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What are the "Next Big Things" in Computer hardware to look for in '06 & beyond?

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dsver1

Junior Member
ok, so this thread is really just a "what's coming up in '06".

I finished building my last rig at the end of '04 and it is a very nice computer, but one of the things I missed out on was PCI Express. I'd already bought a motherboard and a high-end AGP graphics card. Luckily, the card has never disappointed and I'm planning on turning this computer into an video editing machine soon.

I want to start building a new comp (for gaming, daily use, etc.), but I don't want to miss out on any new tech developments. ie, I want my rig to be future proof for at least a couple of years.

So what are the next major developments on the horizon -- for the high-end pc user (not an uber, quad-processor, 6 LCD display user).
This can include: video cards, processors, processor setups, motherboard chipsets, etc.
EX:
A good example of something that could have come out that would have made my whole rig obsolete in seconds was the possible release of a BTX motherboard form-factor. This never happened, but it would have sucked to sink $$ in a decent ATX mobo and instead have BTX become the new standard.
 
R580 chipset from ATi. (Jan?)
R580 graphics card from ATi. (Jan?)
Socket M2 from AMD maybe (not huge, but interesting) (1H?).
Yonah ("Core") from Intel (Q1?), plus maybe Mermon. (Q4?)
FB-DIMM (servers mainly, but we can see what else develops).
HD-DVD/BluRay. (Q1/2?)
Possibly quad core by end of 2006(?)
 
Originally posted by: dsver1
ok, so this thread is really just a "what's coming up in '06".

I finished building my last rig at the end of '04 and it is a very nice computer, but one of the things I missed out on was PCI Express. I'd already bought a motherboard and a high-end AGP graphics card. Luckily, the card has never disappointed and I'm planning on turning this computer into an video editing machine soon.

I want to start building a new comp (for gaming, daily use, etc.), but I don't want to miss out on any new tech developments. ie, I want my rig to be future proof for at least a couple of years.

So what are the next major developments on the horizon -- for the high-end pc user (not an uber, quad-processor, 6 LCD display user).
This can include: video cards, processors, processor setups, motherboard chipsets, etc.
EX:
A good example of something that could have come out that would have made my whole rig obsolete in seconds was the possible release of a BTX motherboard form-factor. This never happened, but it would have sucked to sink $$ in a decent ATX mobo and instead have BTX become the new standard.
Click to expand...

BTX is dead
 
Intel's Conroe CPU appears to be the only thing worth putting off purchases for next year. There aren't going to be any major platform updates (ie, PCI-E), that will outdate your computer in 6 months, and most of the other major releases (Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, and new video cards, etc), can be added at your leisure either before or after your next new platform purchase.
 
Originally posted by: Pariah
Intel's Conroe CPU appears to be the only thing worth putting off purchases for next year. There aren't going to be any major platform updates (ie, PCI-E), that will outdate your computer in 6 months, and most of the other major releases (Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, and new video cards, etc), can be added at your leisure either before or after your next new platform purchase.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't wait for Conroe either as it's such a big unknown...we have some of the theory behind it, and that's all very nice. But, nobody has a clue as to how it will actuall perform.
The socket M2 (now called AM2) should begin shipping around April. The only advantage of waiting for it will be that you can change memory to DDR2.
One thing I would suggest is that you make sure to get a 64bit capable (AMD64 or EM64T) processer...that's because 64bit Vista is due out October 10 2006. Many of the games are already coverted to 64bit and awaiting release (HL2 and a few others have already been released).
 
i wouldnt rush to get a HD-DVD or Blu-ray, cause look what happened to DVD-+.

The people who rushed to buy the first DVD burners had to choose between DVD-
or DVD+, as there was no dual format DVD burners. And the first ones cost nearly $200 now its like $50.

I bet in 2 years time or 2008 either Blu-ray or HD-DVD will win or there will be burners that can burn both formats.
 
I wouldn't wait for Conroe either as it's such a big unknown...we have some of the theory behind it, and that's all very nice. But, nobody has a clue as to how it will actuall perform.
Click to expand...

That's exactly why we should wait for Conroe. No one is waiting with bated breath for the next A64 200MHz speed bump, since any of us can guess with a pretty high level of accuracy how it's going to perform, and we know that the speed increase will be minimal over the current highend. If you buy now, and Conroe turns out the be the best thing since sliced bread, in July, you're going to be kicking yourself for not waiting. If it flops (not likely, based on Pentium M benchmarks), oh well, you can still buy the best that is available at a slightly lower price since you waited.
 
Originally posted by: Pariah
I wouldn't wait for Conroe either as it's such a big unknown...we have some of the theory behind it, and that's all very nice. But, nobody has a clue as to how it will actuall perform.
Click to expand...

That's exactly why we should wait for Conroe. No one is waiting with bated breath for the next A64 200MHz speed bump, since any of us can guess with a pretty high level of accuracy how it's going to perform, and we know that the speed increase will be minimal over the current highend. If you buy now, and Conroe turns out the be the best thing since sliced bread, in July, you're going to be kicking yourself for not waiting. If it flops (not likely, based on Pentium M benchmarks), oh well, you can still buy the best that is available at a slightly lower price since you waited.
Click to expand...

Well, firstly Conroe won't be coming out in July (despite the one rumour from Digitimes). It should be here at the end of 06 or beginning of 07, though it will probably be shipping samples to OEMs starting in July (remember that they need a good amount of lead time to design systems for it and fill the channel). The wait time for Conroe is probably close to a year from now (realisticly).

Second, it really isn't anything like the Pentium M architecture, though it is closer to PM (or P6) than it is to Netburst. It's a new architecture with 4 issues...but we have no idea if they can be efficiently utilized or any of the other problems that crop up with a new architecture (similar to Intel's problems with Netburst or AMD's with Hammer at the beginning of their ramps).

Thirdly, AMD will quite probably have a far greater speed bump range than most are expecting next year. The new SiGe strained silicon process they announced last month is extremely promising for a much higher headroom than expected...many say as high as 3.4 GHz on 90nm is possible.
 
Originally posted by: DanDaMan315
Never wait for new technology, you'll wait forever.
Click to expand...

True, but I've always been pretty good about waiting for the major developments without getting burned.


So from what you guys are saying, end of '06-beginning of '07 would be a good time to test the waters? I'm not rushing to upgrade, hell I'd love to wait and save my $$$!
 
Originally posted by: ed21x
hopefully solid state harddrives will become cheaper.
Click to expand...

They've been dropping roughly 2% per quarter on the low-end for the past 3 years and thats not likely to change. The high-end ones have drop a lot faster though. 128GB flash drives dropped $5000 in 18 months. Too bad that still leaves them at $20,000 😀

 
i'd wait atleast till summer 2006 and see whats out then... a new raptor harddrive is rumored, by then the release dates of the G80/R600 will be known, vista should be closer to release, conroe will be out or atleast known when to be out, the R580 will be long out and tested (and available) and so will the G71 (7900?) which looks promising. AMD will have released its M2/AM2 socket by then, and itll be available with new procs. blu-ray/HD-DVD will have begun their battle and some results should be showing not to mention by then youll have combo drives. and hard drives will only get bigger better & cheaper 😛

so basicly, if you wait till june/july, you will have alot of new stuff and things that still need to come out will have a more accurate release date. by then, you will know wether to wait another 6 months or to go ahead and buy something new.

i'd do it where it not that my PC im on right now is 3 years old+ and i cant really wait that long before buying something new again 😛 ill upgrade later i guess.
 
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