Advice? Best GPU buying strategy?

GTX 770

There is no "performance / price strategy" on Nvidia cards.But if you really have to buy Nvidia ( which I think is the worst thing you can do to your system right now ) go for GTX770.

mid/low range form me. i dont need every game playable on high setting anyway

Definitely: Buy a 'Mid range' card ~ $150-$200 every 1-3 years.

well I bought a gtx 295 back when it came out in 2009,so its been over 5 years now the only thing it really has trouble with now is Skyrim with a crapton of extra graphics mods, probly still good for two or more years. I would say the higher end simply because it will last you longer (as long as you take care of it) and you will get the benefit of better graphics now.

you need high card for high details and high resolution gaming
if your screen is less than 1080p / you just dont care about maxing your setting / dont see the diffrence / dont play high demanding AAA games (crysis/metro/skyrim)... you get the point
then dont do high-end card

for me i like to go high end and replace it every year, that way i pay 100$ per year but get to max my setting
but i do get downtime where i use older cards with older games. i play a lot of LOL

I'd take a poweful card, so I can get high details now and medium or low ones in the next 4-5 years instead of having a constant mediocrity :3

You can't make any of the cards last for 4-5 years, at least not in the sense of providing ultra details at 60 fps. Two years from now, it won't make much of a difference if your expensive card can push 40 at ultra, and your cheaper card can push 40 at high.

I personally think it's best to simply pick a power envelope that you (not the computer) can handle - pumping out 100W of heat is very different in terms of noise to pumping out 250W of heat out of the case. Then do a simple noise/performance analysis for cards that fall in that power envelope. Don't look at manufacturer-specified TDP - that's just BS. Look at various reviews.

My personal power envelope is 100W. When I got a new computer last year, I went for the Radeon 7790, as it was under 100W, and then I picked an Asus version that is almost noiseless.

750 ti is a entry level 1080p card. Get 760 at least

I'd wait for 800 series in early 2015. Now its probably the worst time to buy a new mid-end card in at least 7-8 years.

Hello there.

Depends on the timing.

Right now I would strongly recommend a mid range card or even better ... just buy nothing for now. Wait at least another year and buy a high end card then.
When the first real next gen games will be ported over the requirements will make a leap forward.
Better cards will get much cheaper in the process.
After that leap nothing real will change in the hardware sector in the next 5-8 years (VR hardware excluded).

Take a look at Watch Dogs, for example. This game has been ported over from last gen (almost 6 years development time) and still needs a 560 for recommended hardware specs. The first games which will really utilize the capability of the next gen consoles also will go much harder on your PC.

I'm pretty sure a 770 will be 'kind of' outdated in the next 2 years. Meaning that you won't able to crank everything up to max.
The next new cards on the other hand will stay top notch until the next next gen arrives.

Hope I could help.

Consider the AMD R9-270X or the R9-280... Look at the benchmarks and the price and then make up your mind. If you're gonna go for Nvidia, then go for the GTX770 or a 780 (which is too expensive) but any other card of Nvidia has too bad a price / performance ratio to consider.

Also, don't plan on when to buy gpus.
I mean, come on, do you really think the gtx770 will make it 5 years? Do you know what can happen in 5 years? You can get rich, you might not like gaming anymore, the card may break down outside of warranty, you may change your mind 10000 times... You can't plan such a thing out.

Buy a 'Mid range' card ~ $150-$200 every 1-3 years.

THIS ONE

If you're looking for a gaming GPU, don't buy GeForce cards under x60 (550, 650, 750), and don't buy Radeons under x8x0 (7790, 7770, 6790,...), or the new R9's under 270. Get a 760, or a 270X.
That's my advice.
If you're going to disregard it, then go for the cheap midrange option. I got fucked on the expensive option, when AMD/ATI dropped support for their HD 4xxx series, leaving me with the annoying garbled text bug on my HD 4870, so now I stick to the above mentioned zone (ordered an ASUS Radeon R9 270X 4GB DirectCU II TOP 2 days ago).

For me, wait to the next gen of Nvidia gpu.

http://www.logicalincrements.com/
Go with the tier that suits you, and then update when time causes you drop to a tier that is too low for you.
This means that you should probably go with a middle ground between the 750ti and the 770. I have the 760 because that's at a level that matches my processor and the rest of the row. For me, it will still take a few years (from now, not when I bought them) before it's too low for me.

But, to be be serious, the 770 is more powerful than you need. Save $80 and get the 760 which will be still might be a little more powerful than you need, but certainly won't be underpowered.

i have 750Ti and i like it, Ofc u cant run stuff like arma 3 on ultra but for a 150dollar or less, its a very good card!
It runs all COD's on max and all the other games i play alot like Dota 2 and CS GO.

And 750Ti is very power efficient. It doesnt need a powerful PSU, when 770 is alot more powerful and needs a more powerful PSU i think.

Obviusly think in your priorities. For example i want my gpu for rendering 3D sculpts and hard playing and testing games so i buy a 780Ti superclocked and it will be changed when it dies xD burned or naturally. Dont think about change your gpu for the time it have. Change it when you need and buy one according to your needs.

I can't say definitively that my strategy is best, but it has been working very well for me for the past 30 years or so.

• Wait for the right time to buy. You want to shop shortly after the next generation/updates of tech come out and/or during a sales season.
• Aim for the best bang for the buck. You're looking to get the most quality for the least amount of money.
• Look to the future. Anticipate which hardware will still be useful and supported five years down the road.
• Buy from the trustworthy. Once you know which card you want, find a retailer who will back it in case something goes wrong.
• Go for a smoking sale. With the newer tech just come out, the previous generation will be on sale.

Using the above strategy, I have been able to play any games I buy without noticeable limitations. Also, anytime I have had a problem, I have simply had the card replaced by the manufacturer. Most of the time, it has been sufficient to shop at Newegg.com and EVGA to guarantee my satisfaction with both purchase and replacement of any parts I buy, but I have occasionally used local computer stores for parts. Local is a good idea when the price difference is negligible and returns or repairs can be tricky. Lastly, keep in mind that when it comes to the retail pricing of electronics, you usually get what you pay for.

As you may have noticed, the above strategy can be applied to most purchases, computer or otherwise. That is how I've been able to afford a decent quality of goods on a tight budget.

I personally prefer AMD, and I haven't found a single game the R9 270 can't max out on with full 60 FPS.