Planning a new PC for later this year, here is my CPU choice

AMD Opteron 185 Denmark 2.6GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core Processor

At least I think so.  I know I want a Dual Core AMD, really dont feel the need to pay Intel just so I can say I have Intel :)  I have had AMD for the past 4 years and they are great.

Also looking at the new Direct X 10 video card that ATI is bringing out.  Should be a nice Vista/DX10 machine.  Probably go with 2GB of RAM but may spring for 4GB if I can.

AMD Opteron 185 Denmark 2.6GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core Processor

At least I think so. I know I want a Dual Core AMD, really dont feel the need to pay Intel just so I can say I have Intel :) I have had AMD for the past 4 years and they are great.

Also looking at the new Direct X 10 video card that ATI is bringing out. Should be a nice Vista/DX10 machine. Probably go with 2GB of RAM but may spring for 4GB if I can.

Zoomer30

well the best bang for your buck is currently intel, but don't let that detract you from your good experience with AMD. The HD 2900 XT, which is AMD/ATI's first DX10 offering is quite problematic with its drivers with weird results and inconsistent frame-rates etc, wait for proper drivers to come if you are really intent in getting the ATI card, but if you want the best, I still think Nvidia still holds the crown for the king of the hill with the 8800 GTX/8800 Ultra, but once again, if you had a great experience with ATI's cards, go for it, the need all the cash they can get :) 

You will find out soon enough that this is not only a very stable, but also a very good overclocking CPU. Congratz on the fine choice of CPU. :) Starts with 2GB RAM at least, you can go from there on to add another 2GB. Make sure you use 2 sticks of 1GB so when you decide to upgrade and add 2 sticks more, you keep having the dual channel mode.DirkVDV01

Hola dirk! :) Like my new avatar? hehe, but to the topic, yeah the opterons, even though regarded as server cpus are quite good actually for games as well. 

You will find out soon enough that this is not only a very stable, but also a very good overclocking CPU. Congratz on the fine choice of CPU. :) Starts with 2GB RAM at least, you can go from there on to add another 2GB. Make sure you use 2 sticks of 1GB so when you decide to upgrade and add 2 sticks more, you keep having the dual channel mode.DirkVDV01

I thought the Opterons were primarily for servers, not gaming and home office PCs. Why not use an X2 Windsor? Also, why not an AM2 Socket if you're upgrading your mobo to be more future-proof, snice you're upgrading from a Socket 754 anyway?

[QUOTE="DirkVDV01"]You will find out soon enough that this is not only a very stable, but also a very good overclocking CPU. Congratz on the fine choice of CPU. :) Starts with 2GB RAM at least, you can go from there on to add another 2GB. Make sure you use 2 sticks of 1GB so when you decide to upgrade and add 2 sticks more, you keep having the dual channel mode.Bozanimal

I thought the Opterons were primarily for servers, not gaming and home office PCs. Why not use an X2 Windsor? Also, why not an AM2 Socket if you're upgrading your mobo to be more future-proof, snice you're upgrading from a Socket 754 anyway?

Some nutter decided to try it for games, and got good results. Yeah 939 is a letdown though, go for AM2 if you can, good catch there Bozanimal, but it might be the case that he has to change his ram and video card as well, unless that's part of the plan (or he gets those weird hybrid boards ddr1, agp, AM2, if there's such thing) 

I thought the Opterons were primarily for servers, not gaming and home office PCs. Why not use an X2 Windsor? Also, why not an AM2 Socket if you're upgrading your mobo to be more future-proof, snice you're upgrading from a Socket 754 anyway?

Bozanimal

The 939 Opterons are nothing more than higher-binned Toled-core Athlon processors. Think of them as the cream of the crop, since they're just the highest-quality chips in the batch.

in first place Socket 939 is dead  and opteron is for servers

If you want only AMD than you should chose X2 5600 on AM2

Looks like Tiger Direct has a nice package, took all the guess work out of it for me.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=3004972&sku=V133-8701

Under $2000 and 4GB of RAM PLUS Vista Ultimate.

 I think AMD needs to learn how to NAME their CPU models, so hard to know what is what.  I am trying to make this new PC at least somewhat furture proof, probably cant make it 100%, that would cost many many grand.  I could just get that little Intel Quad Core I saw...but over $1000 for a cpu....yikes.Zoomer30

For a build "Later this year"... Intel is planning to drop the price of the Q6600 Quad Core processor to only $266 (USD) on July 22.

Also, you will want to avoid the socket 939 boards, because with RAM prices lately DDR is about double the cost of DDR2 and it will only get worse.

But AMD will be releasing their new Quad Cores later this year too...

It just depends what is out when you are ready to buy.

But AMD will be releasing their new Quad Cores later this year too...

It just depends what is out when you are ready to buy.

IAM-CA

I can imagine they'd be expensive as heck, but since there's nothing out on AMD pricing, that's just a mere guess, the intel q6600 however... 

I am in no big rush right now.  Since Spore has been entered the "may not ship in my lifetime" mode, there are really no new games I will be getting, and there are not a lot of DX10 games yet.  Only game I may want a new PC for is Star Trek Online, but that has about as much chance of shipping in the next 10 years as Spore (but they will both beat Duke Nukem Forever.)

Hoping to have about 10-15k in the bank by next year, THEN I can do a nice machine, no more trying to go cheap.  This fall I want to get a nice HDTV for my PS3 (want to have that around October 16.....some big game coming then ;) )

10-15k!

i hope you dont mean for your PC, 1.5-2k max for a top of the line machine!