Should You Opt for a GTX 970 Used or a 1050 Ti New?

When considering the purchase of a graphics processing unit (GPU) for gaming, two popular options often come into contention: the NVIDIA GTX 970, a previous-generation card, and the GTX 1050 Ti, a current budget card. In this article, we will delve into the performance, power consumption, and software support aspects of these two GPUs, helping you make an informed decision based on your needs.

Pure Performance

The GTX 1050 Ti is the current budget card by NVIDIA, designed to be energy-efficient while still delivering decent performance. Comparing the two, the GTX 1050 Ti matches the performance of the GTX 680 and GTX 770, both of which are older GPUs. However, the GTX 970 often outperforms the GTX 780 Ti, a more powerful card released in 2013, by a wide margin. These performance benchmarks are detailed in a video by Branko Jovanovic.

While the GTX 970 is undeniably the faster card, there are reasons to consider the GTX 1050 Ti as well.

Price/Power Consumption

The GTX 1050 Ti consumes about 75W, which is incredibly low, typically requiring only the power from the PCIe slot, with a few exceptions. On the other hand, the GTX 970 requires two 6-pin power connectors, which might not be available on all power supply units (PSU). The current average price on platforms such as eBay is around $170 for the GTX 970, while the GTX 1050 Ti is priced at around $150 to $160 on Amazon.

Considering the price difference, the GTX 970 is indeed cheaper, but the performance gain is only about 40% more. This makes the GTX 970 a tempting option if the price difference is a significant factor.

Software Support

The GTX 970 was released in late 2014, utilizing the Maxwell architecture based on the 28nm node. The GTX 1050 Ti, on the other hand, was released in Q3 2016, using the Pascal architecture with the 16/14nm FinFET processing node. NVIDIA has a history of focusing more on new card series, leaving older ones behind in terms of driver support and software updates.

With the release of the next generation of NVIDIA cards early 2018, the GTX 900 series, including the GTX 970, will receive less support. Newer games and features such as advanced anti-aliasing methods will likely not be supported for the GTX 900 series in future driver updates, which may lead to performance degradation similar to what was experienced with the 700/600 series.

Warranty

Lastly, regarding warranty, the GTX 970 is no longer under warranty due to its age and the likelihood of reselling after an initial buyer. This can be a significant concern if the card fails during use. In contrast, a new GPU, such as the GTX 1050 Ti, typically comes with a warranty of 2 to 3 years from the manufacturer, providing peace of mind for the buyer.

Conclusion

While the GTX 970 offers better performance, the GTX 1050 Ti stands out for its energy efficiency, driver support, and warranty. The decision between the two ultimately comes down to your willingness to tolerate a card without or with limited warranty. If you prioritize long-term support and warranty, the GTX 1050 Ti might be the better choice, especially if your PSU is not capable of handling the higher power demands of the GTX 970.

I hope this analysis helps you make an informed decision. Your feedback is always welcome!

Watch the full comparison video by Branko Jovanovic