Most 'Future Proof' CPU/MB?

[Bregor]

The last two times I built a computer for myself I did so with the intention of being able to upgrade the CPU later with a minimum of trouble. In both cases, however, when the time came when I finally needed an upgrade, sockets / chipsets / etc. had changed sufficiently that I had to buy a whole new MB / CPU / RAM set.

Now I am in the process of planning a new computer upgrade, and once again I am going to be forced to buy essentially a whole new computer. It may be folly, but I want to at least consider what CPU / MB combination will be the most 'future proof'- the one which will allow me to upgrade with the least trouble for the longest time.

It won't be the only factor I consider (I want to stay away from the high-priced cutting edge stuff if possible), but I felt it would be best if I at least got some idea of the longevity of the various options.

So which platform is the most 'future proof' one? As far as I can tell the P4 865/875 boards and the Athlon 64 boards will probably be around the longest, and the Athlon XP boards are probably on the way out, but I have not really kept up with the future plans of AMD and Intel and so I'm not sure what is coming around the corner.

Thanks in advance for any advice...

 

[Lyfer]

None.


Nothings future proof.

 

[Aganack1]

In the next six months every thing will change if you want to future proof your computer for atleast a year wait for ddr2 and pci-express just my 2cents

 

[dguy6789]

no, the new thorton is comming out, this is pretty much a thorughbred b type core meant to goto high clocks. This core is designed to allow amd to make it cheaply. When the athlon 64 comes out the athlon xp will be the cheap alternative, the athlon xp will be around as long as the athlon 64. I reccomend if you wanna be able to upgrade in a 3-4 year later situation, wait till the secodn generation athlon 64 boards to come out, that will support athlon 64 fx, as it will be that socket for a long time.

 

[SickBeast]

Anything but an intel chipset. Intel makes their newest chips incompatible with older chipsets intentionally so that people are forced to buy new motherboards with intel chipsets.

The AMD socket-a platform is pretty much dead, unless AMD pulls the proverbial rabbit out of their hat.

I would suggest that the Nforce3 boards will be the most future-proof, unless AMD changes its ways. Socket A has been around for a long, long time.

 

[jfall]

This is definately not the time to be thinking about building a future proof computer, there is so much new stuff on the horizon. Persoanlly, I am waiting for 64bit processors to become mainstream

 

[dullard]

I think you are with the vast majority of consumers. Unless you upgrade every couple of months, it is usually best to upgrade the MB/CPU/memory all at once. Upgrading within a motherboard usually only makes sense when you start at the bottom and move all the way towards the top. For example someone with a 2.4 GHz P4 with 533 MHz fsb can move all the way to 3.06 GHz. However someone with a 2.8 GHz P4 with 533 MHz fsb really has little reason to upgrade - there is just one small processor step that can be made. Here are some thoughts:
1) The Athlon XP will be here for quite some time. It may not get much of a speed bump though. Plan out your purchases accordingly. You can get a good MB now and a cheap Athlon XP - then when prices drop get a great Athlon XP.
2) The Athlon 64 will have a large number of motherboard types and many will be discontinued shortly after their introduction. I would not consider those MBs to be future proof at all.
3) Intel strictly follows what I said in my first 2 sentences. They know 98% or more of their customers upgrade the MB/CPU/memory all at once. So they rarely give you many processors that each motherboard can use. The current batch of P4 motherboards will likely have troubles with the next batch of Intel chips. So those are not future proof at all. If you wait until November (when Prescott is released) you might get a motherboard that will allow some decent upgrading, but again Intel will change it probably before you are ready to upgrade.

 

[chocoruacal]

Originally posted by: Lyfer
None.


Nothings future proof.

 

[Slogun]

No such thing as future-proof.

Major upgrades after one year will always include CPU/MB/RAM if you want to stay close to what's "currently" fast.

These items (CPU/MB/RAM) are to interdependent in terms of functionality for you to benefit much by upgrading less than all of them.

 

[dguy6789]

there are things that last longer into the future then others, and this is what he means.

 

[Slogun]

I guess so...

 

[Jeff7181]

Assuming you don't upgrade often, I'd go with a P4 solution right now... maybe a 533 mhz bus 2.4 Ghz processor on a sub $100 865 or 875 motherboard... then later down the road, when 4 Ghz Prescotts are Intel's flagship processor, you could probably pick up a 3 Ghz P4C for $200... which would make a nice upgrade 1.5-2 years from now.

