Buying new computer--need advice please

[WarLocke]

For various reasons, I need to purchase a second computer relatively soon. I've got the itch to buy one immediately, but can wait for about another 60-90 days. I've basically got two questions:

1) Will I see a large speed difference between my current computer and the one I've currently selected to buy?
2) Is there anything coming up within 90 days (besides price drops) that should make me hold off for now?

CURRENT RIG (for games)

P3-866
128mb pc-133 sdram
10x DVD
15gb 7200rpm HD ATA-66
Via Apollo Pro 133a chipset
32mb Geforce2 GTS 32mb

NEW RIG (for games)

AMD Thunderbird 1200MHZ (200 Front Side Bus)
256MB 200MHZ DDR SDRAM - 2 DIMMS
20GB ATA-100 HARD DRIVE (7200RPM)
AMD 760 chipset
64MB DDR NVIDIA GEFORCE2 ULTRA AGP CARD
12x DVD

Thanks for any suggestions......

 

[Phuz]

Hey man.

All looks, amazing.. obviously, but you really don't need to go from the GTS to the Ultra.. it's just not signifigant enough! Save your coin for something super that's coming...

Obviously there is nothing wrong witht eh 1.2ghz tbird..or the other stuff. I recommend maybe an IBM 75 GXP drive.. and I'd get a 30, since game installs are getting extremely large.

What DDR mobo did you have in mind? Have an eye out for the Crush, and Asus A266 boards!

 

[Pyro]

save you money dude. a faster cpu wont make have a noticable impact unless you play 640x480. just get the geforce ultra and a nice 20" flat tube monitor.

 

[TheNemesis]

get a new monitor, the ultra really isn't neccasiry

 

[Rigoletto]

can you say "gearfreak"

 

[WarLocke]

No,No,No not a "gearfreak"--although I do love new toys, I've got to buy a new rig because my fiancee does alot of photoshop/3D graphic manipulation, and is CONSTANTLY knocking me off my computer. As for new monitors, I've already got 2 IIyama 19" VisionMaster Pro450 ultraflats, so I'm set that department.

My real concern is that I'm gonna throw down the money, and find out AMD is just about to release a 1.3+ processor right before/after Christmas. If AMD has nothing in the wings before february, then its time to buy.....

As far as motherboards go, I guess I'm stuck with whatever Micron Electronics is offering. I'm getting a relatively good discount on MicronPC computers (12.5%) through my company.

 

[Dulanic]

Im waiting for Palomino and NVidia Crush chipset then Ill upgrade.... that PC you have now is sufficent so if you could hold off I would.

 

[toph99]

as for the T'Bird, wait and get one with a 133DDR fsb, it may be worth the wait. as for the card, maybe you want to get an ATi Radeon for your fiancee's box as i have heard they are better for that kind of thing.

just my $0.02

 

[Noriaki]

well if you are doing photoshop junk with the new box you want the CPU as fast as possible, but ditch the GeForce2. They have crappy 2D and you don't really need the video power for photoshop. And if you are taking a 21" monitor and at like 1600x1200 (I'm assuming she doesn't use photoshop at 640x480, correct?) then the GeForce is going to look like crap.

Get a G450, or even a Radeon has nice sharp 2D and is nearly as fast as a GeForce for gaming. Other than that the 2nd rig will rock for photoshop.
For games you will hardly notice any difference between the two machines above 800x600

Keep your current rig for the gamer, and just load up on CPU power for the new one and get a card that does really nice 2D at high res (the G450 is also nice for the twin monitor support which can help in PS work to) for the Photoshop machine. A 933Mhz CPU is more than enough for games, but for photoshop you can never have enough raw CPU horsepower.

 

[Jeff H]

I'll second Phuz's recommendation to go w/ a 30G hard drive. For what they cost these days it doesn't make any sense to go <30G. IBM 75XP or Maxtor.

 

[superbaby]

Your setup is fine, what you are proposing would give you an increase in performance but in the end you are just buying higher rated parts, nothing new.

I'd wait a bit fot the next-gen, unless you got a lot of money to blow then go ahead