New CPU vs getting an old one repaired

Yesterday I received a tuniq tower and a gigabyte DS3 motherboard for free. I had a working AMD 3500+ at the time. While installing the tuniq tower I pulled my cpu out of the socket along with the old HSF. I noticed that some of the pins were bent so I tried to unbend them but failed miserably. I ended up breaking 2 pins and now my cpu doesn't work. After much research and reading testimonies I've come up with two possible decisions. One is sending it to motherboardrepair.com and getting it repaired for $35. The other is getting a new core 2 duo for my gigabyte DS3 I received. How long will it take (estimated) for the core 2 duos to go down in price? IMO it would be worth it to repair the 3500+ but if I'm just going to buy a new core 2 duo in a month it probably isn't worth it. Also will DDR2 800 memory prices come down anytime soon (estimated) because I would need some memory along with a new processor (already have a motherbaord and everything else).

If you can afford it, the best option is to buy an E6400 - you don't have to buy DDR2-800, 667 or 533 is fine. Otherwise, there is nothing wrong with a 3500+, getting it fixed is a good option as well. Just check if they'll cough up if they screw up.

Or you could sell the DS3, invest in stocks and gradually become the richest man in the world, and one day rule the planet - with me as your right hand man. After all, I'm the one who set you on that path, right?

...right?

how long can you handle being without a computer? that's the question =)

I think it'll be at least a couple months before that happens.

Buy the 3500+ for $35. Sell it off.

Use money to buy the C2D

12 months in a year divided by 4 quarters = 3 months

so...
1st qtr = jan-march
2nd qtr = april-june
3rd qtr = july-sep
4th qtr = oct-dec

hurray for hukd on foniks

Can the repair place guarantee their work? Because a new E6400 will always be warranted through the seller. I vote E6400 if you think you need the performance. The 3500+ is a good processor, but it's aging.