PC upgrading

[stevem]

I've had a few BM's ask me about upgrading recently. I've also started looking at upgrading myself, and have just discovered something, which if you want the latest and greatest, then perhaps you should hold off for a few months.

I have recently learnt that the current range of AMD chips have the memory controller onboard, and therefore cant make use of the newer DDR2 memory, and also the next to come out DDR3.

Around April AMD will be releasing a new chip which will be capable to use DDR2 memory. Depending on what you do with your PC, DDR2 memory can help. Obviously you need to buy an appropriate mobo as well. And they have finally done away with all the different socket formats, and are going to be using a new one "M2" with 940 pins. This socket will be able to take all the AMD chips in the one socket.

The current Intel chips already support DDR2 memory, as they use offboard memory controllers.

You should also look at using SATA II disk drives. Also look at disk drives which support "NQC".

If your into high end graphics, like playing games and stuff, then there is a new chip being built into video cards, called something like "PGU" physics graphic chip, or similar. This is designed to take the mountains of calculations from the CPU and GPU, leaving them free to do what they do best.

So my upgrade has been deferred until at least June/July

[LivinLOS]

I am resisting upgrading right now until I know what strains longhorn put on to machines..

[stevem]

That as well, but it is soooo tempting at the moment, as parts are so bloody cheap.

[LivinLOS]

Will be even cheaper by then..

I need a new GFX card for my media machine tied into the Home Theater and my desktop is just a net terminal..