Should I wait for new technology or not bother?

[Sensi Karate]

Currently I have an "OK" gaming rig I'd classify in the budget-mid range. (Check my System Specs)

I want to keep up with the latest PC games without updating to much for years to come, which is quite laughable seeing as how fast technology moves so fast nowadays. Over the next year and a bit I want to upgrade my current PC into something which can last for around 2 years without any major upgrades which can play nearly any game on VH settings at 1920x1080. All the latest technology is being released to the public, such as USB 3.0, SATA 3 and a little more down the track, PCI-E 3.0.

The first thing I was thinking of doing was to buy a new case, since my Thermaltake V9 overheats and is quite... well.. crap. I'll get a nice large, fan frenzy case which can survive the Australian heat. Secondly I'll get a new PSU like an Antec 850w Truepower Quattro or whatever its called, this should be good for oc'ing and sli/crossfire I presume. After this I may buy a better DVD Drive or Blu-Ray.

The main thing I'm worried about is the Mobo, GPU and CPU. With USB 3.0 and SATA 3 being released soon, should I wait for these to be ready on a motherboard. I could also wait longer and get PCI-E 3.0 on a mobo, but wont the technology be to far ahead of the GPU that it wont be any use for years to come? Also I will wait for Nvidia DX11 GPU to arrive and see the reviews and performance differences before I get a card. I'm also struggling with the CPU area. Should I get a i7 920 before its discounted or get something else? Should I get a board with a x58 or P55 chipset?

Currently I wont get a new Mobo, GPU or CPU until late next year, but should I wait for any of these new features to arrive on the various products or not, my main concern is of the PCI-E 3.0. Remember I'm building for future proof for years to come. Also if you have any other suggestions on anything, such as case (I still don't know what to get, something sexy with lights ) or PSU that'd help greatly. The price range for everything should be around $1000-$2000 AUD.

Btw I'm not tech guru and just know the basics, all your help and guru-ness would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DirectorC]

If I were you, I would wait until USB/SATA 3.0 and DX11 cards from nVidia. Once that's all happening then you can decide whether you'll go i7 or stick with i5 (a beast in its own right, especially for gaming).

Actually, I AM you, LOL! This is exactly the dilemma I face and the decision I have made. I will probably go for the i5 because I'm thrifty like that and I won't pay hundreds extra for marginal/synthetic performance gains.

 

[Sensi Karate]

If I were you, I would wait until USB/SATA 3.0 and DX11 cards from nVidia. Once that's all happening then you can decide whether you'll go i7 or stick with i5 (a beast in its own right, especially for gaming).

Actually, I AM you, LOL! This is exactly the dilemma I face and the decision I have made. I will probably go for the i5 because I'm thrifty like that and I won't pay hundreds extra for marginal/synthetic performance gains.

Thanks for the advice. Its quite a hard dilemma for people wanting to build a new rig and has got me a in a fluster. I will most likely wait it out until all the new tech is out there and on mobos. Also will the price of mobos go up when USB 3.0, SATA 3.0 etc is released on them?

 

[Completely Bonkers]

No. Price will go down for the new platforms. Once i5 is mainstream and there are multiple vendors with multiple offerings... competition and supply volumes make prices go down. SATA and USB 3 are a protocol change/upgrade and dont in themselves cost a lot more to manufacture. Pennies. Expect the first mainboards to be more expensive for the "extra" feature... and older mainboards to be "cheap" while they try to clear stocks... but a month or two later the prices will be "standard" again.

 

[Sensi Karate]

No. Price will go down for the new platforms. Once i5 is mainstream and there are multiple vendors with multiple offerings... competition and supply volumes make prices go down. SATA and USB 3 are a protocol change/upgrade and dont in themselves cost a lot more to manufacture. Pennies. Expect the first mainboards to be more expensive for the "extra" feature... and older mainboards to be "cheap" while they try to clear stocks... but a month or two later the prices will be "standard" again.

Thanks, but what about PCI-E 3.0, will that be the same?

Does anyone also have any good suggestions on a case? I'd prefer Mid or Full Tower case and something with a lot of fans to cool in the summer, love the neon and prefer blue or a nice bright red. The case should be able to fit a fairly large GFX for future proof. Also if anyone has any better suggestions on a PSU, that'd help heaps.

 

[beyond_amusia]

I'd say wait for now - I personally plan to hold off until AMD launches it's Fusion chips in 2011 - I think that then, or just after, AMD will pwn Intel again, as it was before Intel launched the Core 2. -_- Yes, I'd love to own an i7, but I think AMD is onto a good thing with Fusion.

