Originally posted by: The Mailman
I know I lost on the AMD and I know C2D is better
...
cpu aside, I did well so far, right?
Since you bought an AM2 socket processor (deduced from your MB) I'd say you made the right CPU maker choice, although I'd probably gone with a X2 3800+ and OC'd it for the next 6-9 months, and bought one of the new quad 65nm AMD AM3 CPUs coming out Q1 or Q2 next year. Those monsters should be good - so your upgrade path in the future will be 1 CPU to purchase, nothing else (AM3 will be socket compatible with AM2 per AMD's website)
C2D's future version requires a different socket, from all accounts, and FB-DIMM as well. Additionally, initial tests of the Mac Pro indicate what some of us feared - Intel's C2D is memory bound with more than 1 CPU - note that the "quad" Intel's releasing late this year will be 2 CPUs in 1 package, thus will suffer the same issues which are even worse if done on a DDR2 MB)
So, I'd look into an ATI X1800XT or X1900XT(X) or pair if you got the cash, although even just a single X1900XTX will be plenty good. Note that ATI just announced 5 new Radeons and price drops on current cards. The top end card should hit the street at a MSRP of $449, and the current top of the line crop should be sub-$300, or so the statement read. I haven't seen this reflected in prices yet, but I'm waiting for it eagerly, as I too am in the market for a graphics card.
The reason I'm up to date on this for a change is that I'm pricing out a new system to build, here's mine:
X2 3800+ 939 retail: ~ $147 - not sure if going retail or more likely OEM w/ aftermarket cooler
two 1 GB DDR 400 RAM sticks: in house - ie - free, cost me around $120
DFI LanParty Ultra D: $73 OEM
Antec 500W PS: in house - paid $19 for it though
RaidMax Case: in house in current system, paid $25 for it
ATI X1800XT: ~$200 - price not settled yet - may go with a X1900XT if prices drop enough
So my current expenses will be around $440 for an AMD X2 system (MB, CPU, Graphics card) running @ 2.4GHz with near or better than SLI performance.
Can't beat it - C2D would cost that much just for MB+CPU