Future Upgradable what does it mean to you?

[JackMDS]

I wonder what the notion of future proof means?
It seems to me rather Bizarre that it is mentioned regarding computer components.

If One concentrates for a Minute and ask himself a specific question about the components that he/she wants to secure for the future, and then the answer should be clear.

1. You cannot upgrade CPU if the Socket does Not fit (New Class of CPUs usually entail different socket).

2. Chipset on a Mobo is Not upgradable.

3. There is Nothing to replace/upgrade on a Video Card.

4. New memory technology usually comes with a different socket.

5. CD DVD ROMs are not upgradable when new technology comes out.

6. The HD that you buy now is Not upgradable when faster and bigger arrive.

7. If there is a new technology in PSU it can apply hardware changes to your current PSU.

So what is Future Proof? May be the wishful Thinking .

 

[Juked07]

1. You're probably right. There is room to move from C2D to C2Q or something like that though. "Futureproofing" for this might be getting a PSU that can handle the quad depsite buying a dual first.

2. Correct.

3. Sure, but the video card itself can be replaced. Again maybe buying a beefier PSU to support future upgrades is a decent idea?

4. Room for expansion on the mobo to increase memory.. For example, buying 2x2 instead of 4x1 allows you to get 8GB more easily in the future.

5. Maybe getting a case which will have spare drive bays allows you to expand more easily when new tech comes out.

6. Correct, but nobody is trying to "future proof" when they're buying their HD... are they?

The phrase future proofing is kind of lame, I agree. But there certainly are steps you can take to make upgrading easier--things like a beefy PSU or room for expansion on your mobo/in your case.

 

[modoheo]

There are many things you can do, as stated above, with an eye to the ease of future upgrades. However, there really is no such thing as a "future-proof" gaming system. You could spend 10K today on a ultra-high-end system, and it would still be underperforming 2 years from now without upgrades.

 

[betasub]

1. Why are there two different items labelled point 2?

2. And two different items labelled point 5?

3. And point 3. Where is point 3?



I agree with your sentiments, Jack. So many build posts asking for "future proofing". In a fast moving technology, one should buy for the here-and-now, because the future is unpredictable in many ways (except that the technology will be faster and cheaper).

 

[Blain]

After considerable contemplation over an extended period of time, I have abandoned the notion of what is referred to as "Future proofing".
I have arrived at the conclusion, that such an endeavor is fraught with peril. Not only to ones sanity, but also to ones discretionary funds.
Given the current state of advancing computer technologies, I'm resigned to the position that I would be wise in building to my current and/or expected needs, as well as a bit more, which would function as a type of buffer.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: betasub
1. Why are there two different items labelled point 2?

2. And two different items labelled point 5?

3. And point 3. Where is point 3?



I agree with your sentiments, Jack. So many build posts asking for "future proofing". In a fast moving technology, one should buy for the here-and-now, because the future is unpredictable in many ways (except that the technology will be faster and cheaper).

Thanks! corrected.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Juked07
The phrase future proofing is kind of lame, I agree. But there certainly are steps you can take to make upgrading easier--things like a beefy PSU or room for expansion on your mobo/in your case.

Yeah, Upgrading and expanding is important, but it has nothing to do with Future Proof.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Future proofing doesn't exist and never has. I'm pretty sure it was invented by the good folks at Best Buy, Circuit City and, Radio Shack et al.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Future proofing doesn't exist and never has. I'm pretty sure it was invented by the good folks at Best Buy, Circuit City and, Radio Shack et al.

You'd be wrong about that.
It's a concept dreamed up by enthusiast that were tired of chasing benchmarks and loosing money in the process.
They want a magic bullet that could save them from constant upgrades.

 

[Roguestar]

I've abandoned the pipe-dream of "future-proofing" for what I feel is the more achievable "reasonable useful lifespan". If I buy a PC now that's maybe not quite top of the range, but maybe just one step down from that, how can I pick components in such a way that in two years I will likely be able to enjoy my PC in the same way. Obviously if I buy it now I can enjoy today's games in two years time but I'll still be able to use it for HD video, downloading (legal) videos and music, watching DVDs etc etc. I can still use my PC for these things and I'll have more headroom than if I had gone out and bought something that "just about" covered my needs now; an opteron 260, 2GB of RAM and a 7900GT would all do fine for the stuff I do now but I think striking a balance between overshooting your mark and overshooting the budget is important. I think it's more realistic not to set sights on playing Crysis 2 when it comes out but rather being able to play the games you want now, and maybe if you're lucky the games that come out in the next year.

