It doesn't have to be that often.
Last winter I got a graphics card that, at the time, was a bit over midrange, and it still makes things look all pretty without the framerate dropping horribly or catching on fire. The rest of my computer is somewhere midrange since everything is about 4 years old but it is still able to play Deus Ex: Human Revolution(thank god for steam sales) on the higher settings.
(, Fri 30 Mar 2012, 13:12, Reply)
^This.
Most games will run decent framerates with lower graphics settings. And it's far easier to play FPS with mouse and keyboard than with a pad.
(
Smallbrainfield, Fri 30 Mar 2012, 13:20,
Reply)
Indeed
If you look at the benchmarks for current cards the top one's go into the 100+ FPS
On a 60hz monitor this is overkill.
Saying that I love how my Gtx580 goes through games without a care.
(
Cerebus Sticky! Sticky! Stick! Stick!, Fri 30 Mar 2012, 15:07,
Reply)
I used to completely agree about mouse and keyboard
but I am now a convert, it just takes a few days getting used to
(, Fri 30 Mar 2012, 17:51, Reply)