I’m in a major brain jam over something pathetically easy to normally decide. GPU prices are super high, I have a limited income but have about $1k to lay out towards a GPU because I can sell my Current Gigabyte RX 5600 XT Windforce Gaming OC for about $400 to offset the cost of these2 possibilities.
Looking at eBay, because it’s the only place that has cards, besides MicroCenter and they aren’t shipping them. They don’t even have what I think I want. Or do I need it period??
I feel like I’m having issues due to the 6GB VRAM and the puny 192 bit bandwidth with my current card. Not micro stutter, even FPS seems ok, but running games on “Ultra” at 1080p it’s just not smooth or something.
CPU is a Ryzen 5 3600X with PBO +200 10X scalar on, 16GB DDR4 3733 custom underclocked to 3600 to make it compatible with the “IF”. No problems in that area, so I figure I should probably move up to a card with at least 8GB VRAM. Looking at the VRAM usage in games, I’m maxing or getting close to maxing the 6GB most of the time.
Hence “brain jam”, I’m finding the “best” choices to be the RTX 3070 or the RX 6800 if I want to stay under $900. I know both cards are overkill for 1080p but I can’t justify spending $700-800 on a decent RX 5700 XT or used 2070 Super and the 3060Ti seems like a bad joke.
I feel like these cards will not go back to MSRP within 2 years, even if they roll out newer Nvidia and AMD stuff. Look at the RTX 20’s and even the GTX 10’s are way high, some equal to the new stuff but used! AMD has the same issues unless you go back to a Polaris card but I’ve seen the R9390X selling for $450+ again!
GIGABYTE AMD Radeon RX 6800 16GB GDDR6 WINDFORCE 3X Cooling Ships Tomorrow 889523025529 | eBay
NEW EVGA GeForce RTX 3070 XC3 ULTRA GAMING 08G-P5-3755-KR 8GB GDDR6 Graphic Card 843368067496 | eBay
These are the 2 I’m bashing my head in about. Is it worth it to bother? Those 2 are “cheaper” options that are $200-300 over MSRP for “partner” cards. Reference models are $800+ for the 3070 and there are none for the RX 6800, just “partner” cards. The MSI “MERC”, looks good but not at $900 for a non XT. The XT version goes for $1k+ in any brand. A 3080 would be “nice” but those are $1200-1400.
Going by benchmarks, my PC is fine where it is. It keeps pace with the equivalent RX 5700 XT while running a modest OC. The CPU has good bench scores. I guess it feels like the “frame pace” is off. FreeSync is on but turning it off doesn’t change things. It might just be me. In any case, should I wait out the price’s or deal with a $200-300 scalping? Then which one will delivers the smoothest frame rate? Gamer’s Nexus did a review of both and it seems like the RX 6800 would be smoother and outperform the 3070 but it drives the cost way up. For the money, I should be getting the RX 6800 XT but not in this economy.
Sorry for the “WOT”, I’ve been up all night looking at cards and reviews.