Decisions, decisions....

SammyBoy

May 27, 2002 7:20:11 PM

Too many different possibilities, too many different sources of information. It's enough to make a guy's brain go *POP*. When one sits with a 1.2GHz @ 1.4GHz and default Vcore, you know your CPU is good for another year, at least. But then what once was a simple choice of video cards has increased exponentially in complexity. GAH!!!

My KyroII is doing me fine right now, but it's beginning to show its age. My HDD has a horrible history of failure (thank you IBM) and I think I'm beginning to get data corruption (my OC is purely multiplier, so the FSB/AGP/PCI are within spec) and that wonderful clicking noise other GXP lines have experienced. Only time will tell if its more than my paranoia. So I need a new HDD, and the WD1200JB (the 8MB version) looks nice, and will increase my HDD space by 300%, 400% if my GXP survives awhile yet. My RAM, thankfully, is CL2 PC2100, so that should be good for a while. My motherboard revision (the newer revisions work though) doesn't support the AXP, so I can't just swap in a new CPU to increase my power.

So, what can a guy do? I need a new video card, and before I breakdown and get the Ti4200, I want to see what Maxtor, 3DLabs, and SiS can do, not to mention the NV30 and the R9x00/R300 from ATi. I really prefer to support the underdog, since generally speaking the underdog is just as capable, if not moreso, of delivering high-quality products for descent prices. Also, I'm gonna need a new motherboard if I want a new CPU, so it makes me hesitant to upgrade that aspect until I can see what the Hammer and Barton (the new Duron?) can do for what kind of price. I think the best thing to do is to sit on my hands, upgrading only my HDD, and wait until Q2 ends and see what Q3 holds. I have a feeling that most of these comapnies want to get the products into OEMs hands ASAP so that they are included in the fall refresh, just in time for the holiday season. That's when things will get fun. GAH! I hate waiting though!!!

-SammyBoy

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chuck232

May 27, 2002 11:00:01 PM

I know what you mean. There will be no new Duron. Durons are being phased out slowly by lower end AXPs. Barton will be the AXP T-bred with 512K of L2 cache. You should at least wait till all the next-gen vid cards come out to see how they do. No point in buying a Ti4200 and see it clobbered by a same priced NV30/R300/Parhelia/P10. I'm personally waiting for Q2-Q3 2003 till my next upgrade. I'm waiting for Hammer 0.09u and Prescott and maybe NV35/NV40/R400. I'm sticking with my P4 1.4 and RadeonAIW until then at least. oh.... hope I can hold out.

My firewall tastes like burning. :eek:

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eden

May 28, 2002 12:57:32 AM

YOU have a 1.4GHZ?

I suddenly feel so shuddering.... that's a Willy..err right?

Gee you really were all into Intel back then!!!

--
I can't beleive Dungeon Siege has a pitchfork weapon called "Hoe"! :lol:

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chuck232

May 28, 2002 1:11:48 AM

Yup good old Willy 1.4 on a 423 socket which confines me to only Willy upgrades argh.... Yeah I really didn't know too much about AMD back then. (last September) Long before I came here and got converted sorta.... I'll still go with whatever is best. If Intel can make better chips at a lower price, Intel it is for me.

My firewall tastes like burning. :eek:

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baldurga

May 28, 2002 9:17:50 AM

Go for the HD, cause it will be ok when you upgrade your computer later. And for CPU/graphic card, hold as long as you can, at least until summer.

Also, bear in mind that Socket A platform has a death date. Upgradability factor is something that I learned the hard way ... just don't recomend socket A right now.

DIY: read, buy, test, learn, reward yourself!

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