Socket 775 will be around for awhile. The core i7 will also change slightly when they go to 32nm. So, you can't "future proof" your rig. The cpus are changing too fast. That's how amd and Intel keep sales high. If you have deep pockets, you can change about every 2 years, but 5 years is more realistic. If you're on a budget, Dell has some core i7 systems starting at about $900, but don't expect to be able to overclock them.