Hi all, going to build a system with the probable key specs being

CPU: Q9450

MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4

GPU: HD4850

I don't need the system until mid August and am wondering if I should just build it now or do you think prices will fall some in a month

Thanks

If you can wait, wait. The New Intel and AMD cpus will be out in Q4 . So even if you don't want to buy the lastest and greatest the models you listed should come down in price for sure.

Why don't you need it 'till mid August? Is there some game coming up that you want to play? Is it a gift?

If you really don't need it 'till mid August you might as well wait a few weeks. Prices will go down, they always do. I'm looking at you HD4850...

If you want it now ...build it now...if you want it later...wait.....if you want it to be ready in mid August start soon or in a couple of weeks so you can get all of your questions answered and any bugs or RMA'd parts taken care of. So it can be ready to use in mid August if that's when you really need it to be up and running..

^That's what I was trying to say but I sucked

What most folks don't realize that if your waiting for the new stuff to come out, then you'll be waiting forever. You must remember that something new is always ALWAYS on the horizon. Get what you need to play what you want. If there is a price reduction a few weeks away, then wait for that!

Just my two cents worth!

The price reductions on cpus will be probably later this month or next month.

I'm curious too... what happens in mid-August?

My hat is off to those that have the patience to wait 30+ days to save $50 on a CPU. I need more patience and I applaud those that already have it.

Now, if that $300 CPU is gonna be $125 in August, then wait...that does actually makes sense. The truth is you don't know, so you're waiting and hoping...and hoping. If the price drop doesn't come in August and you hear its gonna come in October are you going to wait until October or say, "Ah, frack it!" and wait until the rumors tell you Nehalem will be here?

When I got my Q9450 way back when it was $360 at MicroCenter. I could buy it today and it'd be $300. ...but to me the time saved and spent enjoying the chip has been worth the $60.

Experience has taught me to wait a few months on certain new items:

1) Mobos: They all have freshly baked bugs, waiting 4-6 weeks from initial release gets you new BIOSes and model revisions as required. Some makers are well prepared for this eventuality and can cut time to 3 weeks.

2) Video Cards: Waiting generally provides you with more information regarding cooling performance, which is the only significant difference between similar models. Also, driver revisions need to repeatedly take place before new cards are reliable. This also takes about 4-6 weeks with most games, some longer (the game needs to be patched too), some quicker (with betas). Don't worry about availability, it's like printing money for them, they'll make more.

3) CPUs: Price falls quickly and steadily with CPUs into price points. In time an otherwise unaffordable CPU can slide into your price point. One technical consideration is that first run CPUs have historically OCed as well as any better than most, for many reasons. That can be a price adjustment justification for some.


It's the rule of commodities and all PC parts are commodities. Once you understand that, you answer your own question!

Agreed 100%

Thanks for all the replies! You people make some valid points, I think I'll wait these next two weeks since I won't have time to build and then probably go for it. It'll give me time to fix any bugs

For those who are curious, I don't need the system until mid August because that is when I head back down to college. Don't spend a whole lot of time on my PC in the summer so I'm getting by with my old P4 system.