Should You Buy a GPU Now or Wait for Next-Gen?

Should You Buy a GPU Now or Wait for Next-Gen?

The holiday season tempts GPU upgrades, but next-gen cards are just around the corner. Should you buy now or wait? The answer is: wait.

Upcoming GPU Announcements in 2025

Next-gen GPUs are expected at CES 2025 in early January. Nvidia will likely unveil the GeForce RTX 50 series, and AMD will probably announce Radeon RDNA 4 GPUs. This could mean improved performance and better price-to-performance ratios.

AMD vs. Nvidia: What to Expect

AMD’s RDNA 4 targets mid-range and mainstream. Rumors suggest Nvidia is accelerating its RTX 50 series launch, potentially offering competitive mid-range options sooner. Intel’s Arc Battlemage is also on the horizon.

When Discounts Make Buying Now Worthwhile

Significant discounts on current-gen cards might justify an early purchase. A minimum discount of 25% is suggested to offset potential next-gen performance improvements. For example, an RTX 4070 Ti Super at $600 (a 25% discount from its MSRP) could be considered.

Evaluating Nvidia GPU Discounts

Discounts less than 25% are generally not worthwhile. A table of potential Nvidia GPU discounts is provided in the original article.

Evaluating AMD GPU Discounts

A 25% discount (or even 30%) off current market prices for AMD GPUs is recommended. A table of potential AMD GPU discounts is provided in the original article.

Picks for Immediate Purchases

If you must buy now, the RTX 4080 Super offers good value for 4K gaming. The RTX 4070 Ti Super and Radeon RX 7900 XT compete in the upper mid-range, with the former excelling in ray tracing. The RTX 4070 and RX 7800 XT battle in the $5