I think what most novices don't realize is that computer building is a game just like everything else. And you have to play it smart just like any other game.
The aim is not to see who can spend the most money, but to get the best performing system for yourself, then be able to keep up with changing technology while keeping as much money in your pockets for future upgrades.
The problem with novices is that they think spending all their money now will ensure they can keep up with changing technology in the future. So called "FUTURE PROOFING" has never worked in the past and will never work in the future. Why is that? Because the companies that make these parts don't want you to be able to upgrade. Why might they feel this way? Because they make more money if consumers constantly have to change their configurations and purchase brand new parts. In other words reusable parts are detrimental to the bottom line.
The only recent acception to this model is AMD's introduction of the dual core processor to the socket 939 family of chips. But rest assured this next batch of new chips to the 939 family will likely be the last major upgrade AMD will allow. Soon AMD will introduce the next generation of sockets for their CPU's and just as people said 3 months ago about the socket 939 chip, they will swear that the new sockets will be the wave of the future and the end all to all future upgrades... wishfull thinking.
This article is not directed at those individuals who could care less if they spent $15 day for lunch at the local cafe. For vast majority of us who see building computers as a hobby the best advice I can give is to play the game smart. Buy the best performing system you can afford right now regardless of anyone says about the future because no one can predict the future. In all seriousness, most systems now are very capable of last 3-4 years without need for upgrade. Just looking back at the first generation of Pentium 4 systems and how they compare with todays systems. Most likely you will not want to upgrade for at least 2-3 years provided you have an adequate system right now. The only upgrade that is recommended during this time might be the graphics card and the hard drive because the graphics card is the fastest piece of hardware to fall victim to newer technology and the hard drive has always been reusable. Any other improvements made before this time will improve performance minimally at best, unless you sink a lot of money into the upgrades.
To get a better picture of what the comparison would look like I created 2 models.
Based on a performance scale of 1%-100% the model for this comparison would look like this:
System Model A
$700 (current system) at 95% performance => $700 (future system) 95% performance
vs.
System Model B
$1500 (current system) at 100% performance => $400 (upgrade) 95% performance
This model looks at the comparison between two types of computer systems. System A is a based on building a moderate performance now and building an entirely new one later system and System B is building a high performance (upgradable) now and upgrading the same system later.
As you can see the total cost for System A would be about $1400 after second generation upgrades. Whereas System B would cost roughly $500 more at $1900 with roughly about the same performance level. However there are other drawbacks that need to be mentioned for this comparison. One is that System B would be using older parts as a backbone for the future, this would mean, less or no warranty of parts, older system design which could lead to the need to buy outdated upgrade parts pieces, and no ability to upgrade beyond generation 2.
On the otherhand because System A is new and would use all factory new parts with new warranty. Have the ability to upgrade in the future if necessary and incorporate all new innovations made since last generation system. In addition, System A owners would also own a fully capable second system that would not have to be broken up and sold for parts in order to make room for upgrades.
So as you can see. There is no advantage in "future proofing" because the concept is non existant in the world of system building. If you are a novice, please take a word of advice. Don't listen to people who tell you how you should spend your hard earned money on something they want. You should get the best performance right now and worry about upgrading when the time comes. Unlike retirement funds and 401Ks you will not save any more money by planning for the future.
The aim is not to see who can spend the most money, but to get the best performing system for yourself, then be able to keep up with changing technology while keeping as much money in your pockets for future upgrades.
The problem with novices is that they think spending all their money now will ensure they can keep up with changing technology in the future. So called "FUTURE PROOFING" has never worked in the past and will never work in the future. Why is that? Because the companies that make these parts don't want you to be able to upgrade. Why might they feel this way? Because they make more money if consumers constantly have to change their configurations and purchase brand new parts. In other words reusable parts are detrimental to the bottom line.
The only recent acception to this model is AMD's introduction of the dual core processor to the socket 939 family of chips. But rest assured this next batch of new chips to the 939 family will likely be the last major upgrade AMD will allow. Soon AMD will introduce the next generation of sockets for their CPU's and just as people said 3 months ago about the socket 939 chip, they will swear that the new sockets will be the wave of the future and the end all to all future upgrades... wishfull thinking.
This article is not directed at those individuals who could care less if they spent $15 day for lunch at the local cafe. For vast majority of us who see building computers as a hobby the best advice I can give is to play the game smart. Buy the best performing system you can afford right now regardless of anyone says about the future because no one can predict the future. In all seriousness, most systems now are very capable of last 3-4 years without need for upgrade. Just looking back at the first generation of Pentium 4 systems and how they compare with todays systems. Most likely you will not want to upgrade for at least 2-3 years provided you have an adequate system right now. The only upgrade that is recommended during this time might be the graphics card and the hard drive because the graphics card is the fastest piece of hardware to fall victim to newer technology and the hard drive has always been reusable. Any other improvements made before this time will improve performance minimally at best, unless you sink a lot of money into the upgrades.
To get a better picture of what the comparison would look like I created 2 models.
Based on a performance scale of 1%-100% the model for this comparison would look like this:
System Model A
$700 (current system) at 95% performance => $700 (future system) 95% performance
vs.
System Model B
$1500 (current system) at 100% performance => $400 (upgrade) 95% performance
This model looks at the comparison between two types of computer systems. System A is a based on building a moderate performance now and building an entirely new one later system and System B is building a high performance (upgradable) now and upgrading the same system later.
As you can see the total cost for System A would be about $1400 after second generation upgrades. Whereas System B would cost roughly $500 more at $1900 with roughly about the same performance level. However there are other drawbacks that need to be mentioned for this comparison. One is that System B would be using older parts as a backbone for the future, this would mean, less or no warranty of parts, older system design which could lead to the need to buy outdated upgrade parts pieces, and no ability to upgrade beyond generation 2.
On the otherhand because System A is new and would use all factory new parts with new warranty. Have the ability to upgrade in the future if necessary and incorporate all new innovations made since last generation system. In addition, System A owners would also own a fully capable second system that would not have to be broken up and sold for parts in order to make room for upgrades.
So as you can see. There is no advantage in "future proofing" because the concept is non existant in the world of system building. If you are a novice, please take a word of advice. Don't listen to people who tell you how you should spend your hard earned money on something they want. You should get the best performance right now and worry about upgrading when the time comes. Unlike retirement funds and 401Ks you will not save any more money by planning for the future.
Facebook
Twitter