Is now a good time to build a new system?

[MTAX]

I'm building 2 new systems. Got the mb and cd/dvd drives already. Kinda waiting to see what the next hot thing is going to be. With new DDRII, serial ATA, new Athlons.....is now a good time to build or should I wait?

 

[Atrail]

Wait

 

[Zukatah]

Buy it when you need it.
BTW, you can now get some really good deals if you choose the P4 route... the P4 1.6a is an overclocker's dream and it's pretty cheap too. DDR 333 isn't that expensive anymore, mobos can be had for dirt cheap. Of course, it ain't a Hammer but when will you be able to afford one and what kind of performance increase will you get from it....

 

[kantonburg]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. No matter what someone, somewhere will be telling you to wait for some new technology or pricedrop so no matter what you are out of luck. If you have the money get the system. If you wait the new product will just be that much more expensive so I guess it's a catch 22

 

[Wingznut]

"Is now a good time to build a new system?"

It's always a good time to build a new system!!!

 

[Vinny N]

If you need a nice computer, buy now

IMO, the waiting game only pays when you've waited a whole generation of technological goodness

I would only hesitate on a video card right now, thinking thoughts of the future ATI R300

If you were eyeballing a P4 1.6A, grab one before they're phased out of stock.

If you were thinking of a higher P4, maybe you should wait for the shrink

If you were thinking of an AMD solution, I don't know, maybe see if there's any better idea of when the cpus with the Barton core will be out?

 

[theNEOone]

my 2 cents:

if you have to wait more than 2 weeks, upgrade now.

serial ATA: ain't happening for at LEAST another quarter, more like 3.
2200+: just became available, don't expect the 2300+ for another month or so, probably longer considering all the overclocking issues people have been having
ddr2: WTH is this??? someone please link for me.

conclusion: go for it.

 

[SWScorch]

I'm building a new one right now.. just ordered the first parts tonight.

 

[Pabster]

Wingznut Pez wrote:

"It's always a good time to build a new system!!!"

Ditto!

Keep waiting and you'll never do it. I prefer to reconstruct my rigs every 2-3 months.

 

[RedShirt]

Hell yeah! RAM is at a year low! Processors are dirt chip, 85 bucks for a AMD Athlon XP 1800+, Hard drives are really cheap too! Heck, everything is cheap right now, go for it.

If only monitors would come down in price.

 

[B3Nut]

If only monitors would come down in price.

Oh, there are some nice inexpensive ones out there...if you can live with a 17", Samsung's 750s is a nice unit, got mine from TC for $136. It's not a bad display for the price at all.

If you've got the urge and the $ to build another system, I'd say go for it...I completed my first build a week ago Wednesday. Loads of fun. Havin a ball, never could do this sort of thing on the Mac side, you just bring a box home and that's it. I want to build another one now...

TP <- thinks he's caught da bug....

 

[Goi]

Now's a good time to build an intel P4 Northwood system, but not an AMD Athlon XP system. It would've been, with the introduction of the Athlon XP 2200+ Thoroughbred and KT400, but the former is so far a disappointment and the latter isn't out yet. Graphics side wise, the introduction of the Parhelia should've been a great time to upgrade too, but again it has been a disappointment performance wise so far. So, if you want an Athlon system, wait for the Barton, otherwise, go for an intel P4 Northwood system, PC1066 and a GF4 Ti.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: RedShirt

If only monitors would come down in price.

I bought a Viewsonic P95f a few months ago for $400. Just saw it dropped to $299.

Bah!

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: Wingznut PEZ
"Is now a good time to build a new system?" It's always a good time to build a new system!!!

I agree totally


Ausm

 

[CubicZirconia]

Now's a good time to build an intel P4 Northwood system, but not an AMD Athlon XP system.

I disagree. 80 bucks for an xp 1800+ is a pretty good deal. If I was building a new system now I'd consider it at least.

 

[Goi]

I'm sorry, I should have elaborated. What I actually meant to say was that if you want a cutting edge, top of the line system, right now would be a great time to build an intel P4 Northwood system rather than an AMD Athlon XP system, given the Thoroughbred disappointment. Of course, if you're talking about budget/mid-range systems, AMD has got that base covered all along.

 

[theNEOone]

if you really want to be picky, a "cutting edge P4 system" (for consumers, at least) would involve the 2.53 ghz p4 and pc1066 rdram. now correct me if i'm wrong, $600 for a cpu and $250 for 512MB of decent 1066 rdram is not a steal. IMHO, it isn't a better time to make a "cutting edge" P4 system now than it was 6 months ago.

with that said th0, go ahead and upgrade. you'll grow 2 feet of hair outta yer a** before you settle this debate......

 

[Goi]

I didn't say it would be a steal. I was looking at it from a performance point of view rather than a price or price/performance point of view. 6 months ago, the fastest P4 system is arguably slower than the fastest Athlon system. Now the reverse is true and more pronounced.

Anyway, this is inconsequential since MTAX has already committed himself to an Athlon by already purchasing a motherboard...