compete, at least at a performance per dollar rating. But the adjustment was no more than 100$ and sometimes a little more. But by the time the prices go their lowest the new series comes out. 

 

I was in that situation, I was about to get a GTX 970 then the 1070 came out and its MSRP is 379$. But there are no cards at that price and I expect that they wouldn't get to that till after 5 months or more which is unsuitable for me. The cards that I am looking to buy currently are between 430$ and 449$ if I am to get a FE out of desperation (hopefully would not go this far). The prices for a 970 currently are 320-350$ which yes lower even from the MSRP of 1070 but would be waste of money considering the performance gain of a 1070 over a 970. 

Edited June 23, 2016 by N.E.A

[jdm_freek]

i sold my 970 for $250 last so depending what the actual benchmaks of the RX480 look like i plan on buying 2. that is if team green releases a gtx 1060 i my go that rout.

and i know some will say just get a GTX 1070/1080 but i like multi card setups i have never had an issue 

[ccokeman]

Several factors I find important.

 

When you can no longer run the FPS level/Settings config you are used to in games

When you no longer have the option of adding a second card to improve perf due to EOL status of your GPU

When your ROI on the second hand market starts really slipping

You enjoy being an early adopter and always want the latest tech

You really just want a new card. Sometimes thats all it takes

 

Most of the time for me its the last one on the list. 

[Fight Game]

right after you regret it.

 

haha so helpful, I know.

[ccokeman]

right after you regret it.

 

haha so helpful, I know.

 

But that happens in the moment right after you plunk down your cash and the sale has been finalized.  Buyers regret sucks!