This Is Not A Pimp-My-Rig Thread

**Beskar** · 04-30-2009, 11:59

In 6months (9 tops), a brand new Processor range comes out based on the 35nm format compared to the current 45nm. Just to let you know.

Also, you should consider more ram. You should hit the 4gig mark, if you are having a 32-bit operating system, if you are going for a 64-bit operating system, get 4gig at least, however, I would recommend possibly hitting 8-gig and turning off paging file. This would run all your memory from the sticks only which will speed your computer and won't take up space on your hard-drive through virtual memory.

**LeftEyeNine** · 04-30-2009, 13:15

Let's focus on the video card please. Thanks.

**Lemur** · 04-30-2009, 15:08

From what I've read neither AMD nor Nvidia is going to introduce a new architecture for their vidcards this year. So what will be happening is clock increases, die shrinks, maybe sticking more cores onto a board. Nothing Biblical.

Take a long look at the 4870 and the 260, 'cause that's basically what we have for the year.

(Also, I would like to throw in my vote for stepping back from the I7, and going with an LGA 775 chip instead. Big money savings, no performance penalty.)

**LeftEyeNine** · 04-30-2009, 15:25

(Also, I would like to throw in my vote for stepping back from the I7, and going with an LGA 775 chip instead. Big money savings, no performance penalty.)

Ouch. That hurt.

**Lemur** · 05-01-2009, 20:28

Originally Posted by LeftEyeNine

Ouch. That hurt.

If I may be pardoned for hurting you further: Not only will an LGA 775 board be cheaper, and not only will a Core2Duo or Quad be cheaper, but you can populate your motherboard with DDR2 instead of the much pricier DDR3. Once again, cheaper with no performance penalty. The only reason to go with an I7 is if you have plans to swap out the proc withing the next two or three years.

**LeftEyeNine** · 05-01-2009, 20:54

/hangs himself

**Lemur** · 05-01-2009, 20:56

Wait, have you already bought the I7 components? If so that's not a big deal, and you have the option of upgrading your proc in a year or three, which is great. There's nothing wrong with the I7, and a lot that's fantastic. I'm only throwing this info out there in case you've yet to buy the parts.

**Husar** · 04-30-2009, 15:37

Originally Posted by Lemur

From what I've read neither AMD nor Nvidia is going to introduce a new architecture for their vidcards this year. So what will be happening is clock increases, die shrinks, maybe sticking more cores onto a board. Nothing Biblical.

That mirrors my fears, and going by the current rumours about doubling the ALUs and what not I'd guess even wirth a DIE shrink they're going to use even more energy and will come with 3 or 4 slot thick cooling solutions.

What surprised me a bit though is that from what I've seen, Nvidia cards are a tick faster and use a tick less energy overall, plus the additional physics and mathematics abilities and I'd clearly say go NVidia if it weren't for Whacker's scary stories which mister Whacker might want to comment on here as well just to be sure.

**Furunculus** · 05-01-2009, 15:24

I am hearing a lot of rumours about the Radeon HD870, which will be a .40nm DX 11 card possibly with up to 1280 shaders (up from 800 with the current gen), and the rumours are saying July announcement.

I think this is credible, and will be about the same time as the 800 series AMD chipset.

If you wanted to buy right now on the budget discussed above i'd get the following:
AMD PII 945 socketAM3 - 180 GBP
AMD 790GX m/b - 110 GBP
nVidia 275 GTX - 270 GBP

If you were buying in August i would suggest:
AMD PII 955 socketAM3 - 180 GBP
AMD 800 series m/b - 150 GBP
AMD HD870 series GPU - 270 GBP