Best time to buy a new PC?

So, when is actually the best time of year to buy or build a PC?
Is it better to wait for those big generational shifts in CPUs or GPUs?

It's questions like these that drive them to drop something new every once in a while... honestly, it just depends on what you're looking for and how much cash you're willing to burn.

+ You can never really stay ahead of the curve—within just six months or a year, there’s always something else hitting the shelves. If you’re the type who absolutely needs the latest and greatest, I guess you have to buy things the second they launch just to get a little breathing room before the next big thing drops... isn't that right? It’s the exact same headache as buying smartphones. I remember picking up a Samsung Galaxy S6 back at the start of 2016, and before I knew it, I was already looking at the S8.

There isn't a set timeline yet, but I guess we might see things shift around late summer or early fall. By then, all the Ryzen processors should be out, and both Intel and AMD will have their new HEDT platforms on the market—though that's probably less critical. Plus, Vega cards and the RX 5 xx series should be a bit easier to find. I'm not entirely sure about RAM and SSD prices, though... they seem pretty high right now.

That’s exactly why I’m asking. I remember seeing a recommendation on this sub a while back suggesting we should hold off for a few months before picking up a new GPU.
The Ryzen chips just hit the market, and honestly, it feels like they're priced a bit too high right now—especially since they really ought to be offering more bang for your buck compared to Intel. Plus, everyone is waiting to see how Intel responds.

I know, I know, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and buy it. But I'm not exactly in a rush, so if waiting a couple of months makes sense financially, why not?

Kevin Cox said:That’s exactly why I’m asking. I remember seeing a recommendation on this sub a while back suggesting we should hold off for a few months before picking up a new GPU.
The Ryzen chips just hit the market, and honestly, it feels like they're priced a bit too high right now—especially since they really ought to be offering more bang for your buck compared to Intel. Plus, everyone is waiting to see how Intel responds.

I know, I know, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and buy it. But I'm not exactly in a rush, so if waiting a couple of months makes sense financially, why not?

I don't know, I think Ryzen actually offers quite a bit more than Intel for the same money. Maybe the R5 1400 and 1500X are a little $33 overpriced, but even then, they seem like a better value than those locked i5 models.

It feels like we might be waiting a long time for an answer from Intel in the mainstream segment; they haven't even adjusted their prices yet 😛

When it comes to picking up a new CPU, we're looking at the best window we've seen in over five years. On the flip side, though, RAM and SSD prices have absolutely skyrocketed. It feels impossible for everything to line up perfectly at once.

When do you think we'll actually see Coffee Lake hit the market?

It was supposed to be Q4 2017 or maybe Q1 2018. Now I'm hearing some rumors about Q3 of this year, though I honestly have no idea how much truth there is to that.

crimsonstag84 said:I don't know, I think Ryzen actually offers quite a bit more than Intel for the same money. Maybe the R5 1400 and 1500X are a little $33 overpriced, but even then, they seem like a better value than those locked i5 models.

It feels like we might be waiting a long time for an answer from Intel in the mainstream segment; they haven't even adjusted their prices yet 😛

Well, they listened to you. 👍

Lowering the price of the i3 7350

That’s just a useless response 😛 It still doesn't hold a candle to the G4560 on the low end or the Ryzen on the high end. 🎉

The i3 line is a dead end no matter how you look at it; Intel basically killed its momentum with the G4560.
Unless they start offering quad-core chips while keeping prices in the $900-$333
range.

Kimberly Gomez34 said:The i3 line is a dead end no matter how you look at it; Intel basically killed its momentum with the G4560.
Unless they start offering quad-core chips while keeping prices in the $900-$333
range.

I was actually just about to ask this.

What’s the actual upside to an i3 7100 compared to a G4560 when the price gap is nearly 100%? Like, where am I actually going to notice a difference?

Also, is the integrated HD610/630 graphics enough for basic daily stuff? Just some light work and the occasional run of FreeCAD?

It’s barely noticeable... an i3 that's 5% faster isn't really anything at all.

The G4560 with integrated graphics should be fine, I guess, provided you aren't trying to run anything too demanding.