Future oriented computer.

[fredtrix]

Hey guys! I'm not actually looking to buy something (Err, I'm kinda always looking), but anyway I would like to see what the people of Overclock3d consider to be the best computer build prepared for the future. Don't get me wrong, predicting the future is not something a lot of people do. Just take into fact the things you know about and look forward too.

If you don't mind telling me, please just write down a list of what you would pick for a build like that. Let's try to keep the value factor in mind as well, or not. Suggest what you want!

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, looking at hardware and so on. I would really appreciate this, thanks.

 

[hmmblah]

Nothing is future proof. If you want a rig to last longer, buy the current gen highest end parts.

 

[fredtrix]

Nothing is future proof. If you want a rig to last longer, buy the current gen highest end parts.

Perhaps not, but it is possible to take it into consideration. Anyway the point isn't to find a build that will last long or that it's absolute future proof. I just want to see what people think may be the smartest choice if you want to keep upgrading it throughout 2012 without swapping too many of the core components.

For example; I heard that Ivy bridge will fit the 1155 socket.

EDIT: hmmblah maybe you could post what you would go for? (just to give you some trouble)

 

[hmmblah]

Perhaps not, but it is possible to take it into consideration. Anyway the point isn't to find a build that will last long or that is absolute future proof. I just want to see what people think may be the smartest choice if you want to keep upgrading it throughout 2012 without swapping too many of the core components.

For example; I heard that Ivy bridge will fit the 1155 socket.

A pretty common build you will see recommended:

2500k

Noctua NH-D14 or Thermalright Silver Arrow or NZXT Havik

Gen 3 Z68 motherboard

GTX560Ti, GTX570 or AMD equivalent

Corsair TX650 or higher

8GB DDR3 1600

That's a damn good build for right now and into the future. Like you said future IB chips will work and PCIe 3.0 compliant GPUs as well.

 

[sheroo]

Nothing is future proof. If you want a rig to last longer, buy the current gen highest end parts.

Don't you think though that we've got to the point were a good rig (non gaming) will last for a good few years? How much processing power do you need to browse the internet or even play 1080p full HD. Windows 7 and the Office suite will run no problem on a basic rig.

If, as some people have mentioned that the SB-E is overkill for most people, and you're playing a game of limited returns if you're throwing big money at the latest GPU's to play more console ports... I've even heard Tom say that the spec of his Nurburg rig is overkill for playing the games he likes.

Then it would follow that there is enough hardware out there at present to build a rig that "most" people would deem acceptable and reasonably future proof - provided you can tame the serial upgrader beast within.

I can't think of any huge things on the horizon that will require such a massive increase in personal computing power. Don't you think at some point that Intel will shoot themselves in the foot, because "most" people will say "don't need anything more powerful - thanks very much".

Now I could have this completely wrong - it reminds me of the famous IBM quote made back in the day - "there is a world market for maybe five computers"

 

[SieB]

The most future proof options at the moment in terms of how long parts will hold their performance without having to upgrade and things being compatible in the near future would be a X79 mother board with a SB-E CPU and a 28nm GPU.

Ivy Bridge Extreme which is due in December this year will be compatible with the 2011 socket on X79 motherboards and the performance from IB-E, not that anyone will needs it, will last until it's replacement in 2013 which will/should be Haswell Extreme. So basically with SB-E and then upgrading to IB-E you are set for at least two years using one motherboard.

GPU wise the best you can do is buy the most powerful GPU you can get which will last you the longest before it is unable to run games.

That is the most you can do really to future proof at the moment but who knows what new things will apear over the next year.

 

[sheroo]

The most future proof options at the moment in terms of how long parts will hold their performance without having to upgrade and things being compatible in the near future would be a X79 mother board with a SB-E CPU and a 28nm GPU.

Ivy Bridge Extreme which is due in December this year will be compatible with the 2011 socket on X79 motherboards and the performance from IB-E not that anyone will need it will last until it's replacement in 2013 which will/should be Haswell Extreme. So basically with SB-E and then upgrading to IB-E you are set for at least two years using one motherboard.

GPU wise the best you can do is buy the most powerful GPU you can get which will last you the longest before it is unable to run games.

That is the most you can do really to future proof at the moment but who knows what new things will apear over the next year.

But that system is total overkill for most peoples needs, and too expensive for most as well.

 

[SieB]

But that system is total overkill for most peoples needs, and too expensive for most as well.

True but that is the most future proof rig you can build at this time. It depends on how much you are willing to spend and how long you intend on keeping the rig but if you want as much life and upgrade ability as possible SB-E with a high end 28nm GPU is the way to go at the moment.  

