do i need a new pc?

[sc302 Veteran]

I still run a pentium D dual core with 2GB of memory. I can do everything that I need to productivity wise. It may not be as fast as a new computer, but nothing is requiring me to upgrade right now. Fast is nice and it is a luxury I don't need currently. Maybe you should look at it like that, do you need the luxury of speed or can you hold off longer? The longer you hold off the faster technology will get when you actually need a computer.

[Hum]

Please tell me you're joking.

Indeed, I was joking -- but with a point.

Every time a new Windows comes out, many people act as tho your computer is horribly old and outdated -- which is ridiculous. :laugh:

[Tilt090]

i can do with $ saving anyday! it's just that i usually buy a new pc every 3 years and it was 4+ years already. i thought i could be missing something here!

i'll pick up the ssd hybrid or a real SSD - whats better? should i just put the OS on it to keep it cost effective and FAST so around 60-100 gb pure SSD? or go for a momentus 500 gb? whats a better speed/$ deal?

besides i think ill invest in a new graphics card - some suggestions for a card with a dvi hdmi and VGA port ?

whats the NEW thing about haswell?

i might keep this pc as - is for another 3-4 years and pick up an ultrabook next year instead with a 200+ppi screen. guess that should be better money spent eh?

[tsupersonic]

A real SSD will be better than a hybrid SSD (basically a hard drive with a large flash memory buffer). You can pickup SSD's for pretty cheap, load the OS onto the SSD, as well as your programs, and it will feel like a new computer. What's your budget on the graphics card? Also, what graphics card do you currently have? Give us some more specs - capacity on the PSU, etc?

[rfirth]

what new productive or creative stuff can i do with a new pc?

That you can't do already? Dude, you own a universal Turing machine... you can simulate an arbitrary Turing machine on arbitrary input... you're set for life! :p

[Noir Angel]

It would be hard to make a specific recommendation without knowing what kind of things you wish to use your computer for.

If you're upgrading just for the sake of upgrading save your money. Your current rig is by no means slow.

[Ambroos]

On my desktop I still roll a dualcore E6750 with 4GB RAM, from the same generation as your Q6600, and it does just fine really.

My laptop runs an i5 480M dualcore and 4GB RAM, coupled with two 64GB SSD's in Raid0, though. What can I say, the SSD's really make all the difference. I ordered an upgrade to 8GB of ram too because it's really cheap nowadays.

What I'd do is just upgrade your RAM to 8GB, Windows benifits a lot from that, especially if you don't haven an SSD.

If you want to go one step further (and that could be expensive) I'd upgrade to a proper SSD. Hybrid drives are a bit meh and a 128GB SSD should be enough for all OS and software. Your video archive doesn't exactly need to be read at 400MB/s. Just read some recent reviews and comparisons and get a good, reliable, recent SSD. The Samsung 830 series should be quite good and not too expensive. Don't led sequential read/write fool you, it's the random read/write and IOPS that matters.

[singularity87]

I wouldn't worry too much - PCs have been plenty powerful enough for a few years now, particularly as Windows requirements have stagnated since Vista. Unless you need to run apps or games that actually require a higher spec.

I find that the difference made by my PC is largely that it doesn't slow down as I do more and more with it simultaneously - but on the individual short tasks I can't say that the difference made is perceptibly different from my laptop at work. The PC I upgraded from was way slower and I only went so high spec because I wanted to get a good 4-5 years out of it without significant upgrades.

[AltecXP]

For many people a Core2 Duo is still more than enough to do what they need.

I didn't see it posted anyplace but what is it that you do with your computer OP? If its light gaming then you are still fine, maybe just a GPU upgrade. Same with if you do video, maybe more RAM there too.

If you do a LOT of heavy gaming or video work then upgrading would be worth while.

If you do neither of those, then only upgrade parts as they die or are are no longer perform at a level that is suitable to your needs.

[Rigby]

It depends on what your needs are but that is hardly an old system. I'm still using an Athlon 64 X2 with 2GB of RAM, Windows 7 and all my program fly on it. People worry too much about upgrading these days, it hasn't been necessary for most people for a long time.

[Tilt090]

The Samsung 830 series should be quite good and not too expensive. Don't led sequential read/write fool you, it's the random read/write and IOPS that matters.

wow that drive looks amazing/matured. does it come in 1.8" ? if you say random read write is most important then i gather this drive would make a huge difference even in a PATA configuration cuz pata is still at 133 MB/s and the random read write of samsung ssd doesnt exceed that yet.

[Tilt090]

for graphics i'm mainly looking at getting a higher resolution in dolphin emulator. that is my main gaming going on if any. my budget is geared towards economy cards and i need a VGA port to run a 21" Sony trinitron that i have lying around.

