8600 vs 8800 and the wait for dell

I'm in the market for a new Dell laptop because my old one is almost 4 years old. I feel its time to upgrade because I can not run Bioshock decently on my old system. Not to mention I would love to play A Company of Heroes on max settings (currently I'm on low).

Now I hear talk of an 8800 card and MXM. Got no idea what that means. I like good looking games and thats all. I don't need to brag about having the latest and greatest system.

On the otherhand, as you can see, I like to buy a notebook rig that will see me through at least 3, if not 4 years of use. Is this 8800 more like the next step upgrade, or something bigger?

I plan on buying an Inspiron 1520 because it fits my budget of no more than $1500 total. Is this newly announced card going to be available in that model soon, or more like 6 months from now (which is too long a wait)? And if it will be available in that model, will it be very expensive, or just replace the existing 8600.

I wouldn't want to buy a notebook now that a couple months later is obsolete because some new MAJOR tech gadget has come out. BUt if its really just a minor upgrade (a little faster,etc.), that costs alot more and will not be available anytime soon, I won't feel bad about getting a laptop now. I get it that every 6 months something better can come along, but I wouldn't want to find out that it was only a month or two away.

I tend to think only the XPS notebooks will see it now, with the inspirons a bit aways off. But I could be wrong. After all, you guys/gals are the experts. I'm new here.

Anthony

 

Sorry man, but you'll be waiting for the rest of your life... Intel just dropped their new CPUs and Nvidia just dropped their new 8800 and in a few months they'll be dropping something else... Tech is always improving so if you see what you want now buy it else you'll never buy.

 

If you need the notebook now...buy it...if not wait and buy when you need it.

As for new stuff.

Q1 2008 - Penryn: won't be that much of a bang, its like the current CPUs with a tad more power and lower power consumption, won't notice that much difference in gaming.

Q3 2008 - New Centrino architecture: Now we're talking...that will be a major upgrade...but its almost a year away...so if you need a notebook don't wait for this one.

Nvidia:

GF 8800M: Its new, its fast and it won't be in most 15,4" notebooks apart from some monster machines...very slim chance the 1520 or any follow up model will have it.

GF 9 Series: Sometime mid 2008: Will be an upgrade of the current architecture, less power requirements and power output...but as with the new centrino architecture its not worth to wait.