 

[sheroo]

True but that is the most future proof rig you can build at this time. It depends on how much you are willing to spend and how long you intend on keeping the rig but if you want as much life and upgrade ability as possible SB-E with a high end 28nm GPU is the way to go at the moment.  

Not sure tbh. If someone asked the same question about a car, you wouldn't recommend a Bugatti, you'd probably recommend something a little more pedestrian. What you've recommended is a top end sports car, how many people do you know that own them?

 

[SnW]

Nothing is future proof. If you want a rig to last longer, buy the current gen highest end parts.

QFT !

 

[hmmblah]

Don't you think though that we've got to the point were a good rig (non gaming) will last for a good few years? How much processing power do you need to browse the internet or even play 1080p full HD. Windows 7 and the Office suite will run no problem on a basic rig.

If, as some people have mentioned that the SB-E is overkill for most people, and you're playing a game of limited returns if you're throwing big money at the latest GPU's to play more console ports... I've even heard Tom say that the spec of his Nurburg rig is overkill for playing the games he likes.

Then it would follow that there is enough hardware out there at present to build a rig that "most" people would deem acceptable and reasonably future proof - provided you can tame the serial upgrader beast within.

I can't think of any huge things on the horizon that will require such a massive increase in personal computing power. Don't you think at some point that Intel will shoot themselves in the foot, because "most" people will say "don't need anything more powerful - thanks very much".

Now I could have this completely wrong - it reminds me of the famous IBM quote made back in the day - "there is a world market for maybe five computers"

The most future proof is never the most economical.

The most future proof options at the moment in terms of how long parts will hold their performance without having to upgrade and things being compatible in the near future would be a X79 mother board with a SB-E CPU and a 28nm GPU.

Ivy Bridge Extreme which is due in December this year will be compatible with the 2011 socket on X79 motherboards and the performance from IB-E, not that anyone will needs it, will last until it's replacement in 2013 which will/should be Haswell Extreme. So basically with SB-E and then upgrading to IB-E you are set for at least two years using one motherboard.

GPU wise the best you can do is buy the most powerful GPU you can get which will last you the longest before it is unable to run games.

That is the most you can do really to future proof at the moment but who knows what new things will apear over the next year.

Exactly. It's pointless to try to be future proof. Just buy what you can afford on your budget.

But that system is total overkill for most peoples needs, and too expensive for most as well.

Yes it is, but it's easily the most future proof as well. Once again, not economical, but it will outlast everything else out there without needing to upgrade. I prefer to buy just below high end and upgrade every year or two.

Not sure tbh. If someone asked the same question about a car, you wouldn't recommend a Bugatti, you'd probably recommend something a little more pedestrian. What you've recommended is a top end sports car, how many people do you know that own them?

Car analogies don't work with this. It's not like the roads will get harder and you will need a car with more horsepower to traverse them.

A PC running games at max resolution/settings now, will most like not be able to do the same thing to high end games in 3-5 years time. It will still run the mainstream for sure, and the benchmark games at reasonable settings, but it won't be maxing them out.

 

[SieB]

Not sure tbh. If someone asked the same question about a car, you wouldn't recommend a Bugatti, you'd probably recommend something a little more pedestrian. What you've recommended is a top end sports car, how many people do you know that own them?

Cars are different though a car doesn't get outdated quickely and will last 2-3 decades. PC components performance increases every 6 to 8 months and older components performance drops just as fast.

By the time IB-E is released Intel's Haswell and a new mainstream socket motherboard will be released which means 1155 will be on it's way out just like 1366 is now.

So for the sake of having a rig that will give as much performance as possible as well as lasting as long as possible with the option to upgrade, at the moment that is SB-E and a X79 motherboard because you are able to upgrade to IB-E. By the time IB-E "needs" replacing due to lack of performance it will be a few years from now where as SB or IB will be less.

As I said though it all depends on how much you have to spend and how long you expect your rig to last, you could always go with 1155 and in two years time upgrade to Haswel but if you have the money and want as much life and upgrade ability getting a SB-E CPU and a x79 motherboard and then upgrading to IB-E later is the best you can do at the moment.

 

[fredtrix]

The most future proof options at the moment in terms of how long parts will hold their performance without having to upgrade and things being compatible in the near future would be a X79 mother board with a SB-E CPU and a 28nm GPU.

Ivy Bridge Extreme which is due in December this year will be compatible with the 2011 socket on X79 motherboards and the performance from IB-E, not that anyone will needs it, will last until it's replacement in 2013 which will/should be Haswell Extreme. So basically with SB-E and then upgrading to IB-E you are set for at least two years using one motherboard.

