Hello All,
With a good ammount of stuff about to happen like the release of Abit's 680i board, and Asus's new Commando at the end of the month, as well as whatever is coming along with the new ATI DX10 card I am finding it very hard to put $2500+ into a single system until March or April when the dust starts to settle.  But I really need a new computer, I think my laptop is about to kick it and I want to play games like HL2, FEAR, BF2142 ect  and want to know your opinions.  Do you think its worth it building a good $950 machine and keep it until may then turn it into a folding machine and extra computer.  Then blow $2500 on something in May?
 
The $900 machine would consist of:
 
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 (OEM)
SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe or E6300
CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
SONY Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1615/B2s - OEM
Microsoft Windows XP Home
ZALMAN 9700 LED  
 
Thanks
Eddie

I think that is really up to you. What you plan to spend your money on and how much you plan to spend is a question only you can answer. If you have the money and you need a computer now then someone else can use it then OK your rig looks good. Its true however than you might be better waiting for a bit with new mobos and ati cards comming out to spend $2500

I just cannot bring myself to pay $2500 for one now...but I really need a computer now too, sorta stuck in a bad place at a really bad time.  
 
Also it would be a nice rig to test my overclocking skills on...also gives me practice for a water cooled rig.  I am just worried that the $950 rig will not perform well.

Ok, I do not feel too bad buying parts for a $900 computer as of right now...in fact it would make me feel better then buying whatever $2500 could buy me today.  I just want to know if you guys think it is a stupid idea?  Should I see how long my laptop lasts and then put something like $3400 into a computer in May?  I just really cannot see putting more then $2700 into a single computer (not including monitor and speakers).  Its like after $2500 there are HUGE diminishing returns for each extra dollar spent, well for me anyways.

i'd probably rethink spending $2500 on a computer. a good $1000 will be almost as good, but with way less expenditure. The more you spend on a computer, the less bang for the buck you are getting.

what do you think of the one I have listed above?

Buy your listed equiptment - it seems fine.  Make sure you get a very good PS - so you can upgrade the video when you need to.
 
As far as future expenses - I would avoid it if you can.  No use in buying the latest Porsche on the docket if you have a decent Camero to cruise in - unless you like to boast about the latest Porsche (which is short lived until the next model release).
 
Mixed Metaphores asside - I would suggest you make sure you have solid - capable components.  And then plan to upgrade to a DX10, and possibly new MB as needed.  I would not build one now, then build one in a few months just because the latest cool stuff came out.
 
I made the same choice with my build - I put it together about 3 weeks after the C2D's came out.  Spent about $1600 on it.  Now you could get the same build for around $1300 or less.  I do not need a DX10 now, and will be fine with what I have until what I want to do requires an upgrade.
 
Of course it's your money - and if you like to brag about the techno toys - then that's your bag.  I would suggest a bit of conservative thought around this.
 
Cheers.

It will do fine. I went cheap. I spent around 600-700 dollars, and swaped a few recent upgrades from out old comp(case, HDD, Wifi, etc) Mine can run all of the most recent games really well. I just with that I had waited for the core 2 duo, and saved up for even better components. I wouldn't spent near $2500.

Just think about it, spending now 900 and later 2500 wouldnt make a good choice (for me). I would prefer to wait a little and buy a really strong system.
 
If you really need to buy a pc now, dont spend $900, maybe a little less would be enough.

Hi Slim,
I am just in a bad place if this laptop fails on me.  Its just been so slugish...random failures...not looking too good.  Could you think of a system that would be under $900 that would run games like FEAR and BF2142 ect?  I would rather just get the one good system in a few months, but its all up to my laptop.  Poor little thing

You can get a GOOD Core 2 Duo (E6300) pre-configured PC by people from here (the forums) with a price of $700 w/out keyboard, mouse or speakers (you should have those already anyways) or even less.
 
With the E6300, it would be enough until may.

Have to agree with the others.  $900 can buy you a pretty nice system right now.  If I have the option of $900 now, and $2500 later, I'd go for both.  Never hurts having a second PC around.  That was my plan before my old one croaked in November.  So then I had the choice of spending around $750 then, or around $1400 in Feb.  I went for then, because my wife's old e-machine just didn't cut it, and it still got me one heck of an upgrade to my old AMD 2200+.  Now if I could've done both... I'm drooling at the idea.

I can only dream of the possibilities at $2500. that can get you the fastest proc, video card, hardrives, and memory with leftovers.

I would spend about $700 Like this one something to get you by and it wont lose too much value
 
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115005 E6300 $186
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128015 Mobo $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227059 Memory $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102022 1900gt $154
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817171018 500watt psu $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119115 Case $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822144309 HD 250gb $67
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827152076
Dvdrw $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116169 OS $90
 
Just over $700 I agree with the rest if your not planning on keeping or upgrading this system just spend as little as you can to get you bye you will lose very little aftersale value on a $700 system like above good luck

 
It's probably safe to assume that these are two of the parts you would be planning to replace right?  If that's the case may I suggest a lower end proc (805 or so) and a lower end video card (X1600 or 7600GT)?  You will be able to play those games (albeit at greatly reduced video quality) but you won't have spent extra money on equipment that you are just going to replace shortly.  Just a thought.

I'm of the opinion that you should consider buying as much as you can now (proc, mem, case, PSU, etc) that is high end and then upgrade the other piece parts in May.  If you want DX10, then get a 7600GT for now and whatever DX10 you like later.  Same for the mobo - get the gigabyte S3 mobo.  You could probably sell the used parts on ebay to recover some of the sunk cost.
 
Otherwise, we could ALWAYS ask ourselves "should I wait?".  Of course we always could, but if we are always waiting for what's coming down the pipe, then we would never get anything...

Have you considered renting? I don't know, i mean if you're laptop holds out till start of feb, you could possibly rent, i remember seeing something on renting a gaming computer but i don't know it might not be the best choice, nevertheless if you find a good place to rent a computer for about 3 months, you might save money but hey, it's you're cash so do what you want

that is a good point. though, be smart about it. for example, don't do what I did. I bought an AM2 system, and discovered the amazing performance of the C2D days later. although my rig runs all the current games fine, and multitasks just fine, I now wish that I had waited a few more weeks. Core 2 still runs circles around any AM2 based processor. maybe a miracle will happen and I'll be able to upgrade to a comparably performing processor in the future.

 
If you NEED a computer now, spend $700-900 or so on a laptop, then build a power desktop in a few months.  I'd be glad to have the portability of a new laptop and the power of a new desktop when that's ready to be built.

Have you considered a "step-up" program that some manufacturers have. For example, you can get an EVGA 7600GT card now and you have 90 days to upgrade to a better card. It would have to be an EVGA card. Others have trade-up programs too. Take a look on their websites. I believe I saw one on the ATI website as well.

Hi Guys
I Like all the tips!  I might see if my laptop holds out a bit longer.  I actually liked the tip about getting another cheap laptop so I can have something if this one dies.  Thanks for the help so far!
 
BTW why is the ATI DX10 front so hush hush starting the new year?