I think as most computer enthusiasts who don't have a ton of money to throw around that there must be a way to assess the near future of motherboards and chipsets, graphics cards, and growing trends.
Lets take a ride down memory lane so you can better understand what I'm trying to illustrate here.
The first motherboard chipset that was widely available for consumers buying the brand new Pentium II's was the short-lived 440FX. Following which a number of months later was the 440LX, and lastly the long lived 440BX. Now lets get down to the main issue. Bang for your buck.
The 440FX allowed for the following processors: 233, 266, and 300. That was it. So if you went from a 233 to a 300, you would get an increase of roughly 28%. Not so hot in a world where speeds double every 18 months. Other things about the 440FX chipset made those motherboards built upon it extremely limited to upgrading. AGP wasn't introduced until the 440LX (agp 1x) and boosted to 2x with the BX (I believe). Also the 440LX was the first to support SDRAM which remained a mainstay for a number of years.
So why this throw back to the introduction of the Pentium II? Well what I am trying to accomplish is determining the best *time* in the near future to jump for a new chipset.
What does this new chipset need to provide for the most bang for the buck?
1. Solid chipset, not too early from release when the designers are using basic reference designs.
2. Knowing that no *big* changes are around the corner. I don't want to end up buying a motherboard that will completely outdated with the arrival of a new standard, like ATA 100, USB 2.0, a new core design change, ability to allow for new RAM types, etc.
3. Knowing that future processors will be supported, at *least* giving a 33% boost. So if I was picking up a motherboard that supports my 2ghz cpu now, that it will be able to support a 2.66ghz or better CPU down the line.
So what am I looking for? Tracking numerous variables essentially (with the aid of the all-knowing conglomeration of Anandtech Forum posters).
So the question really is, is it doable? Or is communications age moving too quickly to gather trends and be able to buy a motherboard to which I can successfully upgrade six months after buying it and keep a system that is more than a little respectable to the brand new stuff. In one year I should be still comfortable with the system but start eying new trends.
The next question is, where do most people see the next "wave" rising that will incorporate the next line of CPU's, new standards (or strongly cemented current standards)? I hear a number of people chanting nForce and Athlon 4....will the first real motherboard chipset by nVidia built well enough to last more than a few months before ironing out the problems, or should we all wait for that "second revision"?
Well if I continue like this I will feel like philisophical debate with myself so I think I'll leave it at this.
Thanks in advance for your time.
Zyph
Lets take a ride down memory lane so you can better understand what I'm trying to illustrate here.
The first motherboard chipset that was widely available for consumers buying the brand new Pentium II's was the short-lived 440FX. Following which a number of months later was the 440LX, and lastly the long lived 440BX. Now lets get down to the main issue. Bang for your buck.
The 440FX allowed for the following processors: 233, 266, and 300. That was it. So if you went from a 233 to a 300, you would get an increase of roughly 28%. Not so hot in a world where speeds double every 18 months. Other things about the 440FX chipset made those motherboards built upon it extremely limited to upgrading. AGP wasn't introduced until the 440LX (agp 1x) and boosted to 2x with the BX (I believe). Also the 440LX was the first to support SDRAM which remained a mainstay for a number of years.
So why this throw back to the introduction of the Pentium II? Well what I am trying to accomplish is determining the best *time* in the near future to jump for a new chipset.
What does this new chipset need to provide for the most bang for the buck?
1. Solid chipset, not too early from release when the designers are using basic reference designs.
2. Knowing that no *big* changes are around the corner. I don't want to end up buying a motherboard that will completely outdated with the arrival of a new standard, like ATA 100, USB 2.0, a new core design change, ability to allow for new RAM types, etc.
3. Knowing that future processors will be supported, at *least* giving a 33% boost. So if I was picking up a motherboard that supports my 2ghz cpu now, that it will be able to support a 2.66ghz or better CPU down the line.
So what am I looking for? Tracking numerous variables essentially (with the aid of the all-knowing conglomeration of Anandtech Forum posters).
So the question really is, is it doable? Or is communications age moving too quickly to gather trends and be able to buy a motherboard to which I can successfully upgrade six months after buying it and keep a system that is more than a little respectable to the brand new stuff. In one year I should be still comfortable with the system but start eying new trends.
The next question is, where do most people see the next "wave" rising that will incorporate the next line of CPU's, new standards (or strongly cemented current standards)? I hear a number of people chanting nForce and Athlon 4....will the first real motherboard chipset by nVidia built well enough to last more than a few months before ironing out the problems, or should we all wait for that "second revision"?
Well if I continue like this I will feel like philisophical debate with myself so I think I'll leave it at this.
Thanks in advance for your time.
Zyph