 

[illuminati]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
there are things that last longer into the future then others, and this is what he means.

Agreed. Like with intel boards... they usually take "older" P4 processors ok. but the newest processor will only work on the newest intel chipset. So if you want to plan ahead, you could get a canterwood/springdale chipset motherboard with a 533fsb processor... then later, you could upgrade to a 3.2C 800 fsb processor when they are decently priced. However, if you follow this methodology... make sure you get a motherboard that plans to support the Prescott so you could potentially upgrade to the Prescot with 1000+ fsb... Good luck.

 

[Slogun]

I wouldn't count on any mobo out now supporting Prescott.

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Anything but an intel chipset. Intel makes their newest chips incompatible with older chipsets intentionally so that people are forced to buy new motherboards with intel chipsets.

The AMD socket-a platform is pretty much dead, unless AMD pulls the proverbial rabbit out of their hat.

I would suggest that the Nforce3 boards will be the most future-proof, unless AMD changes its ways. Socket A has been around for a long, long time.

Nforce three boards will only work with Opterons once the AthlonFX switches to a 939 pin layout, instead of the current 940. So while it would be the best bet, as I dont see Opterons changing sockets anytime soon, Opterons will be more costly than the Athlon 64 or the Athlon 64 FX.

 

[Corporate Thug]

most future proof will be athlon 64

 

[dmw16]

A CPU/mobo upgrade isnt worth it until the next gen of stuff comes around. With all the stuff on the way like ddr2, AMD64, and the P5 (or whatever they are gonna call it). I would wait and see what everybody's next move is. I am keeping what I am until I can afford an AMD64.
-doug

 

[jim1976]

In the second half of 2003 Prescott makes his appearance(0.09micron) with beginning speeds from 3.2 and 3.4ghz
It will have L2 cache 1mb improved H/T and probably SS3 commands.It will be supprorted by the existing chipsets 865 and 875 which will exist in the market till the middle 2004.
Somewhere there Tejas will make his appearance with new socket on board which means new mobo.
It will have initially 800mhz fsb but soon will increase at 1066 or even 1200mhz!!!
From intels side the supporting chipset will be Grantsdale with DDR400 initially and later yes!!! new memory DDR533
As u can see things as always evolve with rapid pace!!!
You decide from here

 

[Rectalfier]

For Intel, there are some motherboard makers that claim their Mobo's will support the upcoming Prescot CPU's. Look for one of these if you go Intel.

For AMD, as someone Digitalsm said, the 940 socket will be around for a long time, although, AMD will only produce Opteron's at this socket size once the 939 socket comes out for Athlon FX. The 939 socket will last a long time as well, but it won't be out untill next year. The socket 754 for Athlon64 will be pretty future proof as well, but it will only support the Athlon64, which is all that bad.

Either way, I would wait untill the Prescot and Athlon64/FX have been released. this way, you will know how the Athlon's perform, and which mobo's support the Prescot chip.

 

[sandorski]

Like others have said, a Futureproof(assuming that you mean able to upgrade cpu only at some future date) setup right now is almost impossible to know.

SocketA is near its' end, but there could be more speed bumps in the future, but no one knows.

The curent P4 mobos might be able to use the next iteration of P4s, but new power requirements or other changes might make current mobos unable to use them.

Athlon 64 mobos likely have the best Future Proof ability, but like most new Platforms, problems are likely to exist making the first run of mobos quite ify to fuure upgrades.

The solution? If the system in your sig is what you are planning to upgrade, I'd suggest that you just stick with it for now. I'm not sure what chipset is on your mobo, but I'd think that if any of the current P4 mobos will work for future P4s, your Abit has a very decent chance of being able to work with them. Besides your system is plenty fast and will continue to be for a year or so, most likely.

edit: spelling

 

[jim1976]

Without great knowledge of AMD's Athlon 64 i believe that a 64bit system needs way way much more time to be tested and stabilized. That doesn't mean i underestimate AMD which for me is making the great step to evolution

 

[jhu]

just get one of those new itanium 2 systems from dell.

 

[SEBZX79]

Originally posted by: jhu
just get one of those new itanium 2 systems from dell.

And how is that future proof?

 

[Bregor]

It looks like things are pretty much as I was afraid they might be: the only MB formats that might last for a while aren't going to be available for several months. As I plan to make the upgrade within the next month or two I guess that I will have to drop the idea of worrying about future CPU compatibility and just go for the best power/value balance I can get today. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Idontcare]

G5 dual 2GHz...