New CPU... should I wait for conroe.

DizzyEgg · 27 Apr 2006 at 11:33

I am looking to get a new CPU, well a new PC really.

Now I do not need this PC now, I need it in September so I am thinking of waiting for conroe. I have looked around and only really got information on US release dates.

Will Conroe be released for september? and will I be able to get a conroe chip for 150 quid?

If anyone knows?

Gun9 · 27 Apr 2006 at 12:30

what have you got at the moment?

div0 · 27 Apr 2006 at 12:57

DizzyEgg said:
Will Conroe be released for september? and will I be able to get a conroe chip for 150 quid?

Yes and yes - i believe....

Conroe is scheduled for Q3, and apparently early Q3 at that - so maybe as early as July, but almost certainly by September!

Most expectations seem to be that the prices will start off at around $200 for Conroe cpus - so even at ripoff UK prices, I'd think £150 would get you either the E6300 (1.86GHz) or maybe even the E6400 (2.13GHz)

TLJester1 · 27 Apr 2006 at 13:50

div0 said:
Yes and yes - i believe....

Conroe is scheduled for Q3, and apparently early Q3 at that - so maybe as early as July, but almost certainly by September!

Most expectations seem to be that the prices will start off at around $200 for Conroe cpus - so even at ripoff UK prices, I'd think £150 would get you either the E6300 (1.86GHz) or maybe even the E6400 (2.13GHz)

Dont forget the motherboards are a bit pricier then AMD systems, I figure add a minimum of £50 to the pot.

div0 · 27 Apr 2006 at 14:17

I do get your point - but I'd hardly say that its relevant....

I mean unless you're in the market for an AMD 3200+, then you'd be hard pressed to get a cpu and mobo for £150, no matter whether you went AMD or Intel.

It was asked if you could get a conroe cpu for £150, and I do believe it is likely that you will be able to. It is possible that the mobo's will be more expensive than with an AMD platform and so there will be an increased cost there I guess.

But as its all speculation still - I was kinda under the impression that the question was asked to get a "feel" for prices, rather than actually setting money out on the table, if you like.

I guess you have to consider the whole picture at the end of the day - but most people won't care whether they spend £150 on a cpu and £120 on a mobo, if they get better performance than by spending £250 on a cpu and £60 on a mobo!!

TLJester1 · 27 Apr 2006 at 17:22

div0 said:
I guess you have to consider the whole picture at the end of the day - but most people won't care whether they spend £150 on a cpu and £120 on a mobo, if they get better performance than by spending £250 on a cpu and £60 on a mobo!!

I totally agree with you :eek:

Just wanted to point out that there is a 'hidden' cost to going the Intel route. Espically if you are comming form AMD where you probably know that acceptable motherboards start at around £40, which is really nothing. The Intel route might appear like a cheaper processor but there is the hidden cost of the more expensive motherboards (£100-£150 so I hear).

Bit like when companies dont advertise the TAX (VAT etc), its a pain in the bum to find you now have to pay it :mad:

div0 · 27 Apr 2006 at 18:01

lol very true!

DizzyEgg · 27 Apr 2006 at 19:18

Will deffo keep that in mind its a good point. I havn't built an Intel system since p3.

I currently on a system that aint mine so i am looking to build a fresh PC. Athlon XP 1700, 512mb,5900u.

Does nayone know if DX10 cards will be out in september also, because then it would be an ideal time to upgrade imo.

TLJester1 · 27 Apr 2006 at 20:53

DizzyEgg said:
Does nayone know if DX10 cards will be out in september also, because then it would be an ideal time to upgrade imo.

looking into my crystal ball ....

... no idea !!!
(takes off gaudy ear rings hand sparkly head scarf)

- anyone know?

Naffa · 27 Apr 2006 at 21:00

No earlier than the beginning of 2007 afaik

.

wilders · 27 Apr 2006 at 22:16

you'll end up waiting forever.......do it now....

