[RESOLVED] To Wait or Not to Wait: Nehalem on the Horizon

[mathminded]

So I'm an undergrad still running a computer that was purchased in my sophomore year of high school (a Dell no less. ) and am in need of a change. I've been into computer hardware for several years now and have helped build some of my friends computers / built a couple for fun from old parts but have not been in a financial situation to build one for myself until now. I am pretty sure on the components I want to purchase, but now am having second thoughts. If I purchase one now, I'll be getting (at worst) the Q6600 quad core. I'm drooling at what the Nehalem architecture will offer at the end of this year, though. Given it's supposedly not going to be the same socket type as current Intel CPUs including the Q and QX processors, I'm worried that if I build my computer now, I will be regretting it in a year.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Anyone in a similar situation?

Any inputs appreciated! Sorry if I posted this in the wrong area; I've never posted on the forums before. Thanks!

 

[Munky]

I'm personally waiting, but only because currently my cpu is still good enough for what I do. If you really need an upgrade now, then there's no reason to wait, because it's still a long wait, and while Nehalem will undoubtedly offer higher performance than what is currently available, it will probably be high-priced initially, and not offer as much bang/buck as the current cpu's.

 

[myocardia]

Welcome to anandtech. I was going to say more or less what munky said, with the addition of what I tell everyone who asks the "should I wait" question, which is if you keep waiting, you'll only get farther behind. There's always something new on the horizon, and next year, there will be again. With computers, just buy what gets you the most performance for your money, at the time you have the money, and forget about next year, at least until next year arrives.

edit: Oh yeah, are you an engineering student?

 

[Mondoman]

mu is right.

 

[mathminded]

Thanks to each of you for replying! I was thinking along similar lines regarding as you guys regarding the price. What you said, myocardia, also makes sense regarding falling behind further by waiting. Given the current price of the QX6850 is even outside my reach, and an Anandtech article from earlier in the year estimated the Nehalem's price at about $300 - $500 more than that, it is unlikely I'll be able to afford it (and stay in school at the same time) for awhile after it comes out. Thanks again for your help! I think I'm going to go with the Q6700, given it's currently less than $300 on newegg.

 

[bryanW1995]

just wait a few days for another $179 deal to come out on Q6600. Q6700 typically doesn't oc any higher than Q6700, both will typically max out around 3.6 with good air, possibly 3.7-3.8 with a lapped TRUE and excellent case airflow. Basically, there's no reason at all to get a Q6700 unless you're planning to use it for scientific apps or some other stability-is-a-must use.

 

[mathminded]

$179?! Oh awesome! I actually just went back on newegg after my last post and did more research. (My semester just ended, and I haven't looked at this stuff since last summer when I was going to make the purchase the first time...before my financial aid award was messed up.) The Q6600 definitely looks like the better purchase. Some of the reviews are even saying that it's easier to overclock than the Q6700, which is nice on a convenience level. I'll definitely be sticking with the former, then!

 

[Markfw]

Why not just get a Q6600 and OC it ?

 

[Zenoth]

Don't get caught in the waiting cycle though, it can last... well... it can last virtually forever. I know some people in my entourage, some colleagues at work who've been "waiting" for a better CPU since the past three years. They keep getting new this and new that, but their Mobo/CPU is still waiting because "there's always something coming up next". With such mentality you'll wait forever and never get to enjoy anything, even if it was "just" 30% faster than what you had.

In your case I'd say if you want to wait you'd have to wait for quite a while, the Nehalems aren't quite what I'd say "on the horizon", but you know patience is relative to each of us, and I know I'm not a very patient person in life. If I know I can get something now and that nothing stops me from getting it, I will get it, most of the time, or else I'd feel bad waiting and knowing that while waiting I could experience something better right now.

 

[mathminded]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Why not just get a Q6600 and OC it ?

That's what I was saying in my last post. I forgot that the performance gain between an OC'ed Q6600 and an OC'ed Q6700 is nominal. As such, I'll be getting the Q6600 and tweak it as planned.

@Zenoth: For sure. I'm going with the Q6600 since the Nehalem is a long ways off for me (I'd have to wait until the prices drop). Thanks for the advice!

 

[jimluu]

I had the same question regarding whether or not to wait. I'm running just fine on my athlon 3500+. What's compelling about the new chip is not so much the chip itself, but it introduces an entirely new architecture. That's what I read, and I really don't know what it means. Sure sounds exciting though.

 

[bryanW1995]

btw, it took me a few weeks of periodic checking in hot deals, newegg, etc, but I finally found that $179 deal. I also tracked down an open box ip35e for only $57, so my out of pocket was pretty minimal to get a brand new quad rig.

 

[Lonyo]

Doesn't Nehalem also require DDR3? That would push the overall cost waaaay above a quad core setup built now using DDR2.

 

[o1die]

Dell was selling the 6850 for only $100 a couple of days ago. It has sold out, but I would look for a similar deal. I almost pulled the trigger, but my rebate check didn't arrive until the next day.

 

[Zapper48]

I'm very happy with my E8400 running 500x8 24/7.No way I was going to keep waiting.lol