GPU upgrade - buy 7900xtx or 4080 Super now or wait for next gen release in 2025?

[Baba]

AMD is Switching from RDNA/CDNA to UDNA (consolidated architecture) in 2025.

18% hike doesn't justify the 10%

There is always an exponential growth when you near the best products. You won't get the 1 to 1 price to performance growth. 4080S is showing bigger gains in other UE5 titles.

I'm aware of the UDNA switch. AMD is strugging in the GPU market. It's only 7% of their revenue. AI and Servers are their focus.

 

[R-T-B]

I'd buy now if you are in the states (thinking you are by avatar). One thing people aren't considering is tariffs are going to be implemented and they will most likely raise electronic prices acrosd the board. Some estimates are anticipating a near 50% price rise for PC components.

Yes, I know that's a borderline "political" statement now but no way arround it. Sure it might not happen, but I'd not risk it personally.

 

[mama]

Next generation is shaping up to be pretty grim, not much in the way of performance improvements and the prices will go only up, waiting might turn out to be a total waste of time unless you have 2K$ to spare.

I agree. Bite the bullet now or you'll have waited for nothing.

There is always an exponential growth when you near the best products. You won't get the 1 to 1 price to performance growth. 4080S is showing bigger gains in other UE5 titles.

I'm aware of the UDNA switch. AMD is strugging in the GPU market. It's only 7% of their revenue. AI and Servers are their focus.

Stuff like market share is irrelevant. Just get the best GPU for the job at the right price.

 

[Baba]

I agree. Bite the bullet now or you'll have waited for nothing.


Stuff like market share is irrelevant. Just get the best GPU for the job at the right price.

I think you misunderstood what I said. I wasn't talking about marketshare. AMD is moving away from the gaming segment. It's only 7% of AMD's revenue. They're going to refresh their midrange. No one knows their plans with UDNA. They never said they are coming back to the high end GPU market. They only said they are not making anymore RDNA high end cards.

I agree with buying the best product. Although, you have to look at the post purchase part too. If one company is walking away form the market segment you are buying into, are you expecting the same level of post purchase support, i.e. drivers, etc.?

 

[Remeca]

One in the hand is worth two in the bush.

 

[Dr. Dro]

AMD is Switching from RDNA/CDNA to UDNA (consolidated architecture) in 2025.

18% hike doesn't justify the 10%

Access to all NVIDIA and third party vendor features, timely and comprehensive driver support (we got STALKER 2 driver 2 weeks ago, AMD hasn't released one this month at all), 10+ years of driver updates, validated studio drivers that are designed to work with creative suites and slightly better power consumption, superior ray tracing performance, robust software suite however, do justify the 10%. At least to me.

 

[mama]

Fine, you buy one. Oh, you have.

Like many I'm sure, I am over the AMD v Nvidia v Intel thing. Building a PC should be about the products those companies make, not the companies themselves. If your use case is for ray tracing support, then look at the product that suits your needs. If power consumption is a priority, then consider a specific product that meets that need. This generic company comparison is getting old and, no disrespect intended but is frankly lazy.

 

[y2faulty]

buy used now, save a lot of money and enjoy, or buy used in 3 months and save a lot more money (if 5000 is decent)

 

[R-T-B]

buy used now, save a lot of money and enjoy, or buy used in 3 months and save a lot more money (if 5000 is decent)

Used can work, but these days its just too easy to get an abused GPU. Do it here on techpowerup or similar though and those odds go down... just watch the classifieds.

 

[AnomalouS]

Thanks for the posts, every day I convince myself to wait and see what happens with the RTX 5xxx series. However, if the right deal comes along on a 7900XTX or 4080S I might just pick one up.

 

[evernessince]

Access to all NVIDIA and third party vendor features, timely and comprehensive driver support (we got STALKER 2 driver 2 weeks ago, AMD hasn't released one this month at all), 10+ years of driver updates, validated studio drivers that are designed to work with creative suites and slightly better power consumption, superior ray tracing performance, robust software suite however, do justify the 10%. At least to me.

Both AMD and Nvidia have been releasing steady drivers updates for a long time now. That AMD hasn't done one yet this month doesn't change that fact. It's akin to spotting a single turtle on the beach and then running around stating Turtles are invading en mass.

The rest I agree with (excluding the robust software suite part, Nvidia is just now catching up in that regard with the Nvidia app) but I see no reason why you felt the need need to embellish with nonsense what would otherwise have been a fine statement.

