Good/Bad Time To Build A Computer?

[xeodragon]

Hey, I was just wondering if this was a good time to build a computer. I'm on a budget, and I don't want prices dropping anytime soon. Like for instance, I read that AMD is releasing AMD Athlon 64 Semprons, and this would probably lower the price of the regular AMD chips. Also, can anyone recommend sites that teach you how to build a computer (preferably if its new/updated) In case your wondering, here's my build:

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (Venice)
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum <-- probably switching to VNF4 Ultra or Soltek SL-K890Pro
BFG GeForce 6600 GT OC 128MB PCI-E
Corsair ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB)
WD Caviar SE 80GB 3.5" SATA
NEC ND-3540A DVD Burner
Logitech Cordless Desktop LX300
Logitch X-230 2.1 Speakers
Antec Sonata (380W PSU)
Linksys WRT54G

TOTAL = 1150 (CANADIAN)

 

[Gigantopithecus]

The 3000+ Venice is already pretty inexpensive at ~$150, so I wouldn't worry about it dropping significantly before the end of the year. That said, I think there will be a lot of single core AMD 64 cpus in the For Sale/Trade forum here once the bottom of the line X2 64 cpu gets released (I know mine will be, haha).

Those mobos you listed probably won't slide much at all. The top of the line Socket A motherboards still fetch close to $100 retail.

The 6600gt is, imho, at a great price/performance point right now. It's literally half the cost of a 6800gt, which is the next cheapest video card that will give you an appreciable difference in newer games (sorry, I know there will be some yelling a vanilla 6800 is an appreciable upgrade from a 6600gt, but I disagree).

Nothing else you listed is going to get much cheaper anytime soon, I don't think.

 

[xeodragon]

thanks for the help.

 

[Mrvile]

I think the market's pretty nice right now, maybe a month from now. X2's are out, G70 is out, Venice and SD's are pretty cheap, midrange video card (6800GT and X800XL) prices are dropping, mobos are priced nicely, ram is pretty cheap.

Everything you have looks good, maybe try to get your hands on a 6800GT or X800XL.

 

[kleinwl]

I've heard some comments about AMD dropping their prices the end of July... but that's just a rumor.

The 64-bit Semprons are a price increase ($4-6) over the non-64-bit semprons.

 

[BOLt]

Originally posted by: xeodragon
Hey, I was just wondering if this was a good time to build a computer. I'm on a budget, and I don't want prices dropping anytime soon. Like for instance, I read that AMD is releasing AMD Athlon 64 Semprons, and this would probably lower the price of the regular AMD chips. Also, can anyone recommend sites that teach you how to build a computer (preferably if its new/updated) In case your wondering, here's my build:

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (Venice)
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum <-- probably switching to VNF4 Ultra or Soltek SL-K890Pro
BFG GeForce 6600 GT OC 128MB PCI-E
Corsair ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB)
WD Caviar SE 80GB 3.5" SATA
NEC ND-3540A DVD Burner
Logitech Cordless Desktop LX300
Logitch X-230 2.1 Speakers
Antec Sonata (380W PSU)
Samsung 710N 17" LCD
Linksys WRT54G

TOTAL = 1150 (CANADIAN)

What are you planning to do with your computer? For the purposes of my suggestions, I'll say you're going with a gaming-grade computer, which tend to be great for any task.


Great CPU choice (btw, I bought my Winchester AMD64 3000+ 6 months ago at $149. It's $146 at Newegg on 7/13/05).

I like what I've heard about the MSI, though I'd suggest the BFG nF4 Ultra or the DFI LANParty UT nF4 Ultra.

BFG is a great choice for your GPU, but you can get the 6800 GT OC PCI-e for $350 at Newegg and 6800 GT is still ahead of the gaming curve, while IMO, the 6600 GT is a little too weak to present the current games in all their glory, much less what'll be out 6 months to a year from now. Might wanna check out the Anandtech BF2 article to make your own conclusions, as it seems to be the most GPU-intensive game out right now (maybe FarCry can give it a run for its money).

As an ATI alternative, the X800XL is a great buy, but I can't elaborate because I don't know as much about ATI as Nvidia.

The RAM will be fine unless you want to OC, which will prompt a non-valueRAM decision.

Good HD choice. You might also consider Seagate's Barracuda line.

Great optical drive choice.

If you are gaming, you may want to shy away from wireless I/O devices.

Good brand choice for the speakers. I don't really like low-end speakers, but if you're on a tight budget, then it's really up to you in the end.

Great case/PSU choice. Antec is superb.

Might wanna consider Dell for LCDs, though Samsung is certainly a fine brand. You can almost always find a great deal on Dell LCDs, as they run coupon/discount programs constantly. Techbargains is a great site to get a heads-up on "Outrageous Dell Deals".

Linksys is a good brand.


Good picks overall. Just wanted to offer a few alternatives for you to consider (prepare to wallow in indecision).

Good luck!

