940 double cpu or 939 dual core

I need to build new computer mostly for autocad, 3dsmax, photoshop etc. Should I go dual core 939 (athlon or opteron?), or double 940 cpu mboard (2x opteron 250, or even 2x dual core cpus opteron 270).

Or should I go dark side of force and look at evil empire intel?

mostly use acad. I have had max, pshop and acad all running at same time. I personally think twin dual cores overkill, am really wanting advice as to go one dual core or twin singles, and whether opteron or athlon

He's talking about s940 now (Opteron). It depends on what you need. Do you need a high bandwidth SCSI/RAID/SATA controller? Do you need over 4gb of memory? Is dual NICs a must have? Do you need Registered memory?

The apps you mentioned, are more cpu intensive than anything. In that regard, a single dualcore chip will be just as fast as dual single core chips of the same clockspeed. What you get with a dual socket board is the ability to run >2 cores, more than 4gb of memory as well as it being Registered. You also get more options as far as expansion goes. Dual socket boards use PCI-X which can operate at 33mhz/66mhz/100mhz/133mhz. Some boards also have x8 and x4 pci-e slots.

I used to run a dual Opteron setup, but when dualcore chips came around I ditched it for an x2 4400. A lot of people look at dualcore chips as some weird, crazy or even useless invention. Where as I look at it as having the cpu power of dual processors for a heck of a lot less money.

listen to function 9, Socket 940 out right now, and the new socket 940 that will support DDR 2 are different and not compatible. Chuckshissle, needs to get updated on his facts before making suggestions!

Da. That aside though, if you just need two CPUs and don't need all of that high end hardware, dualcore can still save you a butt load of cash.

Indeed it will... indeed. :-)

-mpjesse