 

[kapone32]

Both AMD and Nvidia have been releasing steady drivers updates for a long time now. That AMD hasn't done one yet this month doesn't change that fact. It's akin to spotting a single turtle on the beach and then running around stating Turtles are invading en mass.

The rest I agree with (excluding the robust software suit part, Nvidia is just not catching up in that regard with the Nvidia app) but I see no reason why you need to embellish with nonsense.

I can't believe he mentioned Power consumption.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Both AMD and Nvidia have been releasing steady drivers updates for a long time now. That AMD hasn't done one yet this month doesn't change that fact. It's akin to spotting a single turtle on the beach and then running around stating Turtles are invading en mass.

The rest I agree with (excluding the robust software suit part, Nvidia is just not catching up in that regard with the Nvidia app) but I see no reason why you need to embellish with nonsense.

It's not just this month. This isn't the first time they skip launch seasons for hotly anticipated games and certainly not the last time it's gonna happen.

I can't believe he mentioned Power consumption.

And why not? The 4080 uses less power. It generates less heat. If you opt to overclock either, you'll see 7900 XTX at the 450-500W realm, 4080's won't even allow you to go so far, even on the high-end variants. Feel free to prove me otherwise (you can't).

 

[kapone32]

It's not just this month. This isn't the first time they skip launch seasons for hotly anticipated games and certainly not the last time it's gonna happen.



And why not? The 4080 uses less power. It generates less heat. If you opt to overclock either, you'll see 7900 XTX at the 450-500W realm, 4080's won't even allow you to go so far, even on the high-end variants. Feel free to prove me otherwise (you can't).

Comparing a 4080 to a 7900XTX is the beginning but claiming that a 7900XTX consumes 500 Watts is just plain daft. You act like it is AMD cards that have the 600W connector and 3.5 slot coolers. At any rate if you just want to Game (raster) AMD is a better and cheaper choice at every price point. If you want to subscribe to the narrative get Nvidia and lament the fact that their cards are heavily tied to software.

 

[evernessince]

It's not just this month. This isn't the first time they skip launch seasons for hotly anticipated games and certainly not the last time it's gonna happen.

Looking at the last 2 years of AMD driver updates they average 1 update per month: https://www.amd.com/en/support/down...eon-rx-7000-series/amd-radeon-rx-7900-xt.html

Both AMD's and Nvidia's release cadence for their game ready drivers are pretty similar. You are making a mountain out of a molehill and I'd question what evidence you are even basing this assertion on. I'd assume biased observational "evidence" given you don't even own an AMD GPU and constantly rail against them.

This is such a waste of time because you could have simply excluded that one HEAVILY opinionated bit. You didn't need to exaggerate things, Nvidia already has a monopoly over the GPU market with 88% share and AMD is leaving the high end GPU market. They are already dead, stop smacking them with your bias.

 

[kapone32]

Thanks for the posts, every day I convince myself to wait and see what happens with the RTX 5xxx series. However, if the right deal comes along on a 7900XTX or 4080S I might just pick one up.

The issue with the 7900XTX is that it is literally 7% faster for $400 more than the 7900XT where I live.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Looking at the last 2 years of AMD driver updates they average 1 update per month: https://www.amd.com/en/support/down...eon-rx-7000-series/amd-radeon-rx-7900-xt.html

Both AMD's and Nvidia's release cadence for their game ready drivers are pretty similar. You are making a mountain out of a molehill and I'd question what evidence you are even basing this assertion on. I'd assume biased observational "evidence" given you don't even own an AMD GPU and constantly rail against them.

1 a month averaged (and maybe they'll actually get the universal ROCm thing rolled out some time next year) vs. biweekly WHQLs, interim hotfixes and validated creative suite drivers, plus the whole Omniverse shtick, level playing field here

Comparing a 4080 to a 7900XTX is the beginning but claiming that a 7900XTX consumes 500 Watts is just plain daft. You act like it is AMD cards that have the 600W connector and 3.5 slot coolers. At any rate if you just want to Game (raster) AMD is a better and cheaper choice at every price point. If you want to subscribe to the narrative get Nvidia and lament the fact that their cards are heavily tied to software.

Why did you turn this into another flinging contest? Don't worry, you'll probably get a December driver before they head out to enjoy the holidays. Probably.

 

[GerKNG]

i would only upgrade now if you don't have a GPU at all.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

The issue with the 7900XTX is that it is literally 7% faster for $400 more than the 7900XT where I live.