DizzyEgg · 28 Apr 2006 at 10:43

Not a good idea really because this PC has GOTTA last me about 3 years so if I buy now I will miss out on all the Vista goodness cause I wont be able to afford to upgrade. So waiting till those "Vista Ready" Monitors go mainstream and all the rest of that sort of crap.

The graphics card wont be a problem I can just run a cheap one untill the DX10 cards are out.

div0 · 28 Apr 2006 at 10:58

DizzyEgg said:
The graphics card wont be a problem I can just run a cheap one untill the DX10 cards are out.

That would be my suggestion too!

I'm in a similar position - wanting to upgrade - but can afford to wait till nearer the end of the year.

I'm thinking that if I can hold off till about October I'll probably bag myself a whole new setup (probably Conroe based). Will probably pick up a half decent vid card from OcUK's fantastic deals that seem to come round quite a lot

maybe an x1800 varient if they're cheap enough by then.

Then I'll run x64 trial (120 days) on it until Vista is released in Jan!!

Then a few months down the line - if I decide my x1800 (or whatever) isn't up to the job - I'll have a nice easy upgrade to DX10

pcoltrane · 28 Apr 2006 at 11:23

3 years is a long time in the world of PCs

A conroe chip, motherboard and half decent gfx card is going to set you back at least £450 if not significantly more

In a few months £150-200 would get you something like an AM2 board, AM2 sempron and X800 (or no doubt better by then) gfx. Just pick whatever great value components are out there at the time you buy whether they be AMD, Intel, ati or nvidia.

Put the £250-300 you saved into a high interest savings account and you could easily have a mobo, cpu and gfx card refresh every 12-18months to a dual core chip that will make the conroe look slow, dx10 gfx card etc.

ok, it may mean you are never going to have a bleeding edge system, but you'll certainly have something capable of running all games, apps etc comfortably throughout the full 3 years instead of being stuck with a lemon in your final year

When you consider you also have the resale value of the sempron, x800 etc you'd be quids in or else could probably afford something even more meaty now. There is also the fun factor of new stuff to play with

Each to their own of course - there is nothing wrong with either route. I'd just prefer to have regular "bang for buck" refreshes than paying through the nose for bleeding edge components only to find myself stuck with a machine with less processing power than a (future) toaster in 3 years

Marc

DizzyEgg · 28 Apr 2006 at 11:36

I do see where your coming from, its a very good point. I think the best thing to do is wait untill I have some clear price's on the conroe and motherboards. Although you may have swayed me towards the skt am2.

div0 · 28 Apr 2006 at 12:04

marc mercer said:
3 years is a long time in the world of PCs

A conroe chip, motherboard and half decent gfx card is going to set you back at least £450 if not significantly more

In a few months £150-200 would get you something like an AM2 board, AM2 sempron and X800 (or no doubt better by then) gfx. Just pick whatever great value components are out there at the time you buy whether they be AMD, Intel, ati or nvidia.

I'm not sure the difference in price would be as much as that. Unless you sacrafice a LOT of performance with the AM2 option.

Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to say that AM2 is a bad thing - or that its not worth considering. I'll be doing my fair share of considering it once they are both released!!

I just dont think that, like-for-like (performance-wise) the cost of a Conroe based system will be that much more than an AM2 based system.

Both will have their over priced "cutting edge" options - but there will be a "sweet spot" with great bang-for-buck, no matter which one you choose!!

ok, it may mean you are never going to have a bleeding edge system, but you'll certainly have something capable of running all games, apps etc comfortably throughout the full 3 years instead of being stuck with a lemon in your final year

Each to their own of course - there is nothing wrong with either route. I'd just prefer to have regular "bang for buck" refreshes than paying through the nose for bleeding edge components only to find myself stuck with a machine with less processing power than a (future) toaster in 3 years

Marc

but no-ones suggesting he goes cutting edge - as I've said - either route will have a bang-for-buck option!!

and imo unless you intend to play the very latest games at full settings for those full 3 years, then you CAN buy a bang-for-buck pc that WILL last 3 years.

I've had mine for 3 years now - and sure I had to upgrade the graphics card recently to play FEAR, but thats all I've HAD to chang in the three years!!

