amd cpu, now or wait???

[subbbsonic]

I am thinking about a new project build. I want to go with AMD because of price and value. Should I buy the 940 BE and a decent MB, or should I wait and buy a different CPU to get me by. I am in limbo because really anything that I build is going to blow away my current pc. I am not a gamer but I want to build an entertainment/workhorse pc that is going to last me for some time. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, I am leaning towards an Asus MB and I want to stay in the $125-$150 range. Is there really that big of difference in the MB's in that price range. Thanks again.

[saphalline]

I would suggest you wait for the Phenom II's to fully transition to Socket AM3. Not that AMD CPU's currently need DDR3, but they are in limbo right now with a foot on each side. And Core i7 has proven that DDR3 prices can and will drop to reasonable levels within 6 months.

If you're not willing to wait quite that long, I would suggest you pull the trigger right now while DDR2-era hardware for AM2+ is still available in droves. Both Intel and AMD have new DDR3 plans to execute this year and there's no telling how long DDR2 (and its supporting hardware) will last at current prices.

The only downside to buying into DDR2-era hardware at this point is the fact that 2009 is the year of DDR3. So whatever you buy now is what you'll get. No new CPU's or chipsets will likely be made for DDR2 stuffs, although replacement parts will be available for a long while yet. That essentially kills your upgrade path for the core of the system at the expense of getting a much cheaper system up-front.

It's give and take. Either path has its advantages.