So last time I built a new PC I totally screwed myself over by getting an AGP motherboard, and I'm hoping not to do that again this time around.
My main questions right now, concerning building a new machine in February/March around when DoW2 is released, are:
- Windows 7 vs Vista. I have a XP retail license that I can install on any box. So would it really be worth it to buy Vista, with Windows 7 being released later that year (I've read a few stories saying MS is looking to push the date up to 2009)? I don't think it makes much sense to spend $200 on a Vista 64-bit retail, then spend another $200 on a Windows 7 64-bit retail, maybe it's smarter to just bear XP as a primary OS on the new box for ~6 months or so?
- Hard Drives, SSD vs Raptors. I've seen some nice charts showing the Intel 80GB SSD wiping the floor clean,
like here. This is less of an issue, but again, it'd suck to spend $300 on a raptor or two, to have SSD prices fall below that.
- 3D Cards. Is a 260 / 280 (or 4870) a bad purchase for value in february? I like to be able to run 1920x1200 on max on everything.
- CPU. With i7s just released, does it seem like a bad idea to get a E8500 or whatever?
I know it's a little early to start deciding things, but I really screwed myself over by building a PC right before ePCI came out, which obsoleted AGP. And now I'm starting to think it's even more likely if I build something in a few months time, that there's going to be some very, very significant movements soon after again, later in '09.
Maybe I should just try to go as cheap as possible, and build a machine that can be upgraded, or just plan on doing it all again in a year or two?