Build a system now with 8800GTX or wait for 9800GTX?

I haven't done any gaming beyond emulators and Warcraft III for almost two years. I built a desktop with a 7800 GT a while back but it died shortley thereafter.

The lack of playing new games is killing me. I want to build a great computer for gaming but I also want it to be able to run new games at 1680x1050 smoothly for at least the new few years.


So I am debatnig whether I shoudl just bit the bullet now and make a system for about 1500$ which includes an 8800GTX (priced at 500) or whether I should wait until the fabled 9800GTX flagship comes out. I hear it's going to own the 8800 in terms of performance so that's something I feel like I don't want to pass up.

Initial rumors said the 9800 was coming out in Nov, but now we've learned the G92 coming out in NOV is just a mainstream mid-range chip. The flag is going to be out...?



What are your guys' opinions? I'm also trying to decide between a 2.4quad processor or a 3.0 dual core. It's mostly for gaming.

as far as the processor goes, most games now will probably run best on the 3.0 dual core. However, as more and more games support thread branching (or some similar facsimile thereof) the 2.4 quad will gain the upper hand. Crysis, for example, was optimized to run on quad core processors and the performance will probably be better on a quad core. I tried to "futureproof" my new build, and I chose the q6600.

I'll let someone else field the video card question, it's been a while since i checked my facts...

If you overclock the 8800, I don't believe you will have trouble with Crysis, esp with a nice cpu.

16xAF and 4xAA?


And the 8800 GTXs have been around for a frigging year and still 500 bucks. Grr..

Premium priced? 600 bucks ish? I could do 600, but no more. heh.

Get the GTX or a GTS 640, because at the end we don't know when the 9800 is coming out. When it comes out, sell your 8800 and get the 9800.

if he can buy a GTX, then let him buy it , who knows how well 9xxx series will perform