To buy or not to buy

[imported_jediknight]

It seems like now - with the price war going on between Intel and AMD - would be a very attractive time to do a new system build. The thing is, my current machine is currently chugging along reasonably well enough (for a 3 year old build), and my original plan was to replace it in about a year or so.

Current rig:
Athlon 64 3000+ (S754)
ATI AIW X800XL 256MB (AGP)
1GB OCZ LL (2.5-3-2) (DDR)

Any upgrade is really going to be the whole shebang, as my current rig is using old tech not used anymore (S754, AGP, DDR)

Advice? Are Intel and AMD going to pull off some jaw dropping numbers with their new architectures, making all current CPUs obsolete? Is DDR3 worth waiting for? Or are the prices now too good to last, and I'd be a fool not to jump on some core 2 goodness now?

As I said, my current rig runs everything pretty well now.. and no games need to run at above 1280x1024, as that's the res. of my LCD.. I've also got an XBox360 for console-type games - ie. no need to play dreadful PC ports.. and a new Dell laptop w/a 8600M GT on the way.

My inclination is to wait, but I'm quite tempted :->

 

[JetBlack69]

I agree, it is tempting. I have a very similar spec computer as well:

Athlon 64 3000+ (S754)
GeForce 7600 GT AGP (runs my 1680x1050 well in most games like half life 2 and quake 4)
1GB DDR400

The main thing my computer can't do well is 1080p h.264 trailers I'm in the same boat, I already have a $1,800 Q6600 build in my shopping cart, but I just can't seem to pull the trigger.

 

[Sinn707]

Thing is, if you wait for DDR3 prices to drop or something new to come out, when that time comes, there's going to be something NEW and BETTER just over the horizon yet again... you can end up waiting forever. In my opinion, with DDR2 prices so low and a quad core available for $273 (mwave.com, screw $375 newegg) now is a pretty good time to build a machine. GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R supports both DDR2 and DDR3 and Tankguys.biz make sure you get the G0 stepping Q6600 which overclocks like a dream and runs cool at the same time. Just my 2c.

 

[S7EXEN]

Like, right NOW?
Like, at this moment? I'm down for building at this moment if it really is a smart choice. I'm dying to make a final decision. I'm in the same situation except I'm using a 2 year old laptop that's doing OK instead of a 3 year old desktop that's doing "reasonably well enough." Also have an Xbox360. Don't have a new laptop coming.

 

[Sinn707]

The sooner the better. Ram prices are expected to go up, no one knows when for sure when, but it's going to happen. $75 for 2GB Crucial will be history soon.