timing on computer purchase

[thefunk]

No not another "check out my specs" thread (i say that only coz i'm jealous).

With UK VAT going up round the corner to 20%, i'm seriously considering upgrading my epic core2duo to something a little faster. My question is, if I spend £1500 before Tuesday on a computer ex.vat with triple channel I7, I'll be effectively saving 40 quid; do you expect the prices of the I7 to go down at all in the next 6 months which would render buying it pre-VAT rise pointless?

I know we're being overcharged here in the UK for anything anyway (a mars bar here is the equivalent of $5), but wanted some thoughts from people more experienced in market prices than me.

















...the mars bar price is an exaggeration, but worth the amusement of people possibly googling it to check

[MiRai]

do you expect the prices of the I7 to go down at all in the next 6 months which would render buying it pre-VAT rise pointless?

With Intel's new chipsets coming out in the next month, I would only assume that the current line of i7's will be dropping
[excluding any Extreme Edition CPUs]. I know how hard it can be to wait once you're prepared to buy a new system, so I
would flip a coin and roll with it.

[mikekim]

what thefunk is referring to is the fact that here in the UK, all hardware imports are done on a 1 to1 on the dollar vs the pound, so what would be $500 in the US, we end up paying £500 (approx £780).

prices will come down, due to new technology (they always do). the question is... do you want to wait 6 months or enjoy faster speeds now?

[MiRai]

what thefunk is referring to is the fact that here in the UK, all hardware imports are done on a 1 to1 on the dollar vs the pound, so what would be $500 in the US, we end up paying £500 (approx £780).

I knew exactly what he was referring to.

prices will come down, due to new technology (they always do). the question is... do you want to wait 6 months or enjoy faster speeds now?

That's exactly where the coin flip comes into play.

Either way, I do not see Intel dropping their prices all that much [even on the older stuff] unless AMD delivers a blow upside
Intel's head with their new platform which is due out April-ish? Intel's current i7 line and new Sandy Bridge platform will both
be handing AMD their ass until AMD releases their new stuff... and even then we have no idea how it will perform.

I don't know what you are currently using but if you want a new system now, buy a new system now.

[Littleburst]

Depends on what you use the PC for?

For wow, you probably won't have to upgrade for a while if it's running smooth atm?

[Sajuuk]

Import costs suck.