Core Component Upgrade?

[Flayum]

I plan on building a new PC next April-ish. This should be around the time AMD releases their new M2 Socket. This is a hard deadline, I can only upgrade in April (don't ask).

At this time, M2 motherboards will not be of the greatest quality & the X2 5000+ will be extremely expensive. So, I was wondering, with the 4800+ not really differing in performance (I'll assume), should I just go for the old 939 socket mobo? Or in otherwords, should my core componants (mobo & PSU) be easily upgradeable (M2 socket) or should I not bother with M2 and use 939. My logic is that if I went for M2, by the time I would want to upgrade my CPU, there will already be something better out.

I hope that makes sense. I think it boils down to: Should I allow myself CPU upgradeability or, with the pace of change, should I get slightly older stuff for cheap?

On the same topic, what will the advantages be for M2 (besides DDR2 compatibilty & this virtualization stuff)?

 

[linuxpenguin150]

Well, it seems like you picked the wrong time to build a computer. Having built 3 myself, I can say that timing is everything. And with that april deadline (why does it have to be in april?) you're going to have to sacrifice some components for price and time constraints. When new PC stuff is released, prices are drastically above the median price. It takes several weeks, even months, for the prices to reach their more appropriate cost. It's stupid to buy in this period because 1. $$ is high and 2. the product is still relatively new, there could be bugs, poor manufacturing, who knows what. Basically, wait AT LEAST 1 month after a product is released before buying. Unfortunately, CPUs tend to fall when when newer CPUs are released or are going to be released within a few weeks. Because of this, CPUs tend to fall in drastic plateau-like stages. Therefore, I would not recommend purchasing an M2 socket CPU until the prices go down (when newer CPUs come out),and other people test out the product to make sure it's not crap. If it is, then you're safe with your 939 socket. I'm not sure if you can get a mobo that uses both 939 and M2, I think there's one or two out there....

The one thing that's really screwing you over is this April deadline. If you could wait just a couple months more, you might have a better chance of getting a better CPU at a lower price. But if you must buy then, get socket 939 for now, then wait a year or two until you REALLY need to upgrade. Then make your move at a new mobo and CPU. While you're at it, you might as well get a new GPU then too because WGF 2.0 is going to make today's GPUs obsolete with Windows Vista (you are getting that, right?).

I really don't know that much about M2 specifically other than that AMD plans to build every CPU from now on using that design. Let other's try it first, if they like it, it might be good, if they say it sucks, then you will most likely want to avoid it.

That's all I have to say.

Which GPU are you planning on getting?

 

[Flayum]

I plan on getting a 7800GTX or two 7800GT's in SLI, depending on my mobo, which depends on whether or not SLI will really be viable for the future. I'm hearing rumors of the G80's being internal SLI (like Asus did awhile ago for the 7800GTX). If so, than I really don't see a need to go SLI, its much more power than I need. From what I've heard, SLI isn't really worth it. Any good card can last you a year easily & by then, you can upgrade to a new generation of products. I'm also hearing things about the G90s with Quad-Cores...

 

[alimoalem]

if you really want x2 or m2, u can get a decent but cheap s939 single core setup for now (~$700-800) and wait til september or something when the m2 prices have dropped/stabillized and x2's will most likely be pretty damn cheap by then. u'll probably recoup most of the $700-800 and you'll be getting yourself a new system you know that will be good instead of hoping it'll be