Help on choosing AMD64

Hello all,

I plan to buy a AMD64 CPU to run 64-bit windows and also possibly Linux. I may do lots of video encoding, CAD, numerical computing, and also some games (but I am not a serious gamer). I know Intel P4 is better in computing than AMD64, but the 64-bit platform is so attractive for me, so I plan to choose AMD 64 from 3000+ to 35000+

Now so many options for AMD64:
3000+/3200+/3400+/3500+
754/939 pin
512 L2/1M L2
.13um/.09um

I am still a student, so cost-effectiveness is important for me. I know AMD64 price is dropping, so I may choose a CPU with relative higher speed in order to get better performance. I hope someone who can give me suggestion on choosing AMD64 based on above options, such as balance between clock speed, pin, cash, nano meter size....

I prefer >3400+, 939 pin and 90nm if the price will drop to reasonable range. DO you think it is worthy to spend more money on these higher configuration? Will these higher configuration bring apparent improvement in performance?

Thanks a lot for your suggestion.

Derek

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by dejunjing on 10/23/04 03:19 PM.</EM></FONT></P>