Hardware - the next generation

[ikonia]

I've seen various threads dicussing various topics of next gen hardware,

the new intel chipset, the ATX/BTX debate, the PCI-E systems, various new video cards.

I'm in the middle of a debate with myself.

I recently dissasembled my "gaming" pc and gave the parts to friends with lower specs. I'd reached the end of my upgrade cycle and could go no further (no faster CPU available, AGP 4 card slot, slow Ram etc)

I did this with the view on getting what could only be the ultimate gaming machine (makes alienware look like a DX4)

I did some research and read some interesting threads on this board (thanks hexus !)

looking at AMD/V intel, differnet video card / mobo / ram combiations, and then the next gen of kit coming out too. All looks very interesting.

However I'm worried that if I wait for the next gen stuff, eg: cool PCI-E video cards, the new Intel Chips, that it will take a while to come out, and even longer to be stable to the point of the current kit, in which case I'll have to upgrade again. Or I could dive in and get stunning kit now, then find out the the next gen stuff is the mutts nuts and getting released tommorow for half the price ??

whats peoples opinions/views on this - wait or buy now, pros/cons

thanks

Matt.

[Defiant]

Well I have a good spec at the minute for the cost.

But I think this year is a waste of time for new kit based on emerging techs based on intel/amds new motherboards and current cpus.

There is too much chopping about for my liking, here’s a list of major changed in the next 12 months time.

Intel 915/925 motherboards
Intel CPU rating re-labeling
Intel New Socket (a real crapper by the sounds of the reviews)
Universal move to DDR2, then the progression to good DDR2
Amd change to one main stream socket for XP bit CPUs
AMD standardising the FX, 64 and servers CPUs (Inc the downgrading of the 64 bit chips performance to make the FX range stand out better! pah! bunch of crooks!)
Universal change to PCI-E expansion card standard, ranging from 1x-32x (Another nightmare!)
Duel PCI-E SLI graphics system (A must have for performance gamers!!!)
And the worst of all
Universal move from ATX to BTX motherboards, Cases and PSUs (Making most of the markets hardware null and void for future upgrades!!!)
Windows XP 64 bit

PLUS! any cpu, motherboard, graphics and other technology changes!!


In summary, its going to be a ruff year to upgrade in.

[ikonia]

This is as I feared. If my machine hadn't been so un-upgradable and games where starting to suffer I'd have probably kepts it and held out the year, but the fact was some games just wouldn't run and some had to have all the details turned off.

I was thinking initialls of some sort of 800mhz buss, with a stonking P4 a ton of the fastest rame and a video card that was amazing....that will cost, but I'm worried about doing it and then towards the end of the year games raise the bar further and I need new case/mobo/cpu/ram/card blah blah.

Its a tough decision to make.

[Kezzer]

I'm taking a case and a nice PSU with me to uni so when i get over there i can start getting some of the latest stuff lobbed in there lol.

I'm looking forward to some of the new technologies.

Also, many patents have been granted the use of nano-technology which will be implemented into many devices including displays so we might have even better cheaper TFT's

[SilentDeath]

this stuff might be coming out within the next 12 months, but expect a few more months for each thing to be affordable... probably best to upgrade now...

[madwelshboy]

Why not build a decent system (able to play farcry) for £450 (as I recently did for my bro), then wait 6-9 months and have a REALLY good upgrade (£800), give u time 2 save 2. This is the spec i would rec now:
P4 2.4C £65 (in Hexus for sale eg)
512mb (2x256) of average PC3200 £50
865 or 875 chipset motherboard £50 (from Hexus or www.aria.co.uk etc)
9800pro g/card £120 new
80gb Maxtor HD £40
cheapo CDRW £18 new
17" CRT mon £40 (in Hexus for sale)
Keyboard and mouse £10 new
Speakers £10
HSF and fans £25
Case £15
Extras £5

You'd be surprised the performance u'd get....IMO

[ikonia]

well I suppose I could go all out and just get the system I was thinking off (look how long it took for AGP to be fully utilised by games) and then a year or so down the line demote it to a "something" machine and just build a new one, that way I have a kick ass system while I watch how it pans out....it could all be a big flop for the next 2 years.

[BenW]

I might wait until all the new stuff comes out and wait a few months. Then get a load of cheap stuff to get me going on the new platform and then slowly change each piece until i have a mean machine!

[ikonia]

ahhh but what if you the newer new stuff isn't supported by the hardware eg agp2:4:8 getting a 4 card as I did (too early) didn't help me move to agp 8 (hence why I am shafted now)

[iranu]

I have to say that Madwelshboy gets my vote for going down the cheaper chip/mobo plus good gfx card route. Hold on to as many useful bits as possible from your last pc.

I have a mate that bought second hand p4 2.4g 533fsb, mobo and ram, (from someone who was looking to goto p4 3.0g 800fsb) along with a new 9800 pro and was gettting 5400 in 3dmark2003. He gets good fps in all games btw.

Since then he has found employment and could spend more but doesn't need to.

He will let me clock the f**k out of his 9800 pro when I get round to fitting the artic gfx cooler he got from ebuyer for a fiver

[Swafe]

from what ive heard - the socket t pentiums suck, and they cant be overclocked due to some malarkey intel put in them

ddr2 cas latencies instead of 2, 2.5 or 3 comes in 3,4 or 4 flavours