Are video cards becoming a mature technology like motor vehicles?

Q

quiktake

Gawd
Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Messages
574
Okay, so AMD is in reband mode, and even nvidia is not exactly knocking our socks off with performance increases. It just seems like most products are rebrands (except for halo products that most don't buy.) Each year they add minor tweaks (via respins or memorysize/speed) to the same product and then finally retire that silicon design after 4 years.

This reminds me exactly of the automotive industry. Back in the 1950's/60's it wasn't unusual to buy a new car ever two or three years, now the average owner waits at least 7 before selling or trading in. i can't help but feel that video cards are entering this same paradigm. CPU/motherboards still have room for added features, bus speed, and compatibilty to differentiate and make a purchase worthwhile, but we can't see those kind of changes in video cards as easily.

How long is the useful life of a video card now for at the same resolution? i.e. How long might an AMD 7950 (2012 card) be good for 1080p gaming? I am thinking three or for more years.

Thoughts?
 
Processors got like that around 2009-2011.

Video cards, not so much.

I'd be surprised if a 7950 is still viable for more than 2-3 years.
 
Both CPUs and GPUs seem to be hitting a wall. I could still be using my Titan from 30 months ago if I hadn't went in for a 2560 screen. Not good for Intel and especially not for smaller AMD.

imo cars have actually gone backwards with too much computerization, and direct injection that barely idles the car above stalling (for M/T models), and quirky electric power steering. It's biting motorcycles too, with buggy DFCO (dynamic fuel cut-off when coasting). I sold my brand new car after 5 months, and got a "classic" ride with hydraulic power steering, port fuel injection. It just works right.

I suspect that Win10 is going to take us in the wrong direction too. It's downhill from here, imo.
 
Video cards have been on the same process node since 2012. There is only so much you can do with 28nm. We'll start to see more impressive gains once vendors move to 14nm.

Video cards are nowhere near being a "mature technology" in the same way internal combustion engines are.
 
Well most of my gaming PC is 5+ years old (X58) as I bought it new March 2010 and the only upgrade was adding a $100 used Xeon X5660 cpu and the other day I bought a Sapphire 290X for $259 after rebate and I am sure I will not feel like I am gaming on an outdated system.. so this platform has been the best PC investment I ever made as to get a return back in enjoyment.

But to answer your question the 7950 is GCN and will have some DX 12 support .. also 2x7950's when working is still just as fast as 980GTX/Fury as it was already faster then the 780Ti as I was getting 100+ fps in BF4 at 1080p ultra with two of them.
 
ya seems nothing exciting...not that I get excited over GPU's.. this is why i just did the Xeon X5650 in an x58 board for a system, as it is more than powerful enough for me at 4Ghz right now..

Come on GPU's...!
 
Rizen said:
Video cards have been on the same process node since 2012. There is only so much you can do with 28nm. We'll start to see more impressive gains once vendors move to 14nm.

Video cards are nowhere near being a "mature technology" in the same way internal combustion engines are.
Click to expand...

I'm agreeing with you here. I think process tends to dictate a lot, at least historically.
 
horrorshow said:
I'd be surprised if a 7950 is still viable for more than 2-3 years.
Click to expand...
Pfft, two of the most popular games right now are Minecraft and WoW, which can run on an overclocked potato. Plus, kids are fine with consoles, and they aren't going to get any faster in seven years, and a 7950 can certainly pump out console graphics all day.
 
quiktake said:
Okay, so AMD is in reband mode, and even nvidia is not exactly knocking our socks off with performance increases. It just seems like most products are rebrands (except for halo products that most don't buy.) Each year they add minor tweaks (via respins or memorysize/speed) to the same product and then finally retire that silicon design after 4 years.
Click to expand...
Neither motor vehicles or video cards are technologies.
Both utilise technology from a lot of different areas.

The basic concepts are mature.
The technologies behind them are constantly evolving.

This reminds me exactly of the automotive industry. Back in the 1950's/60's it wasn't unusual to buy a new car ever two or three years, now the average owner waits at least 7 before selling or trading in. i can't help but feel that video cards are entering this same paradigm. CPU/motherboards still have room for added features, bus speed, and compatibilty to differentiate and make a purchase worthwhile, but we can't see those kind of changes in video cards as easily.
Click to expand...
Not a valid comparison unless you are using the cars for racing almost every time you use them.
Gfx cards are pushed to the max much of the time when gaming.
But on the other side of the coin, its harder to wear out/damage a gfx card unless you start modding.
They are not analogous.

How long is the useful life of a video card now for at the same resolution? i.e. How long might an AMD 7950 (2012 card) be good for 1080p gaming? I am thinking three or for more years.
Click to expand...
Depends on which card you have, what you are using it for and what you want from it.
Your timescale isnt far off the mark if you dont mind reducing settings to economise.
My cards tend to last me around 2 years unless there are problems forcing an upgrade.
My 290x only lasted me 1.5 years.
My previous GTX580 lasted over 2.5 years.
 
quiktake said:
Okay, so AMD is in reband mode, and even nvidia is not exactly knocking our socks off with performance increases. It just seems like most products are rebrands (except for halo products that most don't buy.) Each year they add minor tweaks (via respins or memorysize/speed) to the same product and then finally retire that silicon design after 4 years.

This reminds me exactly of the automotive industry. Back in the 1950's/60's it wasn't unusual to buy a new car ever two or three years, now the average owner waits at least 7 before selling or trading in. i can't help but feel that video cards are entering this same paradigm. CPU/motherboards still have room for added features, bus speed, and compatibilty to differentiate and make a purchase worthwhile, but we can't see those kind of changes in video cards as easily.

How long is the useful life of a video card now for at the same resolution? i.e. How long might an AMD 7950 (2012 card) be good for 1080p gaming? I am thinking three or for more years.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

A single 7950? Maybe a year or so more if you don't mind playing with everything on low on the newer more demanding games.

Even some games that are out now are being held back if you have a single 7950.

DX12 might change that somewhat, but not holding my breath on that one too much.
 
980ti was 30 to 40% faster than a 980. Pretty sure next year's Camry isn't going to be 40% faster than this year.
 
Conman said:
980ti was 30 to 40% faster than a 980. Pretty sure next year's Camry isn't going to be 40% faster than this year.
Click to expand...

Depending on what you're comparing, something like gas mileage might actually move that much.
 
blank said:
Depending on what you're comparing, something like gas mileage might actually move that much.
Click to expand...

Gas mileage matters way more on a car.
With video cards, for most (ie single card users) the primary concern is whether you have a powerful enough PSU, not the amount of power being used.
SLI/Xfire will have more of an issue with this but that is more analogous to upgrading the engine and needing a more powerful fuel pump.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top