You must be on some good shite.....



Last I checked.....



Also how does where you live have anything to do with the OP......



Nobody should be buying soon to be EOL 800+ gpu's, fear mongering over what nextgen hardware might cost doesn't help anyone. Wait and see what the 5070ti and above offer at what cost and then decide 2 year old high end gpu's one with heavy deficiencies in upscaling and RT performance shouldn't be a good option unless you need the hardware right now.

 

[kapone32]

1 a month averaged (and maybe they'll actually get the universal ROCm thing rolled out some time next year) vs. biweekly WHQLs, interim hotfixes and validated creative suite drivers, plus the whole Omniverse shtick, level playing field here



Yeah it doesn't have one, it has three power inputs instead. And 3.5 slot coolers all the same. And looks like my subtle link didn't get you the hint, so yes, these cards overclocked do consume equal power to a 4090, but don't perform like one.

(already anticipating the screeching that the MBA model which throttles to the high heavens only has two, but that's predictable enough)

A GPU is a paperweight without software to back it up. This is regardless of brand, year, or make. A GPU with no driver is like a vehicle with no fuel.

Why did you turn this into another flinging contest? Getting FOMO? Don't worry, you'll probably get a December driver before they head out to enjoy the holidays. Probably.

What are you talking about? AMD software is so good that after 20 years Nvidia are updating their GUI. You obviously are someone that takes the narrative about AMD and runs with it. Like the notion that monthly Driver updates from AMD somehow make their cards bad. Then you are making it seem like raw specs don't matter. That is a 384 bit bus and what you see is 24GB of GDDR6 with a ton of power.That 2 phases. That is what made AMD users laugh when people were complaining about Console ports like Hogwarts. That is also why if you like Strategy Games that raw performance that you discount matters. It is not like Strategy Games are not already tough enough on the CPU but the GPU matters. Show me a strategy Game that touts RT as a feature. You think that AMD is so bad but don't realize that the fact that 3090 is no longer in the conversation is telling about how $2000+ feels for buying the top end Nvidia after 2 years. People will wax on about RT and DLSS though when pure raster is one less setting to just enjoy Gaming on a PC. I guess it does not matter to you if you get a 7800XT or 7900XT. Remember the feeling that the 7900XT was supposed to be the 7800XT, until it launched. It is just like the 95% market share argument when today TPU posted an article that the 5090 already has a China variant. You can go on with the narrative though. It is the same thing that had people celebrating 2% perfomance improvements in the Sandy Bridge era. Now people lament 11% like CPUs are not as complex as they are today. A GPU is the most powerfu parallel processor avialable to consumers and thsi Spy vs Spy nonsense that Nvidia promotes is foolish in a World where the most important innovation in the GPU space was Freesync and people act like so what. Exactly how many Gsync monitors are there today?How many people buy a monitor for Gaming that is not Freesync or TV that is VRR, that matters. Let's come back to software and realize that AMD drivers are universal so the reason that you have not seen a driver for November could be that they are working the Card that will be announced at CES into the eco system. So that the whining that happened when 7000 launched does not return.

You must be on some good shite.....

View attachment 373371

Last I checked.....

View attachment 373372

Also how does where you live have anything to do with the OP......



Nobody should be buying soon to be EOL 800+ gpu's, fear mongering over what nextgen hardware might cost doesn't help anyone. Wait and see what the 5070ti and above offer at what cost and then decide 2 year old high end gpu's one with heavy deficiencies in upscaling and RT performance shouldn't be a good option unless you need the hardware right now.

I wish but let's remember that I used a 7900XTX before I got my 7900XT so it is not just conjecture. They have the same GPU core. The only diffrerence is the 4GB of VRAM and on some models 3 power connectors. If you think that is worth $400 where I live, be my guest. I am not claiming that a 7900XT is as fast as a 7900XTX and if you play at 4K Ultra the gap will grow but if you look at even TPU reviews of Games the 7900XT is the cheapest retail (not MSRP) card in that bracket.

 

[AMF]

There is always an exponential growth when you near the best products. You won't get the 1 to 1 price to performance growth. 4080S is showing bigger gains in other UE5 titles.

I'm aware of the UDNA switch. AMD is strugging in the GPU market. It's only 7% of their revenue. AI and Servers are their focus.

the 7900xtx is looking great for the price......

