Hi fellas, I think I'm going to be in a position to buy a new desktop soon. I've been using my laptop, which is awesome, for the past four or five years and its about time for an upgrade. I've never been quite as in touch with the hardware specs as some of you guys, so I figured I'd make a topic and ask a few questions.
You've come to the right partially insane certified Staples EasyTech.
Where is Intel/AMD processor technology at? I know Intel's model is "tick-tock" i.e. new processor architecture = tick, speed it up = tock (watered down of course, but that's essentially as I understand it). Is AMD still as competitive as Intel's hardware? I know the i3-i5-i7 basics, but what's the deal with Sandy Bridge/Ivy bridge, and if a new architecture should be out in a month or something should I just wait till then? Like I said, I haven't been keeping tabs well, but I feel as if AMD lost significant ground in terms of processing power (versus Intel), but I know I could be straight up wrong, so what's the deal Excalibur and/or Rockz and/or Shadowflare and/or etc etc etc?
AMD is always at their top range, at Intel's mid range. AMD's top CPU is equal to about the high mid CPU Intel has at that time. However AMD's top price is equal to Intel's lower mid range. So you get more value with AMD, or at least I think so. AMD is coming out with their new Trinity APUs. See here:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6347/amd-a10-5800k-a8-5600k-review-trinity-on-the-desktop-part-2How about motherboard/RAM technology? I 'think' DDR3 is still the standard, is there going to be a DDR4 soon or something crazy and new and awesome coming out? Or maybe motherboard changes? In this next build I want a motherboard with a T_junction of like 900C because I melted the motherboard on my laptop twice. Is RAM uber expensive now?
DDR4 isn't going to be viable until early 2014 in my opinion. Keep in mind I refuse to pay over 8$ per GB because I think any more than that is not a fair price
How have SSD's been progressing? Is it feasible to have a SSD as the only main drive nowadays in terms of space, or is the SSD + HD still the way to go? Or again, if I wait a month will it change?
SSDs will take a long time to replace HDDs, and thats if they do at all. SSDs are far superior to the traditional mechanical HDD, but its going to be a long time before they become a complete replacement, and who knows if we'll have a new method of storage by the time that happens. I still say SSD for OS, HDD for storage. I like a NAS for large storage but that's because I'm in favor of very powerful routers as well.
What's the deal with Nvidia v. AMD in GFX? Is there a clear best right now?
As usual NV might have the 'performance crown' but AMD has gotten my vote since NV dropped the GTX 200 series and said 'FUCK POWER AND TEMP, GET DAT FPS'
But really I'm about value because people trust me with their money on a daily basis and in a value sense I can't recommend NV. AMD gives better value per dollar in
most price segments while using less power and generating less heat.
I suppose what I'm asking is the overall state of the hardware industry lol. I figure it's impossible to get the best of everything because as time progresses the technology will too, but if I only have to wait say a month or so for a really big leap (for example waiting for when SSD's became feasible versus only HD's) I would like to just wait then capitalize on that.
Nothing game-changing is happening too soon in my opinion. I'd like to see what HD 8000, Trinity, and Intel's next lineup bring to the table, but even so my predictions are as such:
Intel continues to dominate and over-charge.
AMD's Trinity is nice but nothing shocking.
HD 8000 is the same marginal improvement that 7000 was to 6000.
Whenever you want a build priced out, just let me know.