Assuming I articulated my point in the way I mean it. I almost think I changed it while writing it .

 

[JackMDS]

Roguestar what you are saying is what many of us do.

We do not buy the current ?outrage? expensive state of the Art but one notch lower with the idea that we can upgrade when the price becomes market competitive.

It is a sound approach but verbally it means "Present Proof".

 

[Roguestar]

That's probably a more accurate way to describe it .

 

[Slammy1]

In it's most practical sense, I get a few years out of a system and it's stable/capable enough I can get a few bucks to put into the next system. My old P3B-F is still running like a champ with a friend who only recently decided he wants something newer sometime in the next year (but he's leaning toward a laptop and home network). Some people still think an old P3 is all anyone should need. Future proof to them has a lot different meaning. Gaming doesn't drive me to upgrade, but the fact that a Blu-Ray system would be cheap to build may bring me out of semi-retirement.

 

[Lonyo]

Future proofing now would be to buy a DDR3 system.
Even though you will need a new mobo/CPU when you upgrade (if you want Nehalem or future AMD stuff), you can still re-use the RAM.

Future proofing differs depending on when in a technology's life cycle we are.
Future proofing means not buying an AGP system when PCIe is in its infancy.
Future proofing means not buying DDR2 when it won't be that useful in the future and DDR3 is here.
Future proofing means not buying PATA harddrives when everything is going SATA.
Future proofing is not buying a 400w PSU when you are buying a Crossfire/SLI motherboard even if you only have a single GPU now.
Future proofing is not buying a P965 based motherboard when P35's have just been released.

Not all of those apply to the here and now, but as I said, future proofing doesn't have a static definition.

 

[Roguestar]

I disagree with Lonyo.

Is re-using one component at the expense of a greater cost now really future proofing? You need to look at how often and likely you are to upgrade.

If you can buy, say, 4GB of DDR2 now while it's dirt cheap, and then in a year and a half, upgrade to a motherboard and CPU that needs DDR3 when DDR3 is much cheaper, you could have saved the money spent on DDR3 now and gotten DDR2 now and DDR3 later with the same money.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
If you can buy, say, 4GB of DDR2 now while it's dirt cheap, and then in a year and a half, upgrade to a motherboard and CPU that needs DDR3 when DDR3 is much cheaper, you could have saved the money spent on DDR3 now and gotten DDR2 now and DDR3 later with the same money.

:thumbsup:

Otherwise, if Future proofing means waste of Money, then One would Not have No future at all.

 

[Rubycon]

Futureproofing is somewhat of a paradox when it comes to computers. The curve is asymptotic. (i.e. you can approach the "ideal" but never reach it no matter how much money you throw at it.)

That said, paying a lot more for stuff that you THINK will suit you better in the future could be called futureproofing.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
That said, paying a lot more for stuff that you THINK will suit you better in the future could be called futureproofing.

Or "Futurepuffing".

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: Rubycon
That said, paying a lot more for stuff that you THINK will suit you better in the future could be called futureproofing.

Or "Futurepuffing".

Should I resurrect my previous sig quote: "you have to pay more if your enjoyment comes from telling people what hardware you have"?

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
I disagree with Lonyo.

Is re-using one component at the expense of a greater cost now really future proofing? You need to look at how often and likely you are to upgrade.

Yes, it is future proofing.
It's not *sensible*, but it *is* future proofing.
But you don't always have to spend a huge amount more.

If you can buy, say, 4GB of DDR2 now while it's dirt cheap, and then in a year and a half, upgrade to a motherboard and CPU that needs DDR3 when DDR3 is much cheaper, you could have saved the money spent on DDR3 now and gotten DDR2 now and DDR3 later with the same money.

DDR2 vs DDR3 is only one particular purchase, and the only one that really applies right now, which I would see as a choice between future proofing vs not, but just because currently DDR2 vs DDR3 doesn't make sense from a cost perspective doesn't mean it isn't future proofing.

Future proofing doesn't have to mean higher costs, but often it does. In a few months, when the premium between DDR2 vs DDR3 is lower then future proofing will mean getting DDR3 at a very marginally higher cost, and it will make a lot more sense than it does now, but it's still future proofing IMO.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Yes, it is future proofing.
It's not *sensible*, but it *is* future proofing.

I guess you're right. I wonder if what people actually want is something that is "future proof" in regards upgradability or just something that will be adequate in terms of performance level in a few years.