CPU Advice Needed

[jmatyas]

I'm building a brand new system and have been kind of out of the game for awhile. I'm kinda confused about which route to go with the CPU, I want to be able to at least play Crysis when it comes out and stuff like that. Currently I'm thinking the:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Windsor 2.6GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache $289.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103759

This is the lowest priced proc with the 2 x 1MB L2 Cache by AMD. I would pair that with the:

ECS KN3 SLI2 $137.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813135040

Which seems to be the best value for the 590 SLI motherboards. So is this a good route to go if my cpu/mboard budget is about $450?? Is there a better Intel or AMD alternative?? I am open to any and all suggestions, I just mainly want to get the most bang for buck and also have it be scaleable for future procs coming out.

Thanks!

 

[RandMcnally]

I'm building a brand new system and have been kind of out of the game for awhile. I'm kinda confused about which route to go with the CPU, I want to be able to at least play Crysis when it comes out and stuff like that. Currently I'm thinking the:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Windsor 2.6GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache $289.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103759

This is the lowest priced proc with the 2 x 1MB L2 Cache by AMD. I would pair that with the:

ECS KN3 SLI2 $137.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813135040

Which seems to be the best value for the 590 SLI motherboards. So is this a good route to go if my cpu/mboard budget is about $450?? Is there a better Intel or AMD alternative?? I am open to any and all suggestions, I just mainly want to get the most bang for buck and also have it be scaleable for future procs coming out.

Thanks!

On the amd side an Opty would be better?

 

[RandMcnally]

Well Opteron if ya want to overclock. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819105017
What makes them so damn good?

 

[BaldEagle]

For just a wee bit over the 450 you could get into a E6600 with an 650i board or come in well under the 400 mark with a E6400 and a 650i which is probably a much better deal.