Reasons to buy a new PC

[TheDarkWraith]

Originally Posted by scrapser

One last post regarding hardware and that's it for me in this thread. I think everyone who's thinking on buying, building, or upgrading a PC should hold off if they can until the next generation nVidia card is released (code name "Fermi" and introduced as a card designed for super computers). This thing is supposed to be a quantum leap...not an incremental jump.

I wouldn't wait. You can use your 'old' nVidia card for PhysX processing. That's what I plan on doing with my current GTX280.

Don't skimp on your parts! Shell out the money, it will be worth it (latest system I built was around $3000 - but it flies and I hate to wait on anything to load or crappy frame rates on high game settings). I've been building my own systems for over 15 years. There isn't one pre-built system that can compare to a custom built one. Period. You get what you want, not what some corporation was able to buy the cheapest for. The motherboard is the heart and soul of a system - get the best (I prefer Asus - currently their Crosshair III Formula as it is just awesome).
Processors - AMD or Intel? I prefer AMD. You have to be a serious hard-core gamer to realize the difference between the two. I prefer the underdog...plus they are WAY cheaper. I have an AMD 955 Black Edition quad-core oc'd to 3.8GHz and it's stable (with a Zalman cooling it of course). You just can't go wrong with AMD. Picked up the X4 955 BE for $225 on NewEgg.com.
Case - Antec 1200. It'll keep things nice and cool and plenty of room for expansion (and GTX280 size video cards fit with no problem and room to spare)
Power Supply - Galaxy Evo 1.2kW. Has enough room to expand your system for many years and it's modular.
CPU Coolers - Zalman. The only way to go if you're going to oc.
Memory - OCZ. Never had a problem with them.
Video Card - BFGTech nVidia GTX___. They give lifetime warranty on their video cards and I've never had a problem with them.
Case Fans - replace your stock case fans with good quality aftermarket ones. Look for ones with the 4 pole plug so you can monitor speed and PWM them for speed control (power savings and heat control).
Hard Drives - WD VelociRaptors. If you like speed and hate waiting for things to load you'll love these. Put them in a RAID 0 and you'll wonder why you didn't do it before (my system is backed up by a custom-built server running Windows Home Server so I'm safe to use RAID 0).
My .02 worth.

[Philipp_Thomsen]

@Webster

I didnt mention coolers cos I always use the stock Intel cooler. Its pretty enough for the CPU, even with small overclocks. I dont ever overclock, and I think its not necessary. Most dual cores will be more then enough to run anything, its usually the ram, hd and videocard that makes the difference.

Also, the Intel stock coolers are so damn quiet that more then often I turn my computer off, thinking its already off when Im going to turn it on. Its so damn quiet I cannot tell if its on or off. (except for the leds, that I dont usually plug in the mainboard, i prefer it that way).

Originally Posted by Philipp_Thomsen

@Webster

I didnt mention coolers cos I always use the stock Intel cooler. Its pretty enough for the CPU, even with small overclocks. I dont ever overclock, and I think its not necessary. Most dual cores will be more then enough to run anything, its usually the ram, hd and videocard that makes the difference.

Also, the Intel stock coolers are so damn quiet that more then often I turn my computer off, thinking its already off when Im going to turn it on. Its so damn quiet I cannot tell if its on or off. (except for the leds, that I dont usually plug in the mainboard, i prefer it that way).

i was only talking about "case" fans for the case cooling

as for CPU coolers its like choosing a girlfriend, everybody likes something a little different so i wouldnt get into recommending those although personally i agree the stock intels are fine. i use the arctic cooler 7 so it directs the heat staight out the rear fan and its even quieter than intels stock cpu cooler. i've been told it keeps the CPU cooler than intels stock cooler but it dont push it enough to know for sure.

[Lord Justice]

Originally Posted by WEBSTER

i was only talking about "case" fans for the case cooling

as for CPU coolers its like choosing a girlfriend, everybody likes something a little different so i wouldnt get into recommending those although personally i agree the stock intels are fine. i use the arctic cooler 7 so it directs the heat staight out the rear fan and its even quieter than intels stock cpu cooler. i've been told it keeps the CPU cooler than intels stock cooler but it dont push it enough to know for sure.

Once again some good valid points, the ones with PSU leads to atx full size case, side fan cooling and cpu cooling, spot on. using the artic 7 myself, cpu temp dropped 12 degrees but changed case for cm scout and added 2 120 mm , 12000 rpm sythe s-flex side panel fans, mobo also dropped 5 degrees,my suped up diesels are about to be upgraded next week going nuclear lol i7 1366 socket, and the rest of the spiel etc etc but have to ask you webster!! can you confirm wich ? and when video card change? iam holding out to march and going for the sapphire ati 5870, should drop a little bye then, as you know replacing mobo as well bye ddr2 but thinking asus usally always, but still to read up on the new gigabyte ud7?? supporting sata 3 + usb 3, drivers could be an issue though!! so new all round overhaul apart from gpu for the moment then i sell fast old diesels to supply cost for 5870 or 5890 for sh5, as a pc tech i obviosly know etc etc but curious once again to your choice of gpu at sh5 realise.

[scrapser]

Originally Posted by Racerboy

I wouldn't wait. You can use your 'old' nVidia card for PhysX processing. That's what I plan on doing with my current GTX280.

Don't skimp on your parts! Shell out the money, it will be worth it (latest system I built was around $3000 - but it flies and I hate to wait on anything to load or crappy frame rates on high game settings). I've been building my own systems for over 15 years. There isn't one pre-built system that can compare to a custom built one. Period. You get what you want, not what some corporation was able to buy the cheapest for. The motherboard is the heart and soul of a system - get the best (I prefer Asus - currently their Crosshair III Formula as it is just awesome).
Processors - AMD or Intel? I prefer AMD. You have to be a serious hard-core gamer to realize the difference between the two. I prefer the underdog...plus they are WAY cheaper. I have an AMD 955 Black Edition quad-core oc'd to 3.8GHz and it's stable (with a Zalman cooling it of course). You just can't go wrong with AMD. Picked up the X4 955 BE for $225 on NewEgg.com.
Case - Antec 1200. It'll keep things nice and cool and plenty of room for expansion (and GTX280 size video cards fit with no problem and room to spare)
Power Supply - Galaxy Evo 1.2kW. Has enough room to expand your system for many years and it's modular.
CPU Coolers - Zalman. The only way to go if you're going to oc.
Memory - OCZ. Never had a problem with them.
Video Card - BFGTech nVidia GTX___. They give lifetime warranty on their video cards and I've never had a problem with them.
Case Fans - replace your stock case fans with good quality aftermarket ones. Look for ones with the 4 pole plug so you can monitor speed and PWM them for speed control (power savings and heat control).
Hard Drives - WD VelociRaptors. If you like speed and hate waiting for things to load you'll love these. Put them in a RAID 0 and you'll wonder why you didn't do it before (my system is backed up by a custom-built server running Windows Home Server so I'm safe to use RAID 0).
My .02 worth.

Unfortunately I am one of the people who ended up with a bogus GTX280 but it only became apparent about a month ago. I can use it for older games and regular stuff like web surfing but it chokes on games like Crysis or Far Cry 2.

It's the only card I have and I don't want to bother with sending it back to BFG for a replacement (I use my home PC for work). It also doesn't make sense to replace it by buying a new card because as soon as Fermi is released, those prices will all drop and many of the 200 series cards are being phased out.

Fermi will be out sometime in the next few months (maybe January) so I am willing to limp along until then.