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Is your PC "fast enough"?

Aug 26, 2004
14,685
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for several years there was always something that i wanted to upgrade next, always something better on the horizon, and i'm pretty good about getting bang for my buck, so i could generally perceive a noticeable difference when upgrading

seems like now the only place that i see a place to upgrade is with my video card, but since i don't really game anymore, i just don't care

now that i'm running an i7 with an SSD and plenty of memory i can't see myself upgrading this rig for several years to come, and i built it almost two years ago...i used to try to replace almost every component after a 3 year lifespan

anyone else in the same boat i am?
 

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
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Just got a new video card today since my perfectly good one was RMA'd, so ya, it is now. It can run Metro 2033 on high at 1920x1080. Thanks to the Xbox 360 and PS3, upgrading won't really be necessary until the next generation of consoles since most hot games are ported now.

The only thing I can think of that I may want is an SSD, but at $150 for a reasonable size, I'll wait. Ok that's a lie, I just don't feel like reinstalling Windows:).
 

RavenSEAL

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2010
8,661
3
0
I'm on the opposite side of the boat. It feels like shit with all this new stuff coming out. I need to save up and rebuild.
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
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Computers have become fast enough that we no longer are utilizing their full potential. I am still using my C2d 6300 that I built a few years ago and have no desire to upgrade any time soon. It does everything I need it to without any delay. In fact, I used to have it overclocked to 2.4GHz, but I put it back to the stock 1.83GHz to reduce heat and power consumption. Haven't really noticed a difference going back to stock speed.

I've got 8gb of ram but I never use anywhere near to that. Windows7 uses most of it for prefetch.

The only thing I ever upgrade anymore are hard drives. But I currently have 3tbs and probably won't be upgrading that for at least another year or so either.
 

rcpratt

Lifer
Jul 2, 2009
10,433
110
116
It's more than fast enough. It's coming up on 2 years old, i7 920 with an Intel X25-M. I did upgrade the video card to a 5850 about a year ago, but only because my old (wasn't new when I built) one was dying.

I doubt I'll see any need to upgrade for 24 months, minimum. Thanks, console ports.

I will have to add another HDD within a few months. Only 850GB left.
 

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
126
sandy bridge!!! yummm......

I have 6 computers at my home out of which only two can play netflix and hulu youtube's HD videos and full HD from camera/camcorder properly. I need atleast two more of them to do so. Once I take care of that I would be good until they come out with the 1680 or whatever... Although upgrading my gaming rig is on the horizon, now the sandy bride is out I am sure i7 lynnfileds will me more affordable! planning to upgrade towards the middle of the year
 
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Sep 29, 2004
18,656
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I just bought hte cheapest laptop that I could find for about $400. I am happy iwth it but wish that I paid a little more for more horsepower.
 

Mike Gayner

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2007
6,175
3
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Computers have become fast enough that we no longer are utilizing their full potential. I am still using my C2d 6300 that I built a few years ago and have no desire to upgrade any time soon. It does everything I need it to without any delay. In fact, I used to have it overclocked to 2.4GHz, but I put it back to the stock 1.83GHz to reduce heat and power consumption. Haven't really noticed a difference going back to stock speed.

That's not true if you're a gamer. Games are still pushing the envelope.
 

drinkmorejava

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
3,567
7
81
I'm still running my Athlon 64 3400+ as my main computer. Hulu could play better, but other than that it does everything I care about. Almost 7 years old now.
 

AlienCraft

Lifer
Nov 23, 2002
10,539
0
0
Yes. I found it in a parking lot. Like most stray dogs that come home with like that, this is a good one.
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
81
yep, since i havent really been keeping up to date with games my computer has been doing everything i need and ask for
 

Dominato3r

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2008
5,109
1
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Nope. Got some parts coming in for a full build though.

Running a e6300 and 7600gt atm. lol.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
I buy top of the line stuff every 3-4 years. That way it lasts. My last build from 2-3 year ago still has a e6800 processor and a 9800GTX video card w/4 GB ram, and I can still run every game I throw at it at 1920x1680. Might be a while before I upgrade.
 
Oct 4, 2004
10,515
6
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I got an i5 750 clocked at 3.5 GHz (all cores at 100% load, turbo when only 1 core is loaded clocks it close to 4GHz). 4GB of RAM and a Radeon 5850. I can still play everything of interest at 1920x1080. With my heatsink (Corsair A70), I still have plenty of headroom to get close to 4GHz on the CPU (all cores loaded). Also got 4TB of storage (2x500GB, 1x1TB, 1x2TB).

I might get a SSD once they approach $1/GB. Everything else should last me at least 2 years or so.
 

njdevilsfan87

Platinum Member
Apr 19, 2007
2,342
265
126
Q6600 - Middle 2007
8B RAM - Middle 2007
Raptor 150GB - Middle 2007
GTX 260 - Late 2008

Runs everything at 1680x1050 (20'' computer monitor) and 1920x1080 (42'' plasma) just fine. I have no urge to upgrade. I'm really waiting for ssd prices to fall considerably, and then I'll consider a new build, since I feel my hard drive is really the bottleneck is general performance. (Not that I'm complaining or anything).
 

grrl

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2001
6,204
1
0
I don't game or edit video, so I have no complaints. My current computer is 4 years old (Athlon 64 2X 3800+) and I don't plan on upgrading until I have to finally dump Win XP.
 

Lithium381

Lifer
May 12, 2001
12,452
2
0
athlon xp 2000+ here.... 1gb ram, 600gb HD(pata, 5400 rpm)


not a speed deamon by any means, but it keeps up with teh internets. i dont' game anymore, i think i have an 8mb rage pro in there
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,293
14,712
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It is now...I just upgraded from a P4 to an i5. What a nice increase in performance.
 

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
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You've had a SSD and i7 since 2 years ago? I dont think that really counts as getting the best bang for your buck