Really discouraging

[Porkey]

There was a time when you bought or assembled a computer, it was good for about 6 months as the best of technology. I am finding now that in the process of a first effort in assembling my own, you can't even get it together before you're behind the curve.I bought an Antec 1030 with the 303 Power supply ( 300w ) ( nice case )and then read on the Web that for future use 300W will probably not suffice. Bought an IBM Deskstar 60 40 Gig, and a week later the price drops $60.00( Canadian )Bought a TDK 16x10x40, and hardly got it home, and TDK announces the 24x10x40. The Pioneer 16XDVD is still current( I hope )The LS 120 is timeless. Ready to buy the motherboard and decided on the Asus A7M266, but wait, Asus announces the A7V266 ( can't buy it yet )Ready to purchase AMD 1.4, but today there was a price cut, and the Palamino will soon make this processor passe ( can't buy the Palimino yet ). Set my heart on the GForce 3, and ATI announces the 8500 ( can't buy till the end of September). The Sound Blaster Gamer looked real good, and I see on Creative's web site, a new sound card (don't remember the name) that is probably miles ahead of the Gamer in performance. ( not in retail stores quite yet). I think at this stage I'll cover up the project, and wait until the New Year, and the dust settles, as I'm at the point of not willing to throw any more cash buying parts that are past their prime before I get them home. Thanks to all of you for allowing me to express an opinion,I feel much better now.

Sincerely:

Dave ( Porkey )

[Hawkeye178]

Sorry, I hate it to, I'm also going to build a PC soon and I know that thats going to happen to me too and I don't want it to http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif, anywho, I feel your pain.

Hawkeye178

[howste]

Well, I never have the best of everything and I probably never will. Like you said, technology advances so quickly that you can never stay on top. What this means is that there will always be a steady supply of "outdated" components that will work great for me at reasonable prices. BTW, you're right about the LS-120 being timeless. There never was a time that it was that great. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Missing the point]

I really could care less if my computer is outdated.

I have a AMD Thunderbird 900, with 384mb ram and GeForce 2 GTS.

It plays all the current games at top quality settings perfectly smooth, runs photoshop faster than I need, and is fast enough that you aren't the slow kid on the block.

As long as it does what YOU want it to do, it is never outdated.

A computer will never actually get slower as they age, they just don't handle all the newest software, although, my computer will be good enough for software 2 years ahead, I am sure. In the meantime, it will run all my racing games and photoshop fast enough.

[rowan]

There is no way to stay ahead of the curve. I argue that this is a good thing.

This winter I bought a 1ghz AMD system that cost me $1200. 2 weeks ago I assembled the same system plus a larger HD, more RAM, faster FSB, spanking new Asus mobo for $600. I'm happy as a clam, if the truth be known.

If you wait till January to build your machine, you'll run into the very same problem. Surrender yourself to Moore's Law and build now! It's a wonderful thing.

r.

[radio1_mike]

Your computer is outdated as soon as you build it.

I built a 1GHz Athlon machine in October 2000- just the chip itself cost me $284. Now, for the same amount of money, I'll get: 1.4GHz (266) Athlon, 512MB DDR (266) and a K7S5A mobo.

There will always be something faster or better just up the pike. But, if the computer you build suits you just fine, what does it matter if it's not the fastest?

[surrealchereal]

I just wonder who has a mind fast enough to process the diff in a Athlon or a pala, pala .. the new one..
If folx like you didn't come over and tell me my stuff was old,, I WOULDN'T know it!.
My puter is about 9 months old, and geez works just fine, unless I do something to improve the performance! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif