12-16-2006, 11:26 PM
The Athlon X2 line has been overtaken by the Intel Core 2 Duo processors for performance/price. I'd seriously look at building an Intel-based system using something like the Intel Core 2 Duo E6300. It's a tad more money, but outperforms the X2 4200+ by a significant margin. Check out this Tom's Hardware review of the Intel Core 2 Duo versus the Athlon X2 lines. You'd obviously need another Intel-based motherboard if you went this route.
I'd also like to suggest being careful about what video card you buy, and whether you REALLY want or need SLI. Direct X 10 cards are just around the corner (in fact, they are already here), and spending a lot of money on mid-level DX 9 cards (like the 7600GT) might not be such a great investment. This goes double when you plan on going SLI.
I've always reasoned that SLI is not a great idea unless you are buying the absolute top of the line cards. You can always buy a single card that will outperform a pair of mid-level cards in SLI, and for a better price. A single 7900GS beats the absolute PANTS off of a pair of SLI 7600GTs, for about $200. And in six months, there will be an even better upper-range card than a pair of SLI 7600GTs, for an even better price.
I'd also like to suggest being careful about what video card you buy, and whether you REALLY want or need SLI. Direct X 10 cards are just around the corner (in fact, they are already here), and spending a lot of money on mid-level DX 9 cards (like the 7600GT) might not be such a great investment. This goes double when you plan on going SLI.
I've always reasoned that SLI is not a great idea unless you are buying the absolute top of the line cards. You can always buy a single card that will outperform a pair of mid-level cards in SLI, and for a better price. A single 7900GS beats the absolute PANTS off of a pair of SLI 7600GTs, for about $200. And in six months, there will be an even better upper-range card than a pair of SLI 7600GTs, for an even better price.