Is Getting a GTX 1660 Super Late 2020 a Good Idea?
The current market for graphics cards is quite volatile, particularly in the high-end gaming GPUs. As of now, the Cheapest RTX 3070 is at $499, but the Radeon 6000 series prices have yet to be officially announced. Various RTX 30 series GPUs are expected, though their exact specifications and pricing are still unknown.
Upcoming GPU Releases
It's highly likely that both AMD and Nvidia will release GPUs in the 250 range within the next 12 months. These GPUs are expected to outperform the GTX 1660 Super, offering raytracing capabilities and DLSS technology for Nvidia cards. This means that if you wait, you may find yourself regretting your purchase.
Current Performance vs. Future Outlook
Currently, the GTX 1660 Super is a solid choice, capable of running the latest games at 1080p ultra settings with 60 FPS. However, if you can afford to wait until early 2021, it's likely that the RTX 3070, 3060, and 3050 will significantly reduce the value of your current card. These latest GPUs, as well as the new AMD cards, are expected to hit the market, making your current GPU almost obsolete.
Historical Context and Trends
Consider the RTX 3070, which is currently priced at $499, far ahead of the GTX 1660 Super, which originally sold for around $200. The 2080Ti, once priced at $1200, is now sold for as low as $500 due to the release of newer, more capable GPUs. By the time the next wave of GPUs is released, the value of even the GTX 1660 Super could drop significantly, possibly to the price range of a 1060 or even lower.
Future Gaming Trends
With the next-gen consoles set to feature raytracing as a standard, it's clear that this technology will become more prevalent over the next 6-12 months. All Nvidia 2X and 3X GPUs and the new AMD cards will support raytracing. Disabling this feature in the future may result in visuals that look outdated and inferior.
Given the rapid advancements in technology and the upcoming releases, it is advisable to delay your purchase until early 2021. This will ensure you have a more powerful and future-proof GPU that can meet the growing demands of modern gaming technology.