AM2 or AM2+

I am the process of building my second computer. I am not interested in playing games,
or overclocking. For my first build I used an Asus board and an AM2 processor. I have had
0 problems. I would like to use the same brand components again. Is there any point in
choosing an AM2+ board over an AM2 board. I will have to use an AM2 processor since I
find the AM2+ processor prices to be too high.
In addition, I was wondering whether it would be practical to have two hard drives, one for XP,
and one for Umbuntu?

Thanks

I have done dual boot with win xp and the bun, my brother has as well. We've both done this on a pretty good variety of hardware... but just keep in mind, if you want to do a dual boot on ONE harddrive... i think you have to install windows first because the windows os won't recognize the bun file system but the bun will recognize the windows file system. If you do it on one drive, just partition it out during your windows install how you want.. and the bun will ask you how big you want the swap file to be so you can swap files back and fourth between OS'. yeah, the bun is sweet...

as far as your am2 vs. am2+ question....

am2+ has a faster standard of ddr2 memory, also more expensive but who knows what it'll run at if you pop a normal am2 proc in because the memory controller is integrated into the proc, not the mobo.
but other than the ability to upgrade later and that, I don't really see why you would want an am2+ board if you don't plan on upgrading to a quad core on it later or doing any gaming. (amd's new 790? fx chipset is supposed to be heads above the rest for crossfire x and gaming :-p).

If i were you... i would just get am2, then when you want to upgrade to quad core, sell the whole system and buy a complete new one.

np man, if i think of anything else and get bored, i'll stop by and let you know.

My opinion is different, as there are AM2+ mobos on newegg that can be had cheaply, personally, I'd go with AM2+, then use the AM2 chip, and later on, whenever you want to get something more powerful, it might be Phenoms will have come down in price, and you can toss in a new chip and more memory and have a blazing fast system for only a little cash.

I'd like to add, that AM2+ procs (phenom) still work in AM2 boards. Just takes a bios update. Only downside to doing so is that the HTT doesn't run as fast as it normally would, though I don't know how much real-world difference that will make.

Please forgive my ignorance, but what are SB700 boards, and when will they be available?

That's AMDs new southbridge. It will offer a few more USB ports, maybe a nother SATA port or two and that's it. It'll probably draw less power power too. If that's worth waiting for, well, that's your choice.