 

[jormungand]

At this moment the only gpu i consider looking is the RX 7900 XT, at least in US $619.99 , that should be at least $580-$599 top atm IMO
XTX still overpriced, 4070 ti super too. I was inclined to grab a gpu too, but is too damn close to launch to throw $600-$1000.

 

[evernessince]

1 a month averaged (and maybe they'll actually get the universal ROCm thing rolled out some time next year) vs. biweekly WHQLs, interim hotfixes and validated creative suite drivers, plus the whole Omniverse shtick, level playing field here

I'm going to point out the obvious here, Hotfixes don't count as a plus towards driver support. You are in essence patting Nvidia on the back because they fixed something they screwed up on in the first place. Are you counting the hotfix for the discord Nvidia bug as equal to a full AMD driver release? That's beyond hypocritical, you are always criticizing AMD for their bugs but here you are counting Nvidia bugs and hotfixes as a plus towards driver support.

Similar could be said of studio drivers. Studio drivers are indentical to the game ready drivers. They are mearly more tested than the game ready drivers, are on a longer update cadence, and their release typically coincides with the release of creative app updates. It could more be argued that it's a downside that Nvidia has two separate packages for studio and game drivers as users must choose between which they want to install as compared to if Nvidia to just periodically release a LTS (long term support) version of their game ready driver (in fact they should just stop calling their main driver game ready, a lot of non-gamers use this driver version in different fields). Again you are trying to present something that's actually a limination as a positive and as if Nvidia is doing some massive amount of work on top of their regular driver updates to get studio drivers out the door when it's actually the opposite. I do think they are nice to have but it's entirely misleading to pretend they are equal to the work that goes into a full driver release.

All but 1 AMD driver in the last 2 years has been WHQL and you can see that right in the link I provided. Not the I really put much stock in Microsoft's ability to test drivers thoroughly but you brought it up.

You used stalker 2 as an example of AMD not have timely driver support but in fact AMD cards already perform as expected in that title: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/stalker-2-fps-performance-benchmark/5.html

So why exactly would AMD need to release a driver for this game?

For what I gathered, you are trying to just throw raw numbers behind your argument that Nvidia has superior driver support without thinking about the reasoning behind those numbers. Having more hotfix drivers is NOT a good thing and carries other implications, having studio drivers was not the flex you thought it was, and AMD not needing a driver for stalker 2 because it already performs well is not a negative but a plus.

I think even if we ignored all the above, just looking at the number of driver releases on the AMD side you can see your original statement in regards to consistent and timely driver support was simply false. AMD's driver releases have been pretty consistent for years. Sometimes they miss a month and often when that happens you can see they release two drivers in the following month, typically one early and one later in the month. Again it's 1-2 releases per month with the average being 1. I'm not sure I'd want to increase that cadence either, quality over quantity.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

At this moment the only gpu i consider looking is the RX 7900 XT, at least in US $619.99 , that should be at least $580-$599 top atm IMO
XTX still overpriced, 4070 ti super too. I was inclined to grab a gpu too, but is too damn close to launch to throw $600-$1000.

Yeah, the 5070/5070ti are both expected Q1 and the 5080 will give people a good idea of what the 5070ti will be like given they have the same core/mem with not that many SMs disabled. Probably about a 15% drop in performance given that performance does not scale with cuda cores linearly.

Not sure if RDNA4 will be late or not and slip to Q2 but it sounds like it will just be a straight up better 7900XT what it cost will depend on what Nvidia offers at a similar performance level all these Rumors about 500 usd are BS until we see what the 5070 cost and performs like because everyone knows AMD they will price it too close to the competition and then it will drop like a rock over time....

 

[eidairaman1]

Just built a 9800x3d, Asrock x870 Pro RS and TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan DDR5-6000 setup. Play mainly FPS, light video with DaVinci and some 3d modeling @ 1440p.

I have a RTX 2080ti that is limping along pegged at 100% utilization, been looking at either a 7900 XTX or 4080 Super and seeing decent pricing on them now. With the RTX 5000's and AMD 8000's releasing early next year, I am on the fence if buying now or waiting is the best option.

A couple thoughts:
-Nvidia stops producing 4000 series cards, keeps stock low and prices likely don't move.
-I will not pay $1400 for a 5080, I might pay $1100.
-I can get a 4080 Super for $950 right now.
-I can get a 7900 XTX for $839 right now.
-Is there enough benefit with pcie 5.0 GPU's upcoming?


Love to hear your thoughts.

All I can write is vote with your wallet and don't overpay for hardware, even brand new stuff that launches next year