Are you ready to spend $500 on your next graphics card? Some information leaks indicate that nVidia is preparing to launch their next graphics chip – codenamed G70 – next month at Computex in Taipei; but, according to various stories, the chip will not begin mass distribution until Q3, 2005. This makes sense, because ATI is rumored to be releasing R520 – their next generation graphics chip – around the same time.

Personally, I’m sick of having to continuously upgrade to a brand new card every few years. Late this year, or early next year, I’ll be forced to upgrade to a next generation video card (and a new computer, overall), because I really want to play some of the games coming out, such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, which are being built for this next generation of graphics accelerators.

I don’t mind upgrades from generation to generation, because, for the most part, each generation has been leaps and bound better than the pervious one; however, I’m sick of the constant upgrade cycle that video card manufacturers force upon us within each generation.

What I’m asking for is a modular upgrade path, one where I’m able to choose which GPU I want, and how much RAM I want. I want the ability to spend $100 on the low end card, but then spend an additional $200 later on when I want to play Half-Life 3, Quake 4, or Doom 5.

I’m more than willing to spend $400 on a brand new generation of video cards, because that generation usually lasts for good few years. I’m not willing to spend $400 every year on an upgrade within this existing generation. I lose, because I’m unable to play the games I want, the game developers lose because I’m not buying their games, and the manufacturers lose because they’re not getting my money.

Wow. This news blurb turns into a long winded rant, didn’t it? Sorry ’bout that! ;)