[TEX4S]

Hes joking...he has to be.....right, HUM ? You were joking, right ? .......Hum ? You there ?? .........Yeah he was joking....has to be.

[TheLegendOfMart]

SATA 3.1 - considering even SSDs can't max out SATA 2 connections - and get nowhere near maxing out the bandwidth on SATA3, there is no improvement in performance with today's tech coming from SATA 3.1

Wrong.

SATA3 drives on SATA2 connections top out at 270-280Mb/s, plug them up to SATA3 connectors and you get speeds of over 500MB/s. The random read/write on some SSDs like the OCZ Vertex 4 exceed the SATA2 top end bandwidth.

[+Zlip792 MVC]

Well, I suggest go for SSD with 120 GB, Only install Windows and Few Apps, do tweak Windows for SSD Usage.

You will get plenty of boost to your system to pass this year then you can get all hell hardware you want..

[Wakers]

Wrong.

SATA3 drives on SATA2 connections top out at 270-280Mb/s, plug them up to SATA3 connectors and you get speeds of over 500MB/s. The random read/write on some SSDs like the OCZ Vertex 4 exceed the SATA2 top end bandwidth.

I already said that SATA2 was a typo. I already know this.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Do i need a new system?

This is a question that no one except for yourself can answer.

Tell me, why are you asking? Something must have sparked the question. Are you asking because you're noticing poor performance? Or are you just trying to compare your system's specs to everyone elses?

Basic answer: If it does everything you need it to do, why upgrade?

[Tilt090]

This is a question that no one except for yourself can answer.

Tell me, why are you asking? Something must have sparked the question. Are you asking because you're noticing poor performance? Or are you just trying to compare your system's specs to everyone elses?

Basic answer: If it does everything you need it to do, why upgrade?

why is everyone repeating the same thing?

new technology is exciting. is it a problem?

[psionicinversion]

Your gaming is dolphin emulator running wii and gamecube games, well considering the wii's gfx like 5 years ago was poor/simple for its time whatever card you have now will run it fine and wont notice any performance improvement. It aint crysis after all :D

To the person who said he could use a i5 ivybridge if he ran 3ds max and rendering, its gonna be crap on an i5 cus no hyperthreading so best bet would prolly be a amd 8 core cpu (to save some money over an i7) like 16-24GB ram (more is better) and a 560, 6950 or above gfx card or one of the specialist gfx card, cant remember what they are.

Generally if you do decide to get into proper gaming in the future just save some money every month then when you want someat then you got money ready to go. Current system is more than enough

[Tilt090]

Well, I suggest go for SSD with 120 GB, Only install Windows and Few Apps, do tweak Windows for SSD Usage.

You will get plenty of boost to your system to pass this year then you can get all hell hardware you want..

yeppers hard disk for sure thanks. now if i can get a good graphics card for dolphin with vga output.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

why is everyone repeating the same thing?

new technology is exciting. is it a problem?

Of course not. You're talking to a tech-oriented community, we love new technology! But what if I turn around and ask, "do I need an iPad?"? How can anyone turn around and say, "you know what, you do need an iPad"?

Asking if you need to upgrade your system is a question that only the asker can answer. The need for a new computer can only be justified by the owner. Wanting to upgrade your system and asking for advice is another matter, of course, but there is a difference between need and want.

[FiB3R]

Here's a great idea (as money doesn't seem to be a problem for you)... I could really, REALLY do with a new PC. So.... you buy one for me, and I will report back daily, how awesome it is. :D

[Tilt090]

Of course not. You're talking to a tech-oriented community, we love new technology! But what if I turn around and ask, "do I need an iPad?"? How can anyone turn around and say, "you know what, you do need an iPad"?

Asking if you need to upgrade your system is a question that only the asker can answer. The need for a new computer can only be justified by the owner. Wanting to upgrade your system and asking for advice is another matter, of course, but there is a difference between need and want.

Thanks for the lecture aunt intrinsica.

[Tilt090]

Here's a great idea (as money doesn't seem to be a problem for you)... I could really, REALLY do with a new PC. So.... you buy one for me, and I will report back daily, how awesome it is. :D

o.0 and where did i say i have no money limits ? i'm constantly talking about lower $$$$, economy cards, speed/$ ratios etc,!!!

[Noir Angel]

why is everyone repeating the same thing?

new technology is exciting. is it a problem?

Because it's a valid question. I agree, I like new technology but that doesn't mean you *always* need it, if the equipment that you already have fits your needs. Seriously, apart from the SSD (Which would improve system responsiveness significantly) the benefit you're likely to see in real world usage won't always match expenditure. And if you have specific needs in mind, it helps members tailor recommendations to your requirements. Having ultra powerful hardware is always nice, but it's not always necessary for some people.