 

[xeodragon]

wow thanks for all the replies. t looks like i'm going to wait until august before i get my new computer. the problem is that since i live in canada, the 6800GT is around 450! so i'll be going low end like 6600GT. my computer is generally gonna be for both work and gaming. thanks for the huge help BOLt *thumbsup*. i'll take your comments into consideration . oh i'm not leaning towards the DFI because i heard it has memory issues with corsair, and i have no clue how to overclock.

 

[0roo0roo]

its always a bad time. new things are always around the corner

 

[BOLt]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
its always a bad time. new things are always around the corner

Ain't that the truth.

 

[mOeeOm]

Originally posted by: xeodragon
wow thanks for all the replies. t looks like i'm going to wait until august before i get my new computer. the problem is that since i live in canada, the 6800GT is around 450! so i'll be going low end like 6600GT. my computer is generally gonna be for both work and gaming. thanks for the huge help BOLt *thumbsup*. i'll take your comments into consideration . oh i'm not leaning towards the DFI because i heard it has memory issues with corsair, and i have no clue how to overclock.

You might wanna give www.ncix.com a try, they are having a 5 day sale, good thing I waited, my rig was going to initially cost $1800...with the sale now it costs $1500. No worries with DFI, just combine it with OCZ >

 

[BOLt]

Originally posted by: mOeeOm

Originally posted by: xeodragon
wow thanks for all the replies. t looks like i'm going to wait until august before i get my new computer. the problem is that since i live in canada, the 6800GT is around 450! so i'll be going low end like 6600GT. my computer is generally gonna be for both work and gaming. thanks for the huge help BOLt *thumbsup*. i'll take your comments into consideration . oh i'm not leaning towards the DFI because i heard it has memory issues with corsair, and i have no clue how to overclock.

You might wanna give www.ncix.com a try, they are having a 5 day sale, good thing I waited, my rig was going to initially cost $1800...with the sale now it costs $1500. No worries with DFI, just combine it with OCZ >

Yeah, I forgot to mention that... it seems like the only RAM that DFI has a problem with is Corsair (which, unfortunately, happens to be a very popular brand of RAM), but OCZ is wonderful with the DFI, you may wanna give that a try.

 

[xeodragon]

awesome. thanks. its weird tho, i've always wanted "corsair" ram, it has such a cool name lol. u still think i should get DFI if i'm not going to overclock?

 

[mOeeOm]

Originally posted by: xeodragon
awesome. thanks. its weird tho, i've always wanted "corsair" ram, it has such a cool name lol. u still think i should get DFI if i'm not going to overclock?

Actually no you shouldn't get a DFI if you are not overclocking, for me I am not overclocking RIGHT NOW, so I am getting the DFI. Besides it is pretty cheap right now($165 on sale at ncix.com for next 5 days) and it is still a stable board. If you feel you will OC in the future, then get the DFI. If you do get DFI, go with OCZ ram.

 

[xeodragon]

oicoic, i might wanan try oc'ing in the future. i gotta find more about it. what OCZ ram do u recommend?

 

[Powermoloch]

You can replace your BFG 6600 GT to a vanilla 6800 their price range is on par. But performance is a different story. Get a 6800 nu IMO

 

[BOLt]

Originally posted by: Powermoloch
You can replace your BFG 6600 GT to a vanilla 6800 their price range is on par. But performance is a different story. Get a 6800 nu IMO

6800 GT or Ultra or 6600 GT. The vanilla 6800 is a waste of space.

Get OCZ EL Platinum Revision 2 PC3200 DDR RAM. It is considered some of the best DDR RAM ever made. Anandtech uses it almost exclusively for their benchmarks, plus it OC's like no other and it's not that expensive anymore (read: $168 from Newegg for 1GB). Make sure you get 512MB or 1GB in dual-channel sticks, as AMD processors love dual-channel.

 

[whattaguy]

If anything, the RAM prices are slowly going up.

 

[BOLt]

Originally posted by: whattaguy
If anything, the RAM prices are slowly going up.

How do you figure?

 

[shoRunner]

its always a bad time...because there will always be something new a few months away which will surely drive down the prices of whats currently out. and there will always be a new socket on the horizon threating to make everything you have obsolete by the end of next year.

 

[Sonikku]

What you need to do is go ten years in the future then buy a cheapo 5 year old machine for a couple hundread bucks.

 

[RaiderJ]

Maybe someone stateside could buy your parts for you and ship them? Not sure if Canadian prices are that much higher. I live in Alaska and I oftentimes buy stuff, have it shipped to a buddy in the states, and then have them cheapo ship it to me.

 

[xeodragon]

i dont think i'll be going 6800, its kinda pricey for me. i was thinking of asking my relatives to buy it for me, but then it'd be a hassle if something went wrong

 

[Valkerie]

Originally posted by: Sonikku
What you need to do is go ten years in the future then buy a cheapo 5 year old machine for a couple hundread bucks.

As of Spring 2005, it has been a good time to build comps, a lot of new technology coming out, which means the mainstream components of 2004 have gotten lower. Radeon 9800's are in the hundred dollars section now, whereas one and a half years ago, they were 350 dollars.

 

[unsped]

dont buy now, wait a couple years