GPU wise the best you can do is buy the most powerful GPU you can get which will last you the longest before it is unable to run games.

That is the most you can do really to future proof at the moment but who knows what new things will apear over the next year.

That build will last for a long time, yes. It will be very good indeed, but this is as you said "future proof" not made to to be upgraded and fit new hardware as it comes, it's made to last. With an exception of graphic cards. I quote you "it will last until it's replaced". That's not the kind of build I'm thinking about. It will cost you a lot of money, I'm thinking more about what could be done in securing good core items that will fit/mate with the new products incoming in the future. Like the example hmmblah just posted.

Thanks for joining the conversation though, this topic is very interesting if you ask me.

EDIT: okey, I see your point of view. It could be a good choice for more reasons. This is good =] Although I personally feel you don't necessarily have to get enthusiast hardware to prepare for it.

 

[sheroo]

OK I agree the car analogy is not very good. What I'm trying to get across is that besides PC gaming what do you need all of this computing power for? A good rig like the one Hmmblah quoted will more than surffice for most peoples' needs for a few years. I'm not going to keep on buying expensive hardware for the sake of it, it has to fulfil a real world purpose. If I were made of money I would buy the best of the best every 6 months, but like most people I'm not.

I'm just not sure were its heading? From some of the conversations on here, gaming won't evolve until the next gen of consoles arrive. Don't get me wrong I love hardware, but I hardly stress my system out, for me personally this hardware would be pointless overkill, and if I did buy it I wouldn't be around to enjoy it, as the wife would have killed me.

 

[SieB]

The way I see future proofing is having something that will last as long as possible against better faster parts without having to upgrade because your PC is lacking in performance. The original post never mentioned anything about money so I didn't take that in to consideration but if you ask me a PC that will last you the longest amount of time going by what is currently available or available in the near future is

A SB-E cpu and a x79 motherboard - reason is by the time SB-E performance wise "needs" upgrading it will be a at least three years, by that time IB-E will have been released and replaced which also means the cost to upgrade to it will be cheap and the performance from that should last a couple more years. So in total that gives you at least 5 years in total life out of it without having to change your motherboard either.

Trying to future proof against newer parts being compatible with old parts is impossible because 9 times out opf 10 when something new is released it's made to fit current parts meaning if you have old parts it's a no go. So as far as future proofing against compatibility goes it's impossible.

 

[sheroo]

The original post never mentioned anything about money so I didn't take that in to consideration

Let's try to keep the value factor in mind as well, or not. Suggest what you want!

He kinda did and didn't - covered all his bases.

I see where you're coming from, but one question still remains - what are you going to use all this processing power for?

 

[SmoulderingCircuits]

There is a point there. I think things are at a point now where you can buy a rig for 2560x1600 gaming and it will last about 7 years before it dies - if you like the standards of the times then stick with them. An N64 will still play at the same quality today as it did on purchase, it's our attitude towards old tech that changes - it's still exactly the same system you bought.

 

[SieB]

He kinda did and didn't - covered all his bases.

I see where you're coming from, but one question still remains - what are you going to use all this processing power for?

High end parts hold their value more than midrange parts so in terms of value high end parts are also more future proof because you can sell them for a decent price where as a midrange parts don't hold their value and are sold for cheap.

No one needs that much processing power but in terms of future proofing and having something that will last the longest amount of time possible a SB-E CPU is what you want. You may not need it but it will out last a SB CPU and give you more life out of it before you have to upgrade due to a lack in performance.

I'm not saying everyone needs to go out and buy a SB-E CPU i'm just saying that if you want something that will last the longest against future parts performance wise then SB-E is the way to go.

 

[SmoulderingCircuits]

High end parts hold their value more than midrange parts so in terms of value high end parts are also more future proof because you can sell them for a decent price where as a midrange parts don't hold their value and are sold for cheap.

No one needs that much processing power but in terms of future proofing and having something that will last the longest amount of time possible a SB-E CPU is what you want. You may not need it but it will out last a SB CPU and give you more life out of it before you have to upgrade due to a lack in performance.

I'm not saying everyone needs to go out and buy a SB-E CPU i'm just saying that if you want something that will last the longest against future parts performance wise then SB-E is the way to go.

Youtube still has support for 240p - if someone really wanted they could watch that on their Pentium II

 

[SieB]

Youtube still has support for 240p - if someone really wanted they could watch that on their Pentium II

Theres not much else they could do with a Pentium II tough