Diminishing Returns

[Luke122]

Does a $50,000 amplifier sound better than a $1000 amplifier? It's very possible.. Does it sound $49,000 better? Well, that's open to interpretation.

Is a Q6700 @ $630 really that much better than a Q6600 @ $280? 2.66ghz vs 2.4ghz, 2x4mb cache on both.

There's a term that is used most often in HIFI, that applies very much to us geeks as well.

"Diminishing Returns"

At some point, the amount of performance/quality gained by an upgrade becomes quite small compared to the cost of that upgrade.

As hardware/software modders/enthusiasts, we have the benefit of doing more with our existing equipment for no cost. Overclocking and tweaking can help squeeze new life from existing components, without costing anything.

There will of course always be people who have to ride the cutting edge of technology, having the biggest, best, fastest, newest, etc.

I'm not one of these people.. for me, it's all function over form. If it does what I need it to do, then I dont need the best or latest.

The point of diminishing returns for me is actually quite low; if a $300 upgrade will increase my performance of my machine by 100%, but a $400 upgrade will give me 115%, I'd stick with the $300 one.

Call me cheap if you like, but if I could spend less than $100 to get maybe 30-40%, I'd rather do that.

So here's the question I pose to you all..

How important is it to you, to have the latest and greatest, best and fastest?

[Airbozo]

Is my $5000 digital mixer better than my $50 Radio shack mixer?

Yes, without a doubt. (not that I paid that much for the mixer.)

Could I have gotten by with the Radio Shack model?

Mostly.

And yes, my $3000 amp DOES sound better than my $300 amp. Plus it has the added advantage of being able to piss off my neighbors in an exponential fashion.

I usually set some sort of budget and then get the best I can afford.

[silverdemon]

I don't always buy the best there is n the market, but soon I will! I've been waiting about two months now until the E8200 processor is launched. I will get that as soon as I can buy it. (for those who don't know; the E8200 is a core 2 duo at 45nm...)

but on the other hand I also have a file-server in my room that runson 500 MHz. And antoher system that I overclocked from 166MHz to 450MHz :D.

anyways, my point is: I try to get around without spending money, but sometimes you just HAVE to get the best there is!