Best Time to Purchase Components

LBact on 10/02/2015 - 17:44

I'm looking to replace my rig which is 6 years old (still working but it's super noisy).

Was planning on purchasing it next month, but just want to get everyone's advice on when will be the best time to purchase. Is there any time this year where prices will be dropping (i.e. before easter, during easter or after easter). Just want to be able to get as much discount as I can.

Here are the specs of what I'm planning to purchase**:
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus Z97I-PLUS Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card (possibly a 980 if depending on price)
Case: Corsair 250D Mini ITX Tower Case
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (yes I know it's overkill, but chose this based on reviews)

**already have an existing SSD, HDD, and OS so I'm planning on using those.

Gaming

Comments

  • retiredfeline on 10/02/2015 - 18:02
    +3

    AFAIK computer component prices are not seasonal, though shops might have specials now and then. Component prices are always dropping as technology advances, but then the Aussie dollar is dropping too. Good luck.

    • Bact on 10/02/2015 - 19:13

      Since x99 mobos have been introduced and ddr4 ram, would it be to correct to assume that z97 and ddr3s should be price dropping some time soon?

      • scrimshaw on 10/02/2015 - 19:29

        If you go to PC Part Picker and click on any component, you can view a 180-day pricing histogram that will help you decide whether or not the current price is a deal, based on a 6 month history.

        • Bact on 10/02/2015 - 20:01

          Thanks for link. Seems that most retailers have the prices hovering between 180 - 200 for the motherboard. Cheapest I can see was 170 last year… and it was around my birthday :(.

      • Scyl on 11/02/2015 - 00:56

        If you are planning to getting a relatively powerful computer like this, and would probably want to continue upgrading in the future, then going with x99 and DDR4 make more sense. They are rather expensive right now, which mean I would say now is a bad time to buy powerful computer parts. I am hoping ddr4 motherboard and ram will be more reasonably priced before the end of the year so I can upgrade too.

        • scrimshaw on 11/02/2015 - 01:21
          +1

          DDR4 just not worth it right now.. Computer manufacturers would have you believe that it's all kinds of awesome but if you look at the benchmarks, it isn't the same kind of quantum leap like they market it to be.

          Wouldn't benefit gamers and certainly, wouldn't benefit general everyday usage either. At least not until we see HMC memory being introduced because it directly tackes the limits of traditional DRAM memory.

          Much of the performance improvement is going to be through the use of newer architecture (Broadwell and Skylake) so there's no point playing 'catching up with tech' by buying a DDR4 capable motherboard — your CPU is going to be outdated end of this year anyway.

        • Bact on 11/02/2015 - 07:29

          @scrimshaw: having said this will "the hype" result in lower prices for z97 motherboards? Since x99s are the "latest and greatest"

        • Bact on 11/02/2015 - 07:34

          Since I'm planning on building a mind-expanding system,i dont think x99 would be the way to go as they are expensive. Plus I don't think they make mini-itx boards at the moment* (*haven't googled)

        • Scyl on 11/02/2015 - 10:25

          @Bact: I am not sure either, but just be aware that 2 years down the line and you want to upgrade your ram or something, x99 and ddr4 will be the norm, so you might have a hard time upgrading. I don't think getting x99 is a good idea either, that why I said now is a bad time to buy, because of the transition phase.

          slightly off topic, but I got a AMD motherboard and CPU a few years back, and now they haven't released a new CPU for years, I have no option to upgrade to. Last I heard, if they do release a new CPU, it will be on a different socket (don't quote me on it) so I have ran into a dead end with this motherboard. When I do upgrade, I will do my best to make sure I still have options a few years later.

        • Scyl on 11/02/2015 - 10:27

          @scrimshaw: That's why I don't plan on upgrading for a while until the new technology stablise, so I am not force to get a new motherboard again in a few years

        • scrimshaw on 11/02/2015 - 14:38

          @Bact:

          Why not just upgrade?

          You can still buy a new power supply, a new case, a new SSD/HDD and if you want, a liquid cooler if you want to improve noise. These things don't go out of fashion that quickly.

          As for the core system you can just wait until Skylake arrives later this year.

  • jonathonsunshine on 10/02/2015 - 19:05

    Off topic I guess, but why get a mini itx motherboard? If anything they are more expensive with less options / expandability. You'll need a full size case anyway.

    • Bact on 10/02/2015 - 19:10

      Just strongly considering it for LANs. I can probably go micro-atx which could possibly go $100 ish cheaper (Mobo and case)

      • TheGMan on 12/02/2015 - 21:00
        +1

        I actually just built a computer with mITX board, and I dont regret it at all. Ive never run more than one GPU in any previous computers. As for features, the board I got had more features than Ive ever had on any other motherboard, although only 2 RAM slots but more than 16GB is a waste for games or general use ;).

        I also decided to go on the mITX route due to wanting to get into LANing again, and it is a beast of a computer with a water cooled i5 4690k and GTX970 GPU, dual SSDs and dual 2TB HDDs

  • Cave Fire on 11/02/2015 - 01:05
    +1

    If the company selling the parts works off monthly sales targets, you could try on the last day of the month or a day before.

    • Bact on 11/02/2015 - 07:35

      You know which ones do in Victoria? =D

  • Geekomatic on 11/02/2015 - 01:45
    +1

    Hello Bact,

    How odd- I just built my mini-itx last weekend! I'm about where you were- older desktop (but still great for testing parts in & out of it & testing in general…). I just felt like an upgrade & I have a soft-spot for the itx. Took lots of photos for posterity as my daughter is taking IT in school this term and wanted to help during the install. :)

    My build is:

    Cobalt blue Bitfenix Prodigy Case
    Corsair CS550M PSU
    ASRock H97M-ITX-a/c
    i5-4690
    Deepcool Gammaxx300 Cooler
    Kingston HyperX Fury Blue 2x8GB

    I had a Samsung 840 Pro 256GB SSD + WD Raptor 600GB for the bulk of the data partitions.

    Running Linux Mint 17.1 & it's blazingly fast & responsive. Literally, no bottleneck that I can see or feel. I'm almost giddy about the speed- lol. It took some time to get things set up (hardware & cable tidying) then trying to get consensus info on partitioning for the two drives (like pulling teeth)- but I got there in the end. I even decided to write up my own walk-through since so much of what I was trying to follow was either wrong or conflicting. Tonight I set up Compiz & got a bunch of my fav programs installed.

    Anyway- I'm just here to say, get it now & have fun doing it! Will it get cheaper? Maybe. Will you have it to play with while you wait? Nope. I opted for the fun-> now.

    Good luck!

    • Bact on 11/02/2015 - 07:40

      Same here. Mini-itx systems are all I will need since the specs is on point with what I generally do (gaming, Photoshop etc.)

      I wish the technology gods above would find me a sponsor for this build haha

      • Geekomatic on 12/02/2015 - 00:34

        Your build is fine>check it w/pcpartspicker then run with it!

        Look forward to the photos- (please take some).

        Cheers

  • wonderboy on 11/02/2015 - 17:28

    You won't see much difference in prices until new models are released. I built mine piece by piece waiting for sales. Bought the case, CPU, mobo, RAM first then upgraded to a SSD and graphics card, etc later and save quite a bit.

    You might want to post in the computing section to get a better answer although there won't be much difference. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/forum/38181

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