 

[Sensi Karate]

I'd say wait for now - I personally plan to hold off until AMD launches it's Fusion chips in 2011 - I think that then, or just after, AMD will pwn Intel again, as it was before Intel launched the Core 2. -_- Yes, I'd love to own an i7, but I think AMD is onto a good thing with Fusion.

I'm still a bit skeptical on the whole AMD Fusion chip thing, but more information will be presented in the coming months which should give me an answer to hold off and buy one or not. But isn't Intel also doing the dual GPU/CPU thing but slightly differently?

 

[beyond_amusia]

I'm still a bit skeptical on the whole AMD Fusion chip thing, but more information will be presented in the coming months which should give me an answer to hold off and buy one or not. But isn't Intel also doing the dual GPU/CPU thing but slightly differently?

Intel's graphics card has been canceled actually, and their "GPUs" are not GPUs in my book, but a chip that merely renders a GUI for people that are hard core porn and solitaire addicts... AMD will be packing a Radeon GPU into their CPUs, on the same die, where as Intel will once again make CPU cookies by having their "GPU" on a separate die in the CPU package.

 

[Sensi Karate]

Intel's graphics card has been canceled actually, and their "GPUs" are not GPUs in my book, but a chip that merely renders a GUI for people that are hard core porn and solitaire addicts... AMD will be packing a Radeon GPU into their CPUs, on the same die, where as Intel will once again make CPU cookies by having their "GPU" on a separate die in the CPU package.

Well thats the GPU for me!

Will you need a new slot and board for the AMD Fusion Chip? I'm still not sold on the idea of a Fusion between a GPU and a CPU, I've heard it arrival for years, but I have mixed feelings personally.

EDIT: Also, what kind of GPU and CPU will be inside this 'Fusion Chip"? Will you need to buy a new mobo if you have a previous mobo because of a new slot connection for the chip? Crossfire and Overclocking will work?

 

[beyond_amusia]

Yes, it will use a new socket - as for the GPU, I've read it will be one of the the new 5xxx ones.

EDIT - I've also read that the GPU in the CPU will be able to crossfire with an add in card... It'd be interesting to see that for sure ^_^

 

[Sensi Karate]

Yes, it will use a new socket - as for the GPU, I've read it will be one of the the new 5xxx ones.

EDIT - I've also read that the GPU in the CPU will be able to crossfire with an add in card... It'd be interesting to see that for sure ^_^

It gets more interesting by the minute. Do you know the release date, more specific then 2011. I'd be planning to upgrade late 2010/early 2011 so I could get it.

 

[beyond_amusia]

Second half of 2011. ^_^ By that time, Intel's Light Peak will be out too (LP is intended to replace USB, eSATA, DisplayPort, ect with 1 connector) so you may well get the chance to replace everything at once, and since LP is going to be a standard, it will be on AMD boards as well as Intel ones I am sure, just as Firewire is Apple's, but can be used on any machine out there.

 

[Sensi Karate]

Second half of 2011. ^_^ By that time, Intel's Light Peak will be out too (LP is intended to replace USB, eSATA, DisplayPort, ect with 1 connector) so you may well get the chance to replace everything at once, and since LP is going to be a standard, it will be on AMD boards as well as Intel ones I am sure, just as Firewire is Apple's, but can be used on any machine out there.

I already knew about this and I think the Intel Light Peak release date is early-mid 2010, however I'm not to sure myself. Its also supposed to do power supply as-well which is interesting, however manufacturers need to adopt the idea. If this becomes mainstream I will be so happy at the incredible speeds of 10gbps to 100gbps in the future. This will also mean the complete re-write of every single component wire in computers, from DVD drives to Mobos which is a huge leap in my eyes and one that may backfire or never become possible.

I will most likely get a 4870 or 4890 1GB cheap and use it until the new hardare is released. I'm also looking for a case to buy within the $0-$300 AUD price range, maybe slightly more. Like said before, mid to full tower case, good amount of fans, able to fit a few HDD and DVD drives and look very nice. Lots of neon lights is a plus.

 

[beyond_amusia]

I want a pimpin rig eventually... atm I own the fastest rig out of my circle of friends, so I'm content, lol.

 

[Sensi Karate]

I want a pimpin rig eventually... atm I own the fastest rig out of my circle of friends, so I'm content, lol.

Lol, thats similar to me. When a friend gets something better then me, I want to get something better then them. Good for me most of my friends don't know much about computers and just own pre-made branded PCs.

Well I'm pretty sure I'll be getting a HD 4850, HD 4870, HD 4890 or even a 5800 series from a relative, so I should be fine. Then I'll buy a Intel Quad Core Q9400 for $200 and I should be fine for the next year with games and such.