And I didnt buy cutting edge stuff 3 years ago - I went the bang-for-buck way then too

pcoltrane · 28 Apr 2006 at 13:06

div0 said:
I'm not sure the difference in price would be as much as that. Unless you sacrafice a LOT of performance with the AM2 option.
<snip>
I just dont think that, like-for-like (performance-wise) the cost of a Conroe based system will be that much more than an AM2 based system.
<snip>
and imo unless you intend to play the very latest games at full settings for those full 3 years, then you CAN buy a bang-for-buck pc that WILL last 3 years.

Just to give you an idea, back in 2003 the top of the range intel was a 3ghz P4 or a 2800+ Athlon. The P4 would have set you back $700

The equivilent of a £150 conroe (in terms of 2003 price/performance) was lets say a 2.2ghz P4.
In terms of graphics cards, at the top end you had the FX5800 or the 9700pro.

Fast forwards to today - would you be happy gaming on a 2.2ghz P4 with say a 9500 gfx card? Thats the roughly how the conroe will look relatively 3 years down the line. You'll be able to do most things on it - but the latest games (and even OS) are going to chug somewhat!

Going from what has been announced about AM2 the prices are going to be very similar for the semprons and motherboards to current 754/939 stuff. Sure it's not going to be a patch on a conroe, but for about 1/3rd of the price you'll have kit that will run just about everything for the next 12-18 months until your next refresh. There are other options too of course that offer great bang for buck such as the 805D dual core chips, it doesn't have to be AM2, it's just AM2 may be a little more flexible.

I do agree with you that it can be done if you don't mind missing out a little on the very latest games towards the end of your PCs life, I just wanted to open Dizzyeggs eyes to his options. Personally I go down the little and often route - just changing mobo and chip every 12-18months when there is a seriously good value option out there. It seems to work as although I may not have the latest and best at any one point, I'll always be able to comfortably play whatever game or run whatever app is out there at any time in my PCs lifecycle. It's debatable, but when you consider resale values etc I think it works out the slightly cheaper option too (as long as you don't get carried away with the spending lol)

Best just to see what bargains there are in september

Marc

div0 · 28 Apr 2006 at 13:23

Ok to give you an idea of my current position....

Two and a half years ago I bought the following:

2.8GHz P4 (800MHz FSB, with Hyperthreading) - £140
ATI 9600xt 256Mb - £120

Am I still happy with my machine? Yes
Will I still be happy in 6 months time? Probably

As I say - I have changed the graphics card, but ONLY because I wanted to run FEAR, nothing else has even made me consider changing.

I see your point about little and often - and I kinda agree. But for me, if you time things right and buy wisely then you can avoid that hassle!!

The other thing to remember is that if you dont buy wisely initially then you can end up with a costly , little and often, approach.

For example we've just had the AGP to PCI-E change over - which would have been costly for some people if they bought AGP without considering whether they'd be better waiting a few weeks for PCI-E.

Its always very hard to know whats round the corner and what's the cheapest option in the long run.....and basically your usually best to buy as and when you NEED something....but then it doesn't hurt to keep an eye on what you can expect in the upcomming months

Durzel · 28 Apr 2006 at 13:38

When it comes to gaming, happiness is relative.

Some people can't do without SLI/Xfire setups whereas others can get by on 9700 Pros and equivalent.

In terms of socket changes you're going to need to buy a new motherboard whether you go for Conroe or AM2. The rest - DDR2 memory, PCI-E graphics card(s) - is determined by how big your pockets are.

Only DizzyEgg can really make the call based on how important gaming is to them.

Duke · 28 Apr 2006 at 13:49

TLJester1 said:
Just wanted to point out that there is a 'hidden' cost to going the Intel route. Espically if you are comming form AMD where you probably know that acceptable motherboards start at around £40, which is really nothing. The Intel route might appear like a cheaper processor but there is the hidden cost of the more expensive motherboards (£100-£150 so I hear).

My ATI AMD Skt939 board cost ~£140 inc VAT. There are cheap and expensive boards for both platforms - it depends on the chipset and features etc.