It's hard to get ahead when you always feel behind. And you can't wait forever.

My philosophy in general is to create something really good that will need little upgrading and will last around 3 years, then startover and buy or build a new one again. It might end up costing you less in the long run.

:hmm: I'd actually wait awhile. Reason is Vistas is coming out in 2007 along with Flight Simulator X. And long with that the new DX10 will be coming out. What you build today will need to be rebuilt when all this happens to get the most out of FSX....... that is if you fly and want what the newest MS sim will offer to play at 100%.

Remember, things will be changing in a big way in the coming year. As Fred said, you might be saving more by waiting.

Hold off on what second card? I was not planning any second card. My point is that one should not try and build to the highest most expensive specs as all will be obsolete. Build to what runs current games well and no more.
Your build idea is a good one but this is not an evolution of tech it is a clean sweep restart so I do not believe this applies to your 3 year plan. What you build now is good for a year and no more, no matter what it is.

You believe Vista will not be bugged?:damn:

Trust them their MicroSoft?.:rotfl:

Even if its runs fine most of us want that proven not assumed as past experience has never once shown M$ to be bug free on any release.
That said we are still a year away.
By waiting you will then buy what you "know" will work not over spend and hope.
What ever you buy today that is not yet needed will be cheaper next week and much more in a year when you do need it.
I try and buy what is just passing out of super geek favor.
Do you really think other areas will not be advanced in CPU, VC, RAM, HD, MoBo, sound etc a year from now? None of us know what the system requirements will be so it just makes sense, IMO, to only buy what one knows will run current games fine and save some serious cash for when we can not resist the new stuff that will (hopefully) blow us away

Wulfmann

I just purchased a whole new system from newegg myself. I didn't spend a ton of money but I did get something with it that hasn't been mentioned here yet. I got a 20 inch widescreen flat panel monitor.

Of course I wanted high performance and was cafefull to buy the right stuff. Yet the one item that is so noticible is the monitor. Gaming on a widesceen is awesome.

As far as what others are recommending I also made sure I got the new technology (PCI Express X) in a graphics card even if I didn't buy the most expensive. For around $100 I got the SAPPHIRE 1600X Radeon.

Wait, here is the best part. When my son's computer died I stalled in repairing it. My wife got so annoyed at him being on our machine she begged me to give him ours and get us this new one. Seeing the time was right I asked if we should go for the flat panel. Whoa...she said yes. Subsiming is better then ever.

Oh, it cost me a total of $1150 for everything shipped to my house.

Gene

I figure this is a good thread to ask my question.
I have a machine a built in 03 specs are 3 ghz p4ht 1GB ram 9800 pro I plan on making some upgrades to get another year or so out of it. Im wondering what would I see the most bang for my buck with in SH3 ? The vid card or 2 more GB of ram?SH3 has been a little jumpy since GW.
TIA

H, 2 GB of RAM is a good amount for SH3 and it is very cheap now (I assume you mean DDR RAM)
Before you upgrade your 9800 download the ATI Tool. You may be able to jump the performance more than you might guess. If you can I advise getting the Arctic Cooler fan for the 9800 about $18.00 shipped from newegg which will cool the overclocked 9800 to less temps than it now runs stock. I know this for a fact.
Because you have an AGP8 video slot upgrading to a bigger VC will not do as much as upgrading the system.
Right now that is very cheaply done.
A new Mobo, a 3500 AMD 64 bit CPU and an X800 256MB PCI express VC will run about $300.00.
With 2GB of RAM you will play any game available now bar none.
You ill not believe the difference in SH3 will have.
But if you just add 1 GB of RAM, OC the 9800 with the free ATI Tool (very easy to use) and add the AC fan for it that will cost you about $75.00.
Just an opinion

Wulfmann

i know you got to get things right...But im a firm beliver in RAM RAM and more RAM build your pc whats left get as much.....RAM!...lol:up:

Well I certainly hope you are wrong. I did quite a bit of research b4 I had made my decision as i definitely wanted to avoid the types of things that you have mentioned. And I came to a different conclusion than you have. That's really all I can say. I checked online and talked to other experts and all sources said that my system would be fine for Vista. And I think you're really too concerned about DX10. But regardless, I've already made my choice and I wish good luck to anyone else who needs to make a similar decision.

my specs:

Case: Gigabyte 3D Aurora with clear side panel window
motherboard: ABIT AT8 32X crossfire
processor: AMD Athlon 64 x2 dual-core 4400+
Windows XP Professional 64bit
memory: 2x1gb Corsair DDR 433 pc3500 pro
video card: Asus X1900XT 512mb/256bt
Harddrives 2x74gb Western digital wd740 raptors, 10000 rpm, SATA 150
monitor: ultrasharp 20" lcd flat widescreen

AMD blow up if pushed, P4 dont so i use a P4 Intel chip, they have a Blow ballast on them allso if they get too hot they slow the CPU useage DO AMD :lol: I use a P4 2.6 g with a 9600pro with 256 ,1 gig ram {fast}.motherboard Jetway.This works just fine but u always get someone saying mine goes faster:rotfl: .try and push an AMD chip see what happens{Call the fire brigade} just go like the Oldskool who know Intel says it on the tin ,not like AMD.Why do AMD say its a 3000 something but only a 2000 somethink :rotfl: Look out for the new Intel chips gonna bugger AMD:arrgh!:.My 1st chip was an Intel sx33 :sunny: the 1st cd rom drive i bought was a X4 at 120 QUID:rotfl:.Man them the days Pipex dial at 30 quid a month plus 10 p a minute :x .Tuning CPUs ive never BLOWN an INTEL Many crap AMDs have fallen and left a MARK on the MB!!Intel unlike AMD mark their CPUs down Amd mark theirs full wack:know: .So dont go with what u heard ive be using Intel and have never been let down.I must say the new Intels are running hotter core temps now but them AMDs been cooking for years=heat means ur buggered:dead:
Capt Von Bollocks

X GAMER ULTIMATE VIPER COMPLETE COMPUTER GAMING PACKAGE 4000+ 7900GT x 2-4gig DDR 250gig/16
Item Code X_GAMER_ULT_VIPER X GAMER ULTIMATE VIPER COMPLETE COMPUTER GAMING PACKAGE

The Ultimate package for the gamer starting from scratch, value packed and powefull!
Dont be fooled by immitations from the competition buy the BEST there is from the company that knows how to make a gaming system!!
Our system includes many extras not found in most immitation/copy systems including custom high powered brand name PSU, Fast SATA-2 16meg Cache HDD Quality Motherboard and a case which include great features like a cable tidy at the rear.

FEATURES
AMD Athlon64 4000+ Socket939 DUAL CHANNEL 64bit CPU
Nforce4 SLI Motherboard inluding
7.1 Channel Audio Sound, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0, SATA-2, Firewire ect.
4gig of DDR400 High Performance Memory running Dual Channel (4 x 1gig) **
16x DUAL LAYER DVD Burner and an extra 16x DVD-Rom for movies, backups, and the latest games on DVD
250gig SATA-2 16meg Cache Harddrive for the latest and fastest Performance
Floppy drive and Internal memory card reader included as a BONUS

2 x nVidia 7900-GT 256meg PCI Express video cards running SLi mode for extreme gaming
Internal Memory card reader and a floppy drive for every day needs with file transfers and memory types
SuperFlower 500watt PSU with plenty of grunt to run all the high end gear.
XG VIPER Gamers Case with grab handles, cable tidy, temperature monitor, crazy side window and the best paint job you will probably ever see in a case.

To make this a complete computer package we have also included the following....
SILVER / BLACK Multimedia Keyboard
BLACK Optical Mouse
17inch 8ms TFT Gaming Monitor or a 19inch Flat CRT Monitor
5.1 Channels Labtech ARENA 675 Speaker Set featuring powerfull bass Or Equivilent alternative
*
* Award was based on older model, NEW model now has faster CPU, faster VIDEO and double the RAM all for the same PRICE!!!

**To use the full 4gig of memory Windows 64bit is needed, Windows XP can still be used but cannot use the full 4gig

Well ? how much :rotfl:

Do you work for Intel, or something?

PS: A 2 gig AMD is the same as a 3 gig Intel.

Ok, this was rewarding. *off to do a patrol on a uboat with well mannered crew"


Edit; I have now read your earlier posts, where you behaved like a human being, so what happened to you?

**********

Bad language
 

Stabi what ever :rock: a 2 gig AMD is the same as a Intel 3 *** of go have a ****** m8 you aint got a clue so ***************
Russell

Von, this is a PG rated forum, please look around and use thge same language the rest of us are using. -- NS