I'm also looking for a case to buy within the $0-$300 AUD price range, maybe slightly more. Like said before, mid to full tower case, good amount of fans, able to fit a few HDD and DVD drives and look very nice. Lots of neon lights is a plus.

 

[beyond_amusia]

4850 is good, but I was given a 19 inch screen, then this 22 inch - so now it needs to be replaced eventually, unless i run games at a lower res.

 

[Sensi Karate]

4850 is good, but I was given a 19 inch screen, then this 22 inch - so now it needs to be replaced eventually, unless i run games at a lower res.

Friend thing accepted btw. I also have a 4850 512mb with a 21.5" on 1920x1080. On some games it struggles, thats why I want the possible 4850 512mb crossfire or something of higher substance. What you thinking of getting or you just going to wait for the Fusion card?

 

[JTS]

Well I'm pretty sure I'll be getting a HD 4850, HD 4870, HD 4890 or even a 5800 series from a relative, so I should be fine. Then I'll buy a Intel Quad Core Q9400 for $200 and I should be fine for the next year with games and such.

That should tide you over for the majority of titles for a while. But the longer you wait, the fact is that there will always be more 'new tech' that is always just around the corner

 

[InTeL-iNsIdE]

I'm still a bit skeptical on the whole AMD Fusion chip thing, but more information will be presented in the coming months which should give me an answer to hold off and buy one or not. But isn't Intel also doing the dual GPU/CPU thing but slightly differently?

Well you could end up waiting a long time cause something new is always round the corner, I am quite happy I went i7, and I cant see me needing to upgrade anything in the next 12 months, my 4890 should run any game out there for that long easily, just not in dx11, though I dont see the first lot of dx11 games offering much more than dx10.

Even so all I would need is a gpu upgrade, the longer I can hold off on that then the better it will be on my wallet as prices will come down when Nvidia finally decides to enter the game.

Then 2-3 years down the line theres always gulftown, hexacore goodness, yummy I think I am set with i7 for a good few years to come.

Its all preference though.

 

[Sensi Karate]

That should tide you over for the majority of titles for a while. But the longer you wait, theere is always more 'new tech' that is always just around the corner

Yeah, I understand that, technology is ever-changing, but if I wait until late 2010/early 2011, I'll have some technology which should last me for awhile without major upgrades.

I don't know about the prices of the 5800 series in America, but they are pricey here in Australia, $450 for a 5850, $600 for a 5870. >_<

 

[KainXS]

are you a ninja
are you a assasin

no

then waiting isn't worth it.

 

[beyond_amusia]

Friend thing accepted btw. I also have a 4850 512mb with a 21.5" on 1920x1080. On some games it struggles, thats why I want the possible 4850 512mb crossfire or something of higher substance. What you thinking of getting or you just going to wait for the Fusion card?

ty ^_^ Well... I got my eyes on this PSU on craigslist, so I might just another 4850 and crossfire it - that'll last until the Fusion CPUs arrive, and also by then the 58xx cards will be much less xD

EDIT - a though... I make music on my PC and I push this thing to 100% CPU usage when using Sony ACID on big projects, so I may end up picking up a used Phenom II X4 as a stop gap...

 

[Sensi Karate]

Well you could end up waiting a long time cause something new is always round the corner, I am quite happy I went i7, and I cant see me needing to upgrade anything in the next 12 months, my 4890 should run any game out there for that long easily, just not in dx11, though I dont see the first lot of dx11 games offering much more than dx10.

Even so all I would need is a gpu upgrade, the longer I can hold off on that then the better it will be on my wallet as prices will come down when Nvidia finally decides to enter the game.

Then 2-3 years down the line theres always gulftown, hexacore goodness, yummy I think I am set with i7 for a good few years to come.

Its all preference though.

Well I was always going to get the new mobo late 2010/early 2011 and by that time most of that tech mentioned earlier should be implemented, and if not, I'll research for the day of release and consider if I should wait or not. My mobo should last until next year.

are you a ninja
are you a assasin

no

then waiting isn't worth it.

Well.... >_>

I'm also looking for a case to buy within the $0-$300 AUD price range, maybe slightly more. Like said before, mid to full tower case, good amount of fans, able to fit a few HDD and DVD drives and look very nice. Lots of neon lights is a plus.

 

[beyond_amusia]

are you a ninja
are you a assasin

no

then waiting isn't worth it.

But a sensi is a teacher, and teachers must have patience or they will end up beating their students ^_^

 

[Sensi Karate]

But a sensi is a teacher, and teachers must have patience or they will end up beating their students ^_^

I wont just beat them, I'll plummet that stupid student into the depth of concrete.

Nice choice with the new Phenom II x4 if your CPU is struggling with those major tasks, but AM3 or AM2+?