When should I buy a new computer?

[cosmod]

Right ...now! (click on "Place Order")
Wait for top end video cards to drop to MSRP and get in stock.
Wait for socket 939 PCI-e motherboards.
Wait for socket 939 processors to drop in price and/or Winchester core.
Wait for nForce4 motherboards.
Wait for quantum computing.
________Other________


Note: I have a constantly ongoing internal struggle on when the best time to purchase a system would be. This computer will last me a long while, so I want to future-proof as much as possible. However, I must find a happy equilibrium between cutting edge and obsolescence, otherwise I'll be paralyzed by the unyielding march of technology.

[Lindianae]

I've always been of the opinion that no matter when you buy your computer it will be out of date before you get it home. :D

[Martard]

Thats a tough question for others to answer for you. How workable is your current computer? How desperately do you want a new system? What kind of budget are you looking at? Are you willing to pay bleeding edge prices for when those new things come out? What do you want the computer to be able to handle?

In general Lindi is right, if you wait for these new technologies to be out or affordable, there will be new things on the horizon to potentially wait for. I would say that if your current system isnt doing what you currently want from it, upgrade now. If you are trying to anticipate for Doom3 or HL2 or some other game/program, I would wait til close to its release and buy the most you can get in your budget then.

Sjarin of Torv

[InvisiBill]

http://www.thesafehouse.org/kb.php?mode=article&k=20

Ruccus makes some good points in that. There's a lot of uncertainty about things right now. I'd probably either wait for things to stabilize a bit, or buy something really cheap (which can still be decent). It will depend a lot on what you have now too. If you're on a P2-350MHz, I wouldn't give the same recommendation as if you were on a P4-2.0GHz.

Like Martard said, my general belief is that you should upgrade when your current system isn't doing what you need it to. I don't recommend buying hardware to go with stuff that hasn't been released yet. Specs change, delays happen, etc. Nothing like spending all your money to get the best, only to find out that it isn't actually the best when things are actually released...

[El Sorriso]

Wait til a new technology comes out and gets established enough to really send the prices down on the current technology and then buy the older of the two.

You'll never have the best, but your machines will always be able to run current games and aps and it will always be relatively cheap.