New Comp: will it last me ?

[metro66]

I will be purchasing my new computer this week valued at $3600CDN. Just a question, how long is the average life of a PC these days? Here are my specs

a64 3800+ Venice 90nm w/ stock cooler
DFI UT NF4 SLI-DR motherboard
2x512MB Samsung ddr4000 ram
2xeVGA 6800GT 256MB w/ TV-out, dvi-i
Maxtor 200gb 16mb cache 7200rpm dmax 10 ATA133
LG 16x8x16x DVD±RW 4x Dual Layer
SB Audigy 2
Asus Vento 3600 Red Gaming case
Antec Truepower 550w PSU
Logitech LX700 Wireless kb/mouse
BenQ FP91V+ 19" LCD 6ms, dvi-i/analogue

I am a bit concerned about the SLI set up. I don't want to have to scrap a $1000+ investment because it can no longer perform as well as newer generation cards. I'd like to play Battlefield 2 as well as many other games that will come out this year. Do you think this system can handle it? This is my 2nd pc, my first being a celeron 500 with a voodoo3 2000pci and 96mb ram. That barely lasted me 6 months. So any comments would be great

 

[SynthDude2001]

Welcome to the forums.

That's a very nice PC there, and will easily handle any games that will come out for the next year at high settings, and possibly two.

 

[fierydemise]

That'll be able to play anything this year and maybe next at max settings and things will still work fine and look great (on moderate sttings) for the next 2 or 3 after that.

 

[metro66]

Thanks. I've been out of the computer scene once my old pc was finally weeded out and couldn've even play CS anymore. Upgrading isnt a problem for me, but I do like to spend my $ wisely and I just hope I don't have to upgrade too soon.
Also, I don't know if any of you have seen the new BenQ 6ms 19" but its bangin except for the 450:1 contrast ratio.

 

[fierydemise]

If you don't want to upgrade for a while a CRT is the way to go I recommend NEC but Samsung also makes some decent ones.

 

[masshass81]

IMO, you're better off spending $$ on an X850 XT or 6800 Ultra and then upgrade to the next gen high end cards in the latter part of the year or early next year. That way, you will be able to play the latest games at high settings for 2 yrs guaranteed, you won't have to put as much money up front, and you will have the latest tech.

 

[Amplifier]

That system will last you a long time. Games are always built to be played by the average system. Your system won't be average until FX processors are around $200 and games make use of multithreaded processors and the non-existant PPU.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: masshass81
IMO, you're better off spending $$ on an X850 XT or 6800 Ultra and then upgrade to the next gen high end cards in the latter part of the year or early next year. That way, you will be able to play the latest games at high settings for 2 yrs guaranteed, you won't have to put as much money up front, and you will have the latest tech.

Your heart is in the right place, however the two bolded words do not belong in the same paragraph.

At the very least OP, get the single 6800Ultra with the option of adding a second later for SLI at a much cheaper price tag. You will be good for at least 2 years. Especially as over the next two years, many more games will be SLI ready or optimized.

 

[jim1976]

Get either a 6800U or X800XTPE for now and then upgrade to a next gen video card.
There's no indication how the SLI will perform when compared to the next gen video cards.
What if SLI or multi ATI's multi rendering solutions won't equal the performance of the next gen cards?
Why risking spending so many $$$ when you could do your job with much less?

 

[Munky]

I'm gonna suggest not getting 2 video cards right away, but get one 6800gt. Then, when new cards come out in a few months, you'll have the option of either getting a single newer card that will be as good a 2 6800gt's in sli, or getting another 6800gt for sli, only then it will be way cheaper. A single 6800gt will handle any current game no problem.

 

[The Diplomat]

Metro66,

Looks like a very nice system. However I would have to agree with both Jim1976 and Munky. The potential for SLI technology sounds very interesting. But according to what I have seen so far it is still an unproven technology. At least in terms of bang for the buck. Is it the greatest new thing since sliced bread? Or is it a marketing ploy to get people to purchase 2 high end video cards and double profit margins? Or as is usually the case, maybe partially both with the truth being somewhere in the middle. Personally, I would hate to spend money for 2 high end video cards now and then find out that a year from now a single new card at the same price point will blow away my graphics capabilities. It sounds like you have concerns along these lines anyway.

Why not hedge your bet and save $400 in the process? Get the SLI board so you have that option but just get a single 6800GT or 6800Ultra for now. Its performance is very good on all the latest games. Then in the future when newer games come out that really tax your system look at adding an additional identical card (if the benefits of SLI have truly been proven), or simply replace with a newer more capable graphics card. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Keysplayr]

I agree with Munky

 

[fbrdphreak]

Another vote for 1x6800 Ultra and another 6800 Ultra later (or even something better maybe)