Is Now a Good Time to Build?

For this year I had two major purchases in mind. One is an HDTV and the other is a new computer build. My original plan was to get an HDTV in late winter/early spring, then save and build the new comp. Thing's have gone a bit haywire in the fact that overall HDTV prices have gone up since the end of last year. Now I'm thinking of doing the computer first then saving for the HDTV.

My dilemma though, is considering whether or not I should even bother right now. AMD's processors seem to be struggling, and isn't Intel getting ready to release processors that use a different socket or something? Additionally I'm only looking to spend <$800 on my computer build (without monitor, case, or peripherals) can a system built for that right now be capable of outputting the latest games, like Crysis, at 1920x1080 for when I do get my HDTV (I'll be using it as a monitor) or should I hold off till later this year and hopefully that same $800 will get me something beefier?

I just built a computer that is pretty powerful and all for under $800, and I think it will serve me well, even in games like Crysis. In fact, I just did some research on it, and it turns out the 3870 performs very well in Crysis, especially for the price. here's a page with benchmarks for crysis with the radeon 3870 compared to some other high end cards including the 8800 gt: http://www.extremetech.com/article [...] 930,00.asp
Seems like it did pretty well there, just as well if not better than the 8800s.

Here are my computer's specs:

gigabyte ds3l mobo (about $85)
C2D e2180 processor (about $75)
Antec 900 case (cost me $80)
Visiontek Radeon 3870 (about $200 if you catch it on sale)
G skill 2x 2gb ram ($90)
Lite-on DVD burner ($35)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250 gb HD ($70)

All that added up to $635. It'll be about $50 in tax, and you should probably set aside another $30 for shipping, though if you buy everything from newegg like I did (except for the processor and mobo) you will probably get free shipping on everything. All in all it'll probably come out to about $717. You'll have a great processor (if you OverClock), and a very nice graphics card. That 3870 is ALMOST as good as an 8800 gt, sometimes better. Plus you'll have 4gigs of ram, and two empty slots in your mobo, just incase you want to go 64bit. As far as Operating system, you'll have to make your own decision there, I'm still not even sure what I'm going with.

Right now My Newegg Wishlist is looking something like this.

I'm considering upping the mobo to something that'll support Crossfire and going with a 3870, then down the road putting another 3870 in there when their prices drop. I'll be using XP Pro, initially. I may add a second harddrive and dual boot it with Vista if future gaming makes it absolutely essential.

Edit: I guess it goes without saying but I didn't exactly expect to be able to play Crysis at 1920x1080 at high but now that it's been mentioned...

It all looks good, except the PSU. Also, I'd get MX-2 instead of AS5.
For HD 3870 Crossfire I recommend GA-X38-DS4 and PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610W (or 750W).

Personally i would wait for the PC build untill the 9800's come out.

Is Now a Good Time to Build?

That is a million dollar question! New hardware (and software) is always around the corner.

$800 dollars is a little low for purchasing mainstream hardware.

I spent over $600 on my motherboard and memory, and the hardware is not that special.

is crossfire 3870 really that much better than 3870x2?

a 3870x2 is cheaper, you could probably go with a cheaper motherboard too

this chart shows it doing pretty well in Obilvion compared to 3870 in crossfire
http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/0 [...] age10.html

and this chart shows it doing very well compared to other high end cards over all
http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/0 [...] age20.html

You know if you wait until 2019 the BillyBoy platform will be available. I hear tell that BillBoy will have 100 cores and run at 20.2Ghz

In otherwords there is always something bigger, faster, better that what is available today.

From what I've read the 3870X2 is a bit better than Crossfire 3870, by 5% or so depending on game. Yeah, a $90 GA-P35-DS3L + a HD 3870X2 could be better than a $200 GA-X38-DS4 + two HD 3870. But then the X38 mobo has eSATA and Firewire and PCI-E 2.0 (which I think actually matters for the 3870X2) and the second video card slot and RAID and more SATA ports and SATA cables. Plus, by the time the OP gets the second HD 3870, it will be cheaper. It's hard to say which option is better.

Isn't analog broadcasting stopping in '09 in favor of digital broadcasts? That doesn't mean everything will be in HD, just SD digital minimum.

That's always true.....but there's a big difference between putting of a purchase for something that's coming out in 12 years versus what will be on retail shelves in 12 days.

Yeah, Ya think ???

