I want a new gaming rig

[Norgy]

You can definitely buy something that will be good enough in 2021.

Wouldn't bet on it, mate.

Not with the whole VR thing coming now.

DX 12 is also just beginning, but those libraries will supposedly tax your graphics card less than the current DX.

Granted, CPU ticks and tocks from Intel have become less and less "major improvements" since Sandy Bridge (which still offers great performance five years down the line), but if it's one thing I am unwilling to have a definite opinion about, it's how computers are in five years' time. We'll probably have another Windows version too by then. Forced upon the user with more "apps" and streamlined UI where you can't do much except adjust volume and screen resolution.

[viper37]

We should all be buying this right now :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ADATA-Premier-SP550-2-5-960GB-SATA-III-TLC-Internal-Solid-State-Drive-SSD-ASP/291677924054

for 190$us.

Shipping: Does not ship to Canada

you can find it elsewhere.

[viper37]

I mean I spent about $2200 on my computer 6 years ago and am just now looking at replacing it save for my extra drive failing this past fall.... and that's only because I'm now starting to have overheating issues with my CPU during CPU intensive games(which can maybe even be solved by applying more thermal paste?).

Maybe thermal paste is failing after so many years of gaming.  You could also try a better ventilator.  But is it worth it for a 6 yo computer?  If you can do it yourself, ok, but if you need it taken to a computer shop, I would say no.

[viper37]

You can definitely buy something that will be good enough in 2021.

Wouldn't bet on it, mate.
Not with the whole VR thing coming now.
DX 12 is also just beginning, but those libraries will supposedly tax your graphics card less than the current DX.

DX 12 is new, but we have had DX10 and 11 games for a while.  Yet, many games are still on DX9.  Or barely touching the possibilities of DX11.
5 years from now, will all games developped by in VR only?  Nah. 
So really, it all boils down to the type of games you play.  FPS multiplayer?  Yeah, VR will be a thing.  Galciv IV and Europa Universalis V? nah.  These will stick with DX12/Vulkan for basic 3D.  And I'm betting that even top of the line games that go for VR will have a non VR mode for the time being.

We'll probably have another Windows version too by then. Forced upon the user with more "apps" and streamlined UI where you can't do much except adjust volume and screen resolution.

Windows 10 is the last Windows.  What you will see are incremental improvements every year, or twice a year.

[crazy canuck]

I think it is going to take a while before VR is something of a must have requirement for a gaming rig.  I will be happy with strategy games for a long while yet.  If VR does become a thing wouldn't it more likely be more of a console game gimmick?

[HVC]

Porn. Porn always leads the next entertainment leap.

[crazy canuck]

Porn. Porn always leads the next entertainment leap.

Perhaps that would save the NHL 

[HVC]

Porn. Porn always leads the next entertainment leap.

Perhaps that would save the NHL 

would be signifantly better then watching the leafs, that's for sure.  And fans for once would have a satisfying ending to a game.

[Tonitrus]

Martim, you seem to want to build a system that will still be ideal in five years.  That's a ridiculous level of future-proofing, and probably impossible in any event.

Rather than spend $800 or more on a top of the line graphics card now, I spent $300, and then in 3-5 years I expect I'll replace it with a new one for around the same price.

New CPUs show as being only 5-10% faster than a previous years.  There's really no point in upgrading a CPU unless it is many years old.

I mean I spent about $2200 on my computer 6 years ago and am just now looking at replacing it save for my extra drive failing this past fall.... and that's only because I'm now starting to have overheating issues with my CPU during CPU intensive games(which can maybe even be solved by applying more thermal paste?).

I bought my Mac Pro in 2008 for $2000(CDN), and only replaced it in 2015.  You can definitely buy a computer that lasts a long time.  I expect my current rig to last 5-8 years at a minimum, with perhaps only a few small upgrades.

My comment to Martim Silva is you can't future-proof to the extent that you buy a system now that will still be ideal five years from now.  You can definitely buy something that will be good enough in 2021.

I've been looking at finally replacing/upgrading my current desktop PC (been going strong for 7-ish years now).

I almost looked at being lazy and getting a new Mac Pro...then realized I could do a build using this insanely expensive case ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133265 ), and still come out cheaper*.

*I not likely to actually buy that case...more likely the $180 dollar downgraded version.

[Arvoreen]

Yes, Apple makes expensive products.  But sometimes it is the little things that you miss.  For example, my wife has a laptop from work.  She used it to charge her phone while on a trip.  However, unlike Macbooks, the laptop would keep going to sleep and TURN OFF the USB port, even while plugged in.  The Macbook on the other hand, will continue to power the USB ports, if plugged in, even when it does go to sleep.

It is little things like that that will probably get me to buy one the next time I want a new laptop.  Even given the premium in price.

[Barrister]

Yes, Apple makes expensive products.  But sometimes it is the little things that you miss.  For example, my wife has a laptop from work.  She used it to charge her phone while on a trip.  However, unlike Macbooks, the laptop would keep going to sleep and TURN OFF the USB port, even while plugged in.  The Macbook on the other hand, will continue to power the USB ports, if plugged in, even when it does go to sleep.

It is little things like that that will probably get me to buy one the next time I want a new laptop.  Even given the premium in price.

Apple laptops are fantastic, for sure.  They're well worth the money even if you're just going to install Windows on it.

But the Mac Pro is something else entirely.  It starts at $3500.  It has Xeon chips and workstation-class graphics cards.  When I bought my 2008 Mac Pro you could spec it out with more consumer-class components and the price came in at about half that.

The Mac Pro doesn't make any sense as a home/gaming computer at that price.

[viper37]

Yes, Apple makes expensive products.  But sometimes it is the little things that you miss.  For example, my wife has a laptop from work.  She used it to charge her phone while on a trip.  However, unlike Macbooks, the laptop would keep going to sleep and TURN OFF the USB port, even while plugged in.  The Macbook on the other hand, will continue to power the USB ports, if plugged in, even when it does go to sleep.

It is little things like that that will probably get me to buy one the next time I want a new laptop.  Even given the premium in price.

You know, for half the price of a Macbook Pro, you get a computer where you can adjust this setting in the BIOS (rather, UEFI now) .

[Arvoreen]

Yea, I know. I was using it more to illustrate a point.  And right now, Macbook Pro's are not a good value since they haven't been refreshed in over a year.  If you really want one, wait till this summer when Apple will most likely roll out new rev's.

Although I think it will be difficult to almost impossible to find a non-Apple laptop with the same resolution screen.  Some quick searching didn't turn up anything for me....

[viper37]

Look toward Dell/Alienware for high end laptops.  Acer has some good laptops too, but their web site can be a little cumbersome to look at.

[Alcibiades]

 

Alienware is crazily overpriced parts with a fancy sticker. Avoid at all costs.