I can currently get a Zotac RTX 5070 12GB Solid OC for around $600. I'm using an RTX 3070 with a 1080p monitor right now, so I'm wondering whether the upgrade is worth buying immediately or if I should wait for Black Friday or next year in hopes of a lower price. Would the RTX 5070 be a meaningful upgrade for 1080p gaming, or should I keep the 3070 for now?
3 Answers
At $600, that seems like a reasonable current price, and there’s no guarantee that holiday sales or next year’s prices will be lower. GPU prices can stay flat or even rise around major shopping periods. If you need more performance in newer games, buying now is defensible; otherwise, the RTX 3070 can still handle 1080p well.
The 5070 should provide a noticeable performance boost over the 3070, especially in newer, demanding games, but 12GB of VRAM may become limiting over time. If you’re not in a hurry, consider cards with 16GB such as the RX 9070 or RX 9070 XT, depending on pricing and whether you prefer Nvidia features. You may also get more benefit from upgrading your monitor if you’re still using a basic 1080p display.
I wouldn’t buy based solely on the hope of a future discount. If the 3070 is meeting your needs at 1080p, waiting is perfectly fine, but don’t assume next year will automatically bring cheaper GPUs. Buy the 5070 if you want the extra performance now rather than treating it as a guaranteed investment.
For lighter games or reasonable settings, I’d keep the 3070 and save the money. The upgrade makes more sense if you’re already lowering settings or struggling to maintain the frame rate you want.