Graphics cards like the RTX 3000 are currently in high demand, yet people want to buy one for their PC for various reasons. MeinMMO author Benedikt Schlotmann has bought an old graphics card instead of an RTX 3080. He explains why he did this and why it might also be worth it for you.
Why did I even buy a graphics card? Over the weekend, I usually visit my girlfriend. For everyday tasks, I set up a computer there to be able to complete important tasks and game a bit.
Since I upgraded my main computer with a Ryzen 5 2600 X, the old processor and motherboard ended up in this PC. Here, there is only a Ryzen 3 2200 G with an integrated graphics chip and no dedicated graphics card.
With this, I can complete my daily tasks in Genshin Impact with medium settings and play my event tasks in Overwatch at about 30 FPS. More than that is not possible.
Currently, however, I also have other titles that I play: In Apex Legends, the new Season 9 has started, and I enjoy playing several rounds in the evenings. However, the processor’s graphics unit is not sufficient for this without becoming a burden to my teammates due to missed shots.
These were my criteria:
- Playing at Full HD is completely sufficient
- More than 60 FPS doesn’t matter since the monitor can only handle a maximum of 60 Hz
- I rarely play competitively/ranked on my PC, as I want to relax on weekends.
So I already had clear ideas about what I needed before the purchase to draw enough performance from my old box.
These difficulties arose during the graphics card purchase
This is what the current situation looks like: Currently, graphics card prices are really high and seem quite daunting. Especially the new graphics cards entice with very good efficiency and performance. The RTX 3080 was sold out immediately upon release. There were various reasons for this, such as availability and especially scalpers and bots.
Nvidia wanted to do something about the scalpers, but graphics card prices continue to rise, and I am not willing to invest 700 to 1000 euros in a graphics card.
A GeForce RTX 3060 would interest me, but the price here is significantly above the recommended retail price. By the end of January, scalpers had already made over 15 million US dollars in profits with graphics cards.
Moreover, certain components for graphics cards and consoles are currently scarce, which likely won’t improve the availability. Even by mid-April, the graphics card market has not calmed down.
What alternatives are there? The alternative is to look for used graphics cards with enough performance that meet my needs. But even here, prices are noticeably rising. Because old graphics cards can currently be sold for good money, as we explain in detail in this article:
This is how I proceeded: I dedicated a weekend to comparing graphics cards, looking at their performance, and monitoring price trends.
Afterwards, I checked various platforms such as Amazon, eBay, but also classifieds offers and the ratings of the sellers and placed first offers on my watch list.
Finally, I made a purchase from a seller who seemed trustworthy to me and already had ratings from other buyers. The costs were around 100 euros plus a few euros for shipping.
Why I chose this graphics card
Which graphics card did I buy? I bought a Radeon R9 380. This is a mid-range graphics card that was released on June 18, 2015.
This is still officially supported by AMD, and there are also current drivers for the graphics card. The graphics interfaces DirectX 12, Vulkan, and OpenGL are easily supported.
Features like FreeSync are also included. My version of the Radeon R9 380 also offers 4 GB of video memory and can easily handle demanding titles.
What is the performance sufficient for? On paper, the R9 380 is about 30% faster than the RX 560 and is about 30 – 40% behind the RX 570 / RX 5500.
In practice, I can currently easily play modern titles on medium to high settings with the R9 380:
- In Apex Legends, I usually have a consistent 60 FPS, on my 144 Hz monitor I can even achieve 15 to 20 FPS more.
- Overwatch now also offers stable 60 FPS.
- Civilization VI runs smoothly with high settings.
These things helped me with the purchase
It has definitely been helpful that I have been assembling computer systems for several years. This allows me to compare prices with my order history. I already had a few used dealers on my list with whom I had good experiences.
This way, I could at least estimate how much money I had spent in the previous year and had a few suppliers I could check out.
These risks existed: Purchasing used goods naturally carries risks, which one should be aware of. You have to rely on the seller’s statements and be willing to pay money. However, you have no real guarantee that the purchased item actually works. Usually, there are no guarantees or warranties.
Buyer protection systems from eBay, PayPal, or Amazon offer protection for sellers and buyers, but conflict resolution may take weeks.
Most private sellers are usually just ordinary people with no evil intentions. It helps to discuss the sale or clarify details.
This is my conclusion: Anyone who wants to game in the current situation does not necessarily have to invest hundreds of euros and pay the exorbitant prices currently demanded. If you have patience and observe the market, you can find some good offers.
It also helps to be able to assess your own needs. Depending on what I mainly play currently or how often I play, it can certainly be important to opt for an older device instead of a new model.
Currently, you should not buy certain graphics cards anyway and should instead look at the used market:
These are the 7 graphics cards you should not buy new in the shop in 2021
