Current System: Opteron 165 oc 2.61ghz, 2gb ram, geforce 8800 gts 640mb, windows xp HE sp2
The system runs fine for gaming right now driving a dell 2005fpw @ 1680x1050. It is getting a bit dated and am thinking of doing a new build. Been out of the forums for a bit and see there are now quad cores...but quads are still early for adoption into gaming. I usually like to keep a new build for 1-2 years before another build comes along. Probably upgrade video card every year.
Main concern is there some major changes coming out in the next 3-6mths that I should wait for? If not, then I probably should build now. If there is a major new change for cpu or mb, then I should probably wait. If I should wait, should I upgrade my current system?
I think I want a raid 10 for stability/speed with 4 hd's. Never had a raid and reliability is more important than pure speed, but speed is good too. Or should I not do the raid and just partition with backups (like I do now, but always forget to backup).
While I prefer to stay with xp, I'm thinking i'd rather not have to upgrade to vista later and reformat so that's a dilemma...will xp still be the way to go if I keep my new build 1-2 yrs as I expect? And if I go vista, should I go 32 or 64 bit? Guessing ultimate 64bit will be way to go.
If I shouldn't wait (like i'm guessing), i'll fill out the standard q&a to get help with a new build:
PLEASE when POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Mostly gaming and surfing...some pp presentations...maybe some amateur video editing
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$1800...plus/minus a few hundred...no real budget but i'm into bang-for-buck rather than having the highest end stuff. Only exception is if the highest-end is great bang-for-buck.
Tend to like a high-end newbbie-friendly ocing mb
a between high-end and middle processor (whatever the sweet spot is...ocing usually best in this area...often easy to upgrade the cpu when prices drop)
high-end graphics card (but usually not the highest-end...prob a step or two below the top)
$400 coming off top for the 4x new drives.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA...prob newegg or similar supplier
4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Not a fanboi...but stability is preferred. Seems like intel is way to go for cpu. Lean toward nvidia. Have only had asus mb's.
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Probably only my graphics card unless you think its worth upgrading now.
Already splurged on a pcp&c ps 750w silencer bought on sale (figure it will last me at least a few years) and a couple new cases (antec p182 and coolermaster stacker) to use.
Would like new HD's, perhaps a raid10 (never done raid before) with wd caviar se16 640mb drives x 4? Or 4 x samsung spinpoint f1's? Or screw the raid? Will carry over 2 older drives that are storage only.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Haven't seen a thread that addressed my concern of whether to upgrade current system and wait or new build now depending on any major new technology changes. Read a few threads on gaming builds.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Probably modest overclocking...not a oc guru so will be fairly conservative in ocing. Seems sweet spot in buying processor is to get one between middle-of-road and top-end and ocing it.
8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Here's the rub...asking you when to build...now or wait 3-6 mths or upgrade current system & wait. Again, the main reason to wait would be if significant tech changes are in store like the single to dual core or the dual to quad core changes.
I apologize in advance if this is confusing. I can clarify anything if needed. Thanks in advance for any assistance.
The system runs fine for gaming right now driving a dell 2005fpw @ 1680x1050. It is getting a bit dated and am thinking of doing a new build. Been out of the forums for a bit and see there are now quad cores...but quads are still early for adoption into gaming. I usually like to keep a new build for 1-2 years before another build comes along. Probably upgrade video card every year.
Main concern is there some major changes coming out in the next 3-6mths that I should wait for? If not, then I probably should build now. If there is a major new change for cpu or mb, then I should probably wait. If I should wait, should I upgrade my current system?
I think I want a raid 10 for stability/speed with 4 hd's. Never had a raid and reliability is more important than pure speed, but speed is good too. Or should I not do the raid and just partition with backups (like I do now, but always forget to backup).
While I prefer to stay with xp, I'm thinking i'd rather not have to upgrade to vista later and reformat so that's a dilemma...will xp still be the way to go if I keep my new build 1-2 yrs as I expect? And if I go vista, should I go 32 or 64 bit? Guessing ultimate 64bit will be way to go.
If I shouldn't wait (like i'm guessing), i'll fill out the standard q&a to get help with a new build:
PLEASE when POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Mostly gaming and surfing...some pp presentations...maybe some amateur video editing
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$1800...plus/minus a few hundred...no real budget but i'm into bang-for-buck rather than having the highest end stuff. Only exception is if the highest-end is great bang-for-buck.
Tend to like a high-end newbbie-friendly ocing mb
a between high-end and middle processor (whatever the sweet spot is...ocing usually best in this area...often easy to upgrade the cpu when prices drop)
high-end graphics card (but usually not the highest-end...prob a step or two below the top)
$400 coming off top for the 4x new drives.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA...prob newegg or similar supplier
4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Not a fanboi...but stability is preferred. Seems like intel is way to go for cpu. Lean toward nvidia. Have only had asus mb's.
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Probably only my graphics card unless you think its worth upgrading now.
Already splurged on a pcp&c ps 750w silencer bought on sale (figure it will last me at least a few years) and a couple new cases (antec p182 and coolermaster stacker) to use.
Would like new HD's, perhaps a raid10 (never done raid before) with wd caviar se16 640mb drives x 4? Or 4 x samsung spinpoint f1's? Or screw the raid? Will carry over 2 older drives that are storage only.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Haven't seen a thread that addressed my concern of whether to upgrade current system and wait or new build now depending on any major new technology changes. Read a few threads on gaming builds.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Probably modest overclocking...not a oc guru so will be fairly conservative in ocing. Seems sweet spot in buying processor is to get one between middle-of-road and top-end and ocing it.
8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Here's the rub...asking you when to build...now or wait 3-6 mths or upgrade current system & wait. Again, the main reason to wait would be if significant tech changes are in store like the single to dual core or the dual to quad core changes.
I apologize in advance if this is confusing. I can clarify anything if needed. Thanks in advance for any assistance.
