Help me fellow CoG'ers. I have a couple questions regarding a new PC system!

[Darkmatter]

My poor baby needs a new high tech brother.

My current system uses a Q6600 (quad core) running at 2.40 GHz on a Gigabyte EP45-UD3P motherboard and has 4 gig in total of Corsair XMS CM2X2048-8500C5 (DDR2) and an ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2. I also have a 24" BenQ FP241WZ monitor which also needs to be replaced.


I'll be doing some research to try to find either the best part, or the part thats best for me, depending on the part and my cash. If anyone here is really knowledgeable about the latest hardware I'll gladly take any suggestions I can get.

The main reason I'm posting this here is because I need to know the answer to 4 questions.

1. Is now a good time to buy new computer components or should I wait? Will prices drop closer to Christmas? Will they drop even more during boxing day?

2. Is anything near ready to release its next generation of hardware? Are they any "big jumps" soon to be coming down the pipeline that would be really worth waiting for.

3. Whats the best monitor out there currently? Anything special coming soon? I'll probably go 27"+ and it won't be a TN panel. I'll be using it for several different things so I'm afraid I'll be asking for "everything" in this 1 item. I'll want great contrast, great brightness and even back-light distribution. I'll want one that is either easily calibrated or one that is factor calibrated and its done correctly. I'll also want the color bit depth to be at least 24 bit, and a gamut that covers the sRBG color space and most of the Adobe RBG color space. Oh, and 1 last thing... I'll also want it to have a fast response time to prevent ghosting and blurring when I'm gaming.

Yea, I know nothing is that perfect right now but I'll be looking at things that get close.

4. Last question. I've always used ATI but I wanted to hear peoples thoughts on Nvidia. I tend to find Nv cards to loud compared to ATI/AMD cards but now Nvidia's hardware physics seems to be showing up in a decent amount of games. Is this really an issue? What does the ATI card do about physics? Does it make enough of a difference that it should be partly influencing my decision?

Super question dump power! GO!

That means, "Thank-you" for all your help.

[Wackman3000]

In response to the monitor query, I have actually been in a similar position for a while now. I have an older 24'' LG and was thinking of stepping into the realm of the 1440p world of 27'' monitors.

Be prepared to shell out almost $1000 for a monitor.

[Wraith]

I haven't been paying attention to new hardware for a bit. I guess on the Intel side, the question is buy Ivy Bridge now, or wait for Haswell (spring/summer next year?). Not sure what your timeframe is.

As for graphics cards, I usually buy a card with a non-reference cooler. (The third-party card maker uses different heatsinks/fans/shrouds compared to ATI/nVidia's standard design. I haven't gone as far as buying and installing a custom cooling solution.) I think this makes ATI vs. nVidia less of an issue, with regards to noise.

[Darkmatter]

Thx, what about Nvidia's physics? Whats the big deal? Does a person with an ATI card lose out or does their CPU simple handle the physics?

[Spectre-7]

Originally Posted by Darkmatter

Thx, what about Nvidia's physics? Whats the big deal? Does a person with an ATI card lose out or does their CPU simple handle the physics?

Generally speaking, the PhysX stuff are graphical effects that have no bearing on gameplay: things like tattered sheets waving in front of windows, extra rubble flying off of explosions and bouncing around, etc. They're only implemented on Nvidia graphics boards, and are non-existent or replaced with less fancy effects when no Nvidia hardware is present.

[resikel]

[TheKeck]

Some of those differences look like dx11/tesselstion effects, and not physx. Am I crazy?

[Spectre-7]

Originally Posted by TheKeck

Some of those differences look like dx11/tesselstion effects, and not physx. Am I crazy?

Nope, not crazy at all. Those last shots are from the Unigen Heaven benchmark and are showing dynamic tessellation, which is totally not PhysX related.

[Darkmatter]

Thanks. For the last 2 shots of Tessalation, ATI does Tessalation doesn't it?

Is there any difference in picture quality between ATI and Nv? Back many years ago both companies were caught cheating a bit trying to get better FPS by lowering graphics a bit. Thats all in the past tho right?

So, pretty much, other then physics, the 2 companies cards are more or less the same from a quality stand point?

I take it ATI can't get their own physics hardware going because of patents? Doesn't that leave ATI kinda screwed in the long run?

1 Last question. How are both companies driver support these days?

Thanks!

[resikel]

Originally Posted by TheKeck

Some of those differences look like dx11/tesselstion effects, and not physx. Am I crazy?

The last one is for sure. And you're still crazy, regardless.

[muddi900]

Borderlands 2 does some awesome physx shit, but it really taxes my system.

Regardless, I'd go Nvidia because there drivers are just better. ATi will give better value for just hardware though.

[TheKeck]

Originally Posted by Spectre-7

Nope, not crazy at all. Those last shots are from the Unigen Heaven benchmark and are showing dynamic tessellation, which is totally not PhysX related.

Yeah, I thought it looked particularly familiar.

Originally Posted by Darkmatter

Thanks. For the last 2 shots of Tessalation, ATI does Tessalation doesn't it?

Yep

Is there any difference in picture quality between ATI and Nv? Back many years ago both companies were caught cheating a bit trying to get better FPS by lowering graphics a bit. Thats all in the past tho right?

So, pretty much, other then physics, the 2 companies cards are more or less the same from a quality stand point?

Not sure about the cheating thing, but I would say yes, personally.

1 Last question. How are both companies driver support these days?

NVidia is often sited as having better drivers, but I haven't had problems with ATI myself. My last two cards were NVidia, I was leaning pretty strongly to liking them, but both cards also just up and died well ahead of their time. I'm trying ATI again with my current card. So far, it's been great. And after the dead cards, I'm super excited about the much lower temps and power consumption of the ATI card vs. a comparable NVidia.

I'm still not a fanboy for either, though. I'd probably just go with whatever I could get the best bang for the buck with.

Originally Posted by resikel

The last one is for sure. And you're still crazy, regardless.

You may be right. I may be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for.

[Purple Santa]

Originally Posted by TheKeck

You may be right. I may be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for.

Turning out the lights. We are not saving you.

[TheKeck]

I'm glad I checked back. Good show santa.