Buying a new PC, and I believe this will be the first time I get an Intel CPU instead of AMD. As such, I have no real frame of reference for how good they are compared to the AMD's. My current AMD CPU is an AMD 64 X2 4200+ and I'm aiming for a Intel Q9450 in my new one. (Wanted a QX9650 but waaay to expensive). Should I expect to see a significant performance increase with the Q9450?
Also, how does the AMD Phenom X4 9850 compare to the Intel Q9450?

Here is a set of benchmarks
http://www.simhq.com/_technology2/technology_125a.html

I noticed that the Athlon 64 X2 6000+ and 6400+ were getting dirt cheap at newegg.You must want to plop one of these instead in your system for a very inexpensive upgrade.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] hlon+64+X2

The 4200+ is at 197 (if AM2 processor) and your Q9450 would be about 101, way up the scale:

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts [...] 2,403.html

Here it is against the q6600. The q9450 beats the q6600. http://www.legitreviews.com/article/682/11/

From what I've read, the Phenom X4 9850 trades blows with the Q6600. The Q9450 is a faster processor than the 9850 at stock and overclocks better. All of the above mentioned processors should be a nice boost from your 4200+.

Thanks for the replies guys. Kinda been out of the Intel loop for a loong, looong time.

One more question, actually. Two Mobo's I'm looking at are the Asus Striker II Formula nForce® 780i and the Asus P5N-T Deluxe NVIDIA nForce 780i. Is the Striker II worth the moderate price increase or will the P5N-T Deluxe serve me just as well?