Intel Nehalem vs Penryn, Should I wait?

[Teknowbabble]

I have an old Intel P4 Northwood CPU @ 2.8 Ghz, 512 Mb L2 cache, and
Hyperthreading on a socket 478 motherboard.

Ive been eyeing the Q6600 and Q9450 quad core processors since the
prices seem to be dropping.

Im wondering whether I should wait until the Nehalem's come out in Q4
of 2008. Or wait beyond 2008 til 2009 ...

Intel's site says Nehalem will have 2-8 cores with Hyperthreading,
Quick Path Interconnect (No FSB), and Integrated Memory Controller.

INTEL MARCH 17, 2008 PRESS RELEASE
http://download.intel.com/pressroom/archive/reference/Gelsinger_briefing_0308.pdf

One article I read on the internet says that the Nehalem Q4 2008
Nehalem release will be compatible with a LGA 1366 motherboard
configuration, thereafter LGA 1160 will be needed.
(see link below for article)

http://www.chilledpc.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3857

I'd like to get peoples thoughts.

I guess Im questioning if multiple cores with hyperthreading are going
to be like the P4 with deeper pipelines which ended up being a
disaster -- aka the Prescott CPU.

Im wondering if its a case of "a law of diminishing returns."

Im wondering if I should just go with the Penryn Quad Core with NO
hyperthreading.

If you think I should go with the current quad cores, when would be
the best time to buy? ie, when can I get the best deal?

Ive read conflicting literature saying that current Intel Quad Cores
(Q6600, Q6700, Q9300, Q9450, Q9550) are being dropped for something
else between now and Nehalem.

Let me know what you think.

TIA
Teknowbabble

 

[Conor]

I have an old Intel P4 Northwood CPU @ 2.8 Ghz, 512 Mb L2 cache, and
Hyperthreading on a socket 478 motherboard.

Ive been eyeing the Q6600 and Q9450 quad core processors since the
prices seem to be dropping.

Im wondering whether I should wait until the Nehalem's come out in Q4
of 2008. Or wait beyond 2008 til 2009 ...

Unless you're doing AV work or gaming, don't bother at all. The "you
must have a quad core CPU even though all you're doing is
email/web/word" is nothing more than marketing bollox to get you to
part with money.

 

[Michael Cecil]

Unless you're doing AV work or gaming, don't bother at all. The "you
must have a quad core CPU even though all you're doing is
email/web/word" is nothing more than marketing bollox to get you to
part with money.

But you haven't seen all the movies of the darling snowflakes that grandma
wants to send to every known relative!