Socket 754 or wait for nForce4 939?

[tak3shiro]

I got about 1600 I want to spend on my rig, I've got the HD/Vid Card... etc planned out, however, I was wondering if going with an Athlon 64 3400+ on a nForce3/VIA k8t800 or waiting and spending 100-150$ more on the nForce4/3500+ (I'm guestimating on the price) would be worth it. The big advantage to me (since I'm a gamer) would be the PCI-Express that'll probably show up in the nForce4. I am planning on building this puppy around Christmas if that helps with projected release dates and such.

 

[Chumster]

Does anyone know if there will be nForce4 boards of the 754 flavor? If so, and you really can't wait, then you could get one of the inexpensive boards now (along with the 3400+) and then grab the nForce4 when they're released.

 

[constable]

I'd say buy an even cheaper amd sempron or XP and then upgrade the processor and mobo next summer when dual-core, nforce4+pci-e, and SLI are expected to be available. Or if anything, just wait for nforce4. By then, 939 stuff should be cheaper.

 

[DrMindbender]

How long do you wait between major upgrades? You could put a 754 system now and then do a NForce4 system a few years down the road when they'll be the same price as 754 systems now. Another route would be to slurge on a 939 right now and save the processor and everything else and just buy a new motherboard and pci-express card. It think you end up spending the same amount of money. But since you are a gamer and 939 systems do not have more performance in that area over 754, I don't think its worth the higher initial investment. And pci-express currently doesn't improve performance either. I'd say go for a sweet 754 system now, overclock that sumbitch and get the Nforce4 later.

 

[tak3shiro]

I'm a college student, so money isn't the fastest possible route to computer euphoria. I have been saving for a while and probably won't be able to upgrade for a couple years. I'm a gamer, so I'll give a couple other important specs. I'm hoping to get 3 years out of this rig without a need to upgrade.

1024 RAM - I'm thinking I'm going to get the Corsair/Kingston Value RAM since I have no desire to overclock (I'm VERY inexperienced in OCing)
GeForce 6800 GT - No ultra for me, the jolly green giant = expenseive/power hungry
2 80gb SATA HDD - Probably dual Hitachis in a RAID 0 format


I really want to play Doom 3, Half Life 2, Guild Wars, and F.E.A.R. when they come out (other than Doom 3 which I can get my greedy paws on soon). I would also like the computer to be able to handle the newest games during these next three years. If that doesn't seem feasible, ... well, I would like to hear your guys's opions!

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: tak3shiro
I'm a college student, so money isn't the fastest possible route to computer euphoria. I have been saving for a while and probably won't be able to upgrade for a couple years. I'm a gamer, so I'll give a couple other important specs. I'm hoping to get 3 years out of this rig without a need to upgrade.

1024 RAM - I'm thinking I'm going to get the Corsair/Kingston Value RAM since I have no desire to overclock (I'm VERY inexperienced in OCing)
GeForce 6800 GT - No ultra for me, the jolly green giant = expenseive/power hungry
2 80gb SATA HDD - Probably dual Hitachis in a RAID 0 format


I really want to play Doom 3, Half Life 2, Guild Wars, and F.E.A.R. when they come out (other than Doom 3 which I can get my greedy paws on soon). I would also like the computer to be able to handle the newest games during these next three years. If that doesn't seem feasible, ... well, I would like to hear your guys's opions!

I think if you're short on cash, SATA RAID0 is probably not worth it. That said...

If you don't think you'll be able to upgrade much (or at all) for the next few years, go with Socket754. It dead-ends at the 3700+ -- but if you don't mind buying a whole new system in 3 years, that's not a problem. The limiting factor will end up being the video card, and the 6800GT should be plenty fast for the next year or two. You'll certainly be able to play anything put out in the next 18-24 months, although you might well be pushing it to play games using the Unreal 3 engine (due out in, what, 2006/7?) No system you buy today is going to be "fast" in 3 years, but this one would likely be passable.

If you want a system that you can significantly upgrade (with newer video cards, faster A64s, etc.), you'll have to wait for a Socket939 system with PCI-Express, which will likely not be available until late this year or early next year, and will likely cost more than the equivalent S754 rig you could buy today.

 

[Dman877]

If you're seriously going to wait unitl christmas to build this, wait until the second week in december and ask this question again .

 

[TimTheEnchanter25]

Hopefully Nforce4 will be out in October or November. Because I'm waiting for it to come out before I upgrade for HL2.

The major advantage of Nforce4 939 is being able to upgrade part of your system in 2-4 years. Socket 754 has reached its peak for CPUs and AGP cards aren't going to last too much longer. If you have a 939 system you have the option of replacing your CPU or Video card down the road. Plus if you have the PCI-E version of the 6800GT you have the option of adding a second one with SLI when they get cheaper and you start having problems with running future games.

Like Dman said, wait and see how things look when you get closer to time to order. A lot can change in 3 months.

 

[tak3shiro]

Ok, I'll keep those tips in mind and ask again in about 3 months!
I think I'll take your guys' advice and wait for socket 939, I like the idea of being able to upgrade! >=D