So for the most part I have an idea what I want I had an Intel setup (which can be seen in my sig) and I have decided to go back to AMD because its more along my pay scale (I can see myself affording a hexcore AMD or their highest end Quadcore I can't fathom affording the Intel version)perhaps if I get a better job in the future I can return to Intel.

I basically have my eyes on these motherboards (particularly liking the ability to go SLI or Crossfire) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productco ... 128-509-TS

I'm thinking of trying the whole Sli or Crossfire thing this time around but no time soon so I want a board that can at least support that I have no intentions and or interest in the least of attempting the 2 way or 3 way SLI and or Crossfire so is there any reason I should be considering the mobos above over these mobos http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productco ... 157-248-TS

So I'm open to suggestions including why I should stick to Intel, the only thing I have from my old setup is my 4870 512mb (which hopefully I can change out soon and) and my hard drives.

Most people are going for a Intel Z68 motherboard with a Intel 2500k cpu. About $400 buys you the fastest overclocking setup money can buy. The extra 55$ for the Intel system buys much more speed.

Intel setup..............400$
motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128500
cpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115072
memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820231277

AMD setup.....345$
AM3+ board
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131757
6 core cpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103849
memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820231277

Intel currently has the highest performing platform. This may change after Bulldozer (Zambezi) is released this summer. The new BD motherboards will also have the option to support SLI and CF.

If you are not interested in Quad-Fire or Tri-Fire with 3 separate video cards, then go for a MB with two PCIe slots that are at least 8x each.

So are you telling me that the Intel Quad setup above is superior to the AMD Hex setup above?



So what you think I should wait until after summer before building my new machine? Because after it releases in summer how long before there will be enough concrete evidence out of which is out performing which?

One of my relatives had the same issue. He decided not to wait for BD and went for a hex-core Phenom II
- he is a gamer and it won't matter; plus with the AM3+ socket and after a BIOS flash he may still have his BullDozer.

Of course, he upgrades pretty often and it may not suit someone who builds one PC every 3 or so years.

The question for you is - WHY are you upgrading? If it is to play games that are getting too slow on your current PC, get yourself a new video card to tide you over (HD 6950, perhaps to also go in your next PC) and overclock your Q6600 (it is near EoL - just go for it!)
- then you can afford to wait.

If you must upgrade now - then you have to make a decision - Sandy Bridge or wait for Bulldozer

I'm not a gamer but I'm a media person I'm mostly into Photography I process a lot of RAW files (I mainly use Adobe LR3 for that), I also watch series and animes which tend to be converted in at times demanding format when I download them at one point in time I could not understand why my machine could not play some of the video files smoothly but mainly I like a fast machine I do a lot of multi-tasking e.g. browsing the internet with several tabs open most I can ever recall is 20-30 which is usually streaming something usually youtube and or online radio, then I may be watching a video if not playing music from the machine itself, sometimes I play music while I'm playing games if I'm not using Vent or TS and in voice chat, while chatting over msn messenger, skype, xfire, steam etc.... so yeah I multi-task a lot and I like to do so as seamlessly as possible so a machine that can facilitate all of that is what I'm aiming for.

To be honest with you all my old system really needed was more memory was more memory which I had planned to switch out the DDR2 to DDR3 because the board supports both and possibly change my video card only because I want a larger monitor and it was recommended to me that my 4870 512MB would have problems playing certain games at high resolutions but for what I usually do on a day to day basis and for the games that I usually play my rig was fine. I just thought it was time for an upgrade the rig was around 5 years old and parts are kinda hard to resell in my country "Cheex" can testify to that so when one can get a sale (and even then people don't want to purchase things for what they are worth) its usually its usually in their best interest to do so.

You have a capable CPU and platform and you could squeeze even more performance out if it if you overclock. DDR2 holds you back very little and 4GB of system RAM is still fine for gaming; but probably not for Photoshop.

If you do not want to wait, Sandy Bridge 2600K is probably the fastest platform that is available. It is reasonably priced and will overclock pretty well. It has an upgrade path so you can get an even faster CPU later on and you are not really limited by PCIe 8x for CrossFire.

The alternative would be the 1090T hex-core processor which is pretty good for editing and multi-tasking but still slower than Sandy Bridge.

Leon would have to speak for himself as to whether he felt his SB upgrade was worth it or not over his Q9550s
- but then his Q9550 is faster than the Q6600 platform.

So are you telling me that the Intel Quad setup above is superior to the AMD Hex setup above?


Yes

I see thanks, so what are your views on the mobos that I had linked above?

This one?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128500

It's nice .. priced well; good options - i really like Gigabyte MBs
(Kingston says