2x1mb or 2mb cache?

Both Opterons should be exactly the same. The only difference is one is in a box for retail channels and the other is for OEMs or manufacturers to just drop into PCs. You can save money by going OEM, but you might just want to get the boxed one since it's only $20 more. Since you're spending $800 anyways its not such a big deal and you can generally feel more comfortable with it.

The voltages are the same and can be adjusted in the BIOS for overclocking anyways. The L2 cache for both is 2x1MB. Only the Intel Core Duo (Yonah) has a 2MB shared cache between cores.

I don't want to past judgement, but usually the reason people go with Opteron's is to buy the lower models like the 165 or the 170 and overclock them for value rather than getting the top end. However, if you aren't comfortable with that or actually want to use it for server or workstation use then the 180 is a great choice.

Well, i know the 180 is a bit high up there, but I'm thinking that the prices are going to be going down soon, and I plan on building my computer late May, in which case, i'm assuming that the 940 processors will start to take charge, and the opterons will drop in price.

hopefully enough so i can buy the top processor and o/c it to fx57 + levels... on each processor. I think that is going to be my goal.

ive read about the "cold bug" twice today, what is it??

quite confusing

oh if it's shared cache it's 2 meg if it's separate then it's 2x1 meg hope that clears it up ok

Doesn't the retail one come with a HSF and warranty, where as the OEM one comes without either?

parlee did i clear it up for you a little?

no no, cold bugs are when there's problems with the chips... where it won't OC any further.