What are the benefits of the current generation?

[FearoftheNight]

So I finally upgraded to a current generation PC with my new laptop. I had a first generation 1.4 ghz pentium-m, 512mb pc2100 sodimm and a radeon 9200m. Now I have a 2.2 ghz c2d, 2048 mb dd2 and a 8600-gtm.

I've been wondering lately. Sure it runs games faster, I can have more programs open/multitask more and if I wanted to compile/encode/photoshop it'd take less time. What are the benefits for the average user when not gaming or doing prosumer level work? I mean other than to play newer games I can't think of any reason for people to upgrade thier rigs past this generation.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

I think memory is far more important than CPU speed for everyday computing. However, this may change as video editing becomes more mainstream. Myself, I do a *lot* of video and audio editing, so I really noticed when I upgraded from my Palermo-256KB @ 2.32 GHz to my Conroe-2MB @ 2.80 GHz. However, I can see where others might not benefit so much--at least, not enough to justify the price premium.

Memory is probably the most important concern in present-day PCs for everyday users and even some gamers. Aside from that, features take the cake. For example, do you need a DVD burner? TV-out? Widescreen LCD? Card reader? These are probably more important issues than CPU speed for a great many users.

Now, if only they realized it...

 

[FearoftheNight]

Well I've had a pretty decent rig at home. Let's compare the current gen with say 2 years ago. I had a dvd burner, dell 2405 24in widescreen lcd w/ built in card reader, tv out. These features have been available to say a user from 2-3 years ago. What I was trying to inquire was other than intensive programs such as editting/encoding and gaming. What has occured in the industry in the past 2-3 years that really warrant a consumer need to upgrade?

 

[JustaGeek]

If you are generally satisfied with your system, and are only looking for justification, you don't need the upgrade.

I use a 1 year old 2.0GHz Sempron laptop with 2GB of PC 2700 RAM and Vista Home - in "desktop" terms, the technology that has been around for at least 3 years.

Perfectly fine for browsing the Internet or using Word Processing, running the newest Windows OS.

I use my C2D desktop mainly for gaming, and my CPU is over 1 year old. Recently upgraded the Video Card, to keep up with the latest games.

Again - if you have to ask, you don't need to upgrade.

 

[FearoftheNight]

Actually it has a purpose. I upgraded to a new and much more powerful system because my old laptop died and since I keep them around for 4-5 years I wanted to play with new tech. Any recommendations on what I should be able to do? What is the benefits of having a dual core? Or does it stop at a) better multitasking b) better for dual core optimized progs?

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: FearoftheNight
Actually it has a purpose. I upgraded to a new and much more powerful system because my old laptop died and since I keep them around for 4-5 years I wanted to play with new tech. Any recommendations on what I should be able to do? What is the benefits of having a dual core? Or does it stop at a) better multitasking b) better for dual core optimized progs?

Well, besides being decisively faster in general, that's where it stops.

In mobile CPU's, the power consumption is also an issue, and has been addressed by designing the new CPU's and chipsets specifically for that purpose.

If you do need a new laptop today, and don't want to wait for the new 45nm Intel mobile series processors (another 3-4 months), go for the top-of the-line C2D 7700 CPU or higher with at least 4GB of RAM, DX10 Graphics Card with 8600 GPU or higher (with dedicated 512MB of VRAM if possible) and 64-bit Windows Vista Ultimate.

It will cost you well over $2,000, but should last until the brand new generation of computers arrives in a few years.

Good luck!

EDIT: Well, you've already done that - just read your OP again.

Enjoy, you have a fine laptop that will last you for at least 2-3 years!

 

[FearoftheNight]

Thank you! I actually scored a macbookpro w/ leopard 8600gt and 2.2 c2d for 1600 . Too bad I only have 2 gigs of ram still trying to decide if $85 or so for extra 2 gigs will be worth it. But is there anything cool that I can do now that I couldn't do before that you'd recommend I try?

 

[JustaGeek]

Well, the meaning of "cool" is so much different, depending on an individual's interests LOL.

I actually enjoy the new technology, and have just purchased a new Graphics Card that allows me to play the newest FPS "Crysis" at a "playable" ~30fps with High settings. The graphics in that game are just "mindblowing". And all the other games like Quake 4, NHL 08 or Far Cry are so much smoother.

I do not think that there is anything you can do now that you couldn't do before, besides the fact that it is so much faster. You can try gaming, but 8600 Mobile GPU will not allow you to enjoy the higher resolutions and playable frame rates. Laptop gaming still has a long way to go.

In a way, that's how I felt when I built my computer over 1 year ago. Well, things seemed to open faster, games were more playable, but it still had the same basic purpose!

It is like with a new car: it smells nice, handles way better, it is quieter, the interior is so much nicer... But why the heck did I just spend $20,000, if my 10 year old Honda or Ford still worked fine!?!

Well, just enjoy...

 

[FearoftheNight]

I guess what I was getting at was there was a point back when....
"OMG I can run winamp and play counterstrike at same time now!!!"
"I can burn dvds now!"
"I can go online wirelessly!"

That sort of thing....

 

[RebateMonger]

For AT LEAST five years, PCs have been adequate for "average use". The only reason I say five is because that puts us solidly into the "XP-capable Generation". You can browse the Internet, watch videos and music, use office software, and burn CD/DVD disks. That's what the average user does with a computer.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: FearoftheNight
I guess what I was getting at was there was a point back when....
"OMG I can run winamp and play counterstrike at same time now!!!"
"I can burn dvds now!"
"I can go online wirelessly!"

That sort of thing....

Yea, I don't think you'll have that kind of reaction today unless you replace CS with UT3 or something like that. My first modern computer was good enough for most pedestrian tasks I encountered. That had a P4 2.4, gf4 MX420, DVDburner, and a CD burner. It was plenty quick enough for most home users, and still is. I sure do like my newest system though :^)

 

[FearoftheNight]

so what motivated you to have ur newest system? gaming? has the modern day pc become console with supplemental features?


if that is the case and if i'm not the only consumer feeling this way what is the fate of the industry? i remember reading a magazine called "boot" in the 90s and thier dream machine having 64 megs of ram

 

[JustaGeek]

I will try to go off on a tangent here...

The immediate future (5 years) - total departure from CD/DVD disks and Hard Drives. The future is in the Solid State USB Drive type media for Movies/Music, and SSD's in lieu of Hard Drives.

In a little bit farther future (maybe 10-15 years), I would like to carry the PC in my pocket like a cellphone. If I want to use it, I pull it out, command it to "Turn on", and a holographic screen and keyboard gets activated.

If I want to play games, I want to "live" the game "Matrix" style - just hope we won't need those plugs in the back of our heads...

But today it seems like a fantasy...

Like the dream machine with 64MB of RAM 15 years ago...

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: FearoftheNight
so what motivated you to have ur newest system? gaming? has the modern day pc become console with supplemental features?


if that is the case and if i'm not the only consumer feeling this way what is the fate of the industry? i remember reading a magazine called "boot" in the 90s and thier dream machine having 64 megs of ram

Pretty much gaming is my only high end activity. I run some vms that benefit from higher memory, and faster speeds, but that's mainly a toy. I also like getting new hardware for it's own sake. I enjoy tweaking it, and overclocking, just generally playing around. If it weren't for gaming, my main tasks would be listening to MP3s, playing videos, and listening to online radio while web browsing. It doesn't take much power to do any of those things.

I did some work on a friends laptop. It had a P3 700mhz I think, 10gb hd, and 192mb of ram. If I put in a 120gb hd, and bumped the ram up to 512mb, it would have been a perfectly adequate laptop for my uses. A little slow, but not too bad all in all.

 

[FearoftheNight]

So does that mean this rig you can keep for 5 years and be content?

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: FearoftheNight
So does that mean this rig you can keep for 5 years and be content?

If it weren't for gaming, then yes, easily. As it is though, I'll probably do an incremental upgrade in 1-2 years, then a complete rebuild in 3-4 years.