hi guys i hope i can get a quick response as im planning on buying my components this weekend.
i currently run an skt939 dual core running slightly clocked from 2.4ghz to 2.66ghz this couples with 2gb ddr400 and an 8600gts msi graphics card.
i want to do a slight upgrade so should i go for.
am2 3.2ghz am2 black edition with 4gb ddr2 800mhz and stick another 8600gts card in sli.
or go the intel quad core route i dont want to spend more than £170 on a cpu and would prefer not to go down the 8800gt route as it would be far more cost effective to stick in another 8600gts, i also assume intel use the same memory ddr2 800mhz.
Actually no it wouldn't. One 8800GT is far faster than two 8600GTS cards, so sell the first 8600 (ebay it and you'll make almost as much as you bought it for). Not to mention you can save by not needing to get an SLI motherboard. I think it would be very foolish to go down the SLI route.
As far as the CPU goes, go with a Core 2 system. Unless Phenom is pants off surprising, the Core 2 platform has far more potential.
Get a Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R board (these will support the upcoming 45nm CPUs). Don't be so closed minded as to only use one manufacturer, Gigabyte boards are well made, and their customer support is far better than that of Asus (I've had three Asus boards so I can speak from personal experience).
Unless you do lots of video work, go with a Core 2 Duo E6750. Pound for performance, they're about the best CPU you can buy, not to mention their ridiculous overclocking potential. Get a high end heatsink like a Thermalright Ultra 120 and you can probably get 4Ghz out of one.
The intel boards do indeed use DDR2, but the DS3R board I posted also supports DDR3 if that ever becomes mainstream.
