I have constructed a roadmap of major computer hardware upogrades in the near future related to PC gaming. This is from currently availible inforamtion and generally not rumours. Please contribute more information if you can.
| Hardware: | CPUs | GPUs | ||
| Manufacturer: | Intel | AMD | Nvidia | AMD (ATI) |
| Now | Intel Core 2 Quad "Kentsfield" 65nm Quad-core, up to 3.0GHz Most powerful CPUs currently available No sub-$1000 Yorkfield CPUs yet launched | AMD Athlon 64 X2 "Windsor" 90nm Dual-core, up to 3.2GHz Severely lacking in comparison with Intel's best,but tends to have better price/performance in the <$150 segment. Quad-core Phenom has bugs so not included. | Geforce 8 Series 65nm G92 core Most powerful GPUs currently availible | Radeon HD3000 Series 55nm RV670 core In the sub-$250 segment, AMD's offerings provide superior price/performance and due to the smaller process node are more energy-efficient. |
| January/February | Intel Core 2 Quad "Yorkfield" 45nm Quad-core, up to 3.2GHz Will be most powerful CPUs availible, basically a <10% improvement on Kentsfield at the same price point. | AMD Phenom 9xxx Series "Agena" (Bug-free stepping) 65nm Quad-core, up to 2.6GHz Likely to be priced more competitively than Yorkfield, but not compete with the high-end of Intel's lineup. | Two G92 on one PCB. Not announced formally, but likely to happen. Tri- or Quad-SLI | Two RV670 on one PCB. Samples exist today, but the driver isn't ready. Quad Crossfire. |
| March | Rumours of mainstream Yorkfields being delayed until March because of FSB bug. | AMD Phenom likely to recieve a speed boost to 2.8GHz. | ||
| Q2/Q3 2008 | Likely Yorkfield speed boosts if neccessary to compete with Phenom. | Further Phenom speed boosts? | Geforce 9 Series 55nm G100/D9E Little known at this point except that it is a new architecture. | Radeon 4000 (?) Series 45nm R700 New architecture. Quad-core GPU. |
| Q4 2008 | Nehalem: New architecture featuring memory controller and HT-like protocol which will reduce AMD's advantages. | 45nm shrink of Agena, with minor improvements. Unclear as to performance or features. | ||
| 2009 | Westmere: 32nm shrink of Westmere, likely Q4 2009, presumably with minor architectural improvements over Nehalem. | Bulldozer: New architecture still at 45nm with "Fusion": GPU cores on a CPU. | Successor to Geforce 9 likely. | Successor to R700 likely. |
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