Time for an upgrade?

[piggin23]

Hi All

As this is my first post please be gentle.

I have a EVGA 8800 GTX card.

Is it worth upgrading for xmas or waiting for the new year when prices could drop?

Thanks in advance.

[handscombmp]

Personally i'd wait a while as it's still a good card. As long as the rest of your pc's up to spec it should be fine.

And welcome to Hexus.

[piggin23]

Thanks for the reply

The rest of the system is still good but when the new Intel chips come out soon it will age quickly.

[Webby]

Your graphics card will be fine for a while yet on your 22" monitor, no need to upgrade for 6 months at least unless the is something you really want to play which your system is struggling on.

[-iceblade^]

listen to Webby. he gives very good advice

[piggin23]

No I can play everything at the moment but Christmas is coming and father Christmas needs a list.

[-iceblade^]

1680x1050 ought to be fine...

save the cash and spend it on games instead

[Webby]

Looking at your current system the only thing worth upgrading would be the graphics and as I have already said that is no worth it at the moment.

You would have to move to a 4850X2 (not out yet) a GTX280 or a 4870X2 to see any marked improvement all of which are going to cost you £250 - £350.

It really is not worth upgrading at the moment.

[piggin23]

I have overclocked everything in my case and had my first attempt at water cooling this year but as technology moves along will I get left behind.

ALSO

With Corei7 around the corner will prices fall?

[jonathan_phang]

You sound like you are wanting to buy through fear of 'being left behind'... Even if the i7 comes out and canes eveything else, its all relative to what you are doing with your PC now. If you are a gamer and the frames are acceptable, then why upgrade?

You will only get left behind if for some miraculous reason, games suddenly start taking advantage of all that perceived new power of the i7 and other cards, which, lets face it, isnt going to happen overnight...

There probably isnt one game that you cant play at highest settings right now with the rig in your signature, so maybe its best to sit tight for now until the next GPU generation. That way, you can see whethere your C2D subsystem would hold you back if you got the next generation GPU. If yes, then upgrade that too - or ask for it for Christmas next year - If no, then you just have to upgrade the GPU...

Mind you... if you upgrade, I'll gladly take any of your components off you!

[piggin23]

I am just concerned that I have been away from computer gaming for so long that I will have to start from scratch once again when corei7 comes out. I had to start from scratch this time last year as my old system was so out of date it was good for nothing.

Having considered your very sensible words jonathan I agree that I should sit back and see what the next generation of processors bring.

BUT

If the bug for change does strike then the good people of HEXUS will get first refusal of my equipment.

[jonathan_phang]

Oh. My. God. Someone listened to me! That never happens!!!

In all honesty, I think thats a good choice. If you do start to fall behind (I dont know, maybe you like to apply loads of AA and AF and wont settle for less) then you could upgrade your GPU...

That will be a while, and at least that way, the i7 (And DDR3) prices might have come down a bit once all the early adopters have jumped in. And you can get an um... Easter present instead.

In the meantime, if you really Must have something, then maybe get a 24" monitor. You seem to have cutting edge stuff, so maybe you could upgrade that for Xmas... Mind you, you would definitely need to get a better GPU then... So just forget what I said...

I know how the buying buy is... just about to buy a Q6600 system from scan as we speak... not sure if I should press that buy button or not...

JP

PS. If you ignore me and buy - I want your RAM!!!

[piggin23]

JP

Don't press the button yet.

I have been having a look around and there is word that Intel will soon be dropping the prices of their chips

I don't know if the Q6600 will be one of the chips that will be cheaper but I would hang on a few more weeks if you can to see what the prices do.

PS

Looks like the easter bunny will have to start saving now.

[jonathan_phang]

Gah - thats karma... I stop you buying - you stop me buying... !!! Really. Want. To. Buy. Now... What do you think guys? C2D prices likely to drop more... Its about £130 for a Q6600 already. Not sure if thats going to drop much more...

[Webby]

A couple of months back they were £105 (on offer) so they could drop more but with the pound weak against the dollar we will probably not see prices like that again for a while...

[piggin23]

Agreed

World economy has gone to hell and the dollar is now stronger against the pound.

It is well documented on google about a price drop on 20th October 2008 by Intel and also another later in this month. Just hope now that the retailer pass these savings onto us.