I hope you ain't sitting at that desk while playing....I'd have to sit on the other side of the room to look at that. If I get within 5-6 feet of even the best 42" screens @ 1920 x 1200 it looks too blurry and grainy.

But here's a couple of interesting tidbits to consider while you are waiting...recent developments:

-X48's MoBos are now shipping.....or if ya go another way.

-Two 9600 GT's ($360) can hit 38 fps in Crysis at 1650 x 1050 and 31 fps at 1920 x 1200
http://www.hothardware.com/Article [...] ut/?page=9

There's a Sharp AQUOS 37" that supports 1920x1080 and has a 5 ms response time and 176 degrees view angle, if I remember right. I wonder what you guys think of that one.

Thanks! Yeah, the Sharp I liked is the LC-37D62U, it's the only 37" 1080p they have at Costco in Canada. I'll start researching the others...

I have a 250GB SE16 and it's a good drive but I wish I had gone with a Seagate instead. For the same price as a 250GB SE16 a 250GB Seagate Barracuda has Perpendicular recording technology which does make a difference. Right after building my computer with a SE16 i helped my bro build a system with the Barracuda and his load times were a bit quicker. I havn't checked prices but I bet the 320GB Barracuda is problay about the same price as the 320GB SE16. Just something for you to consider.

Dont forget that the 1080p HDTV will scale down to a 720p resolution just fine, and will be a little easier for the PC to handle games like Crysis.

I'm using a Sharp LC46D64U right now and i love it. I originally bought the 62U, but went through 3 of them because of the banding issue. I notice no lag or noise, and the color and detail are great. Gaming on it is just as sweet as watching HD or BluRay.

They are all pretty good.

The Intel setups will do better in games like FSX where the CPU is the limiting factor.
The AMD-ATI setup is the most future proof because you get a lot of GPU power from the start and can still add more.

I think I'd prefer a 4th setup, based on Q9450, X38, a single HD 3870X2 (for now), and a PSU like the Silencer 750W Crossfire Edition or the Antec Quattro 850W. This will beat all 3 setups you listed above, and still lets you add a second video card later. The second video card can be an HD 3870, another 3870X2, or even whatever new high-end card AMD releases later.

I'd get this CPU cooler:
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003
You pay $44 instead of $32 (shipping included) but get to overclock higher.

Ok did some more research and that Heatsink seems to be pretty solid. Though I might be with this version http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835124019 same dang thing but slightly cheaper.

I swapped the 9750 for a 9850 Black Edition, and swapped out all the heat sinks.

AMD-ATI Setup

Intel-ATI Setup

Intel-nVidia Setup

No matter when you buy something new and 7%-15% in some test faster comes out every 6-9 months.
CPU-Ram-Video cards-MB chipsets-type of ram DDR 1-2-3 and sockets change.

So what I did was when ever I upgrade I would build it my self high end setups and saving $800-$1200 doing it my self end up getting better parts and better overall performance.

This way you get cheaper better PC that will hold up longer.

I don't worry about void of contract due my changes since its a setup I did.

Only time don't upgrade is if your sure something hot like new socket CPU, type of DDR ram or video card and also a MB chipset.

So the better it is at the time you get the longer it will hold up Vs new stuff.

My main new PC for 1200 after 400 rebate !
Home Premium 64bit OS
Intel QC 2.66 (Q9450) 1333FSB and 12 MB cache (I went for first Intel since Intel P1 1000GHz)
6GB DDR2 PC800
9800GT 1024MB
500GB SATA
Blue Ray+HD+DVD+DVD DL
plus the rest of the main free 1GB LAN/TV/FM TUNNER/P.S 350 WATT/Case cooling parts/
I am adding
The Dell 24in monitor
Audigy 2 ZS PLT Pro w/external hub
Logitech Z5500 5.1 THX DTS DTS -ES DD5.1 Stereo 1x2x
750 P.S
2nd 500GB SATA 2

These parts all work great in all my other setups
As well my Samsung 40in 1080P with Direct TV and 3 game consoles.
.
all old setups have 1TB of drives and 2 DVD Roms

DC 4800x2 4GB PC4000 7800GTX alien ware on liquid cooling 2.4@2.7

The FX53 setup is a back up I made 4GB PC3200 6800GT OC to ultra I put together

XP2600@XP3200 2GB PC 2700 another 6800GT OC to ultra,