For the first time in 10 years I can't decide on what piece of computer hardware to upgrade next. One of the problems is my 32 bit windows so I can't just do a ram upgrade which would be due soon. If I just buy new windows, it doesn't make much sense to buy more DDR2 these days either. So Also I kind of broke one of my sata sockets on my motherboard recently and I'd like to upgrade to something crossfire/sli compatible too... so I kind of should change my motherboard. But then if I go upgrading my motherboard, does it make any sense to buy another board that is compatible with my current cpu? I really don't think upgrading CPU at this point would bring enough benefit but then again just changing to another mobo with ancient socket would come back to haunt me later.

I would also kind of love to have a crossfire setup before the next 3dmark and crysis 2 come out but buying another 5870 now when 6000 series is just behind the corner wouldn't make too much sense either. If I just wait until christmas and then upgrade mobo and cpu and memory and gpu(s) at once then I might as well buy a whole new computer. I *can* spend a lot but I really don't *want* to spend more than maybe 800 or so. That could get me a new ddr2 q6600 compatible mobo and another 5870...maybe even two 6xxx cards if I sell the 5870 I have. But does it make any sense? Should I just get mobo+cpu+ddr3 and buy 6xxx later? I dunno, I really can't decide. So for now I'll probably just stay with what I have right now and make a whole new system later but it will be too much spent at one go and will break my tradition of forever upgrading one computer one component at a time.

Take a break and wait a year. Try branching out.

Other gadgets/gizmos/fun-things:
- smartphone
- home theater
- SLR camera
- outdoorsy stuff? (kayak, camping gear...)
- easily hackable consoles (PS2, Xbox360, Wii, DS)

you know, you may be right. I'll at least wait half a year. Kayak, eh? Haha maybe not. I was thinking of a motorcycle but everyone says no. Not only wife and family but work mates too say I would kill myself. Gotta think out of the box.

Save the money for a sweet ass trip.

Maybe not exactly what you thought about but I thinked about it and I'm making the trip to Assembly summer 2010 a little more than a week from now. Who knows, I might even grab some hardware from the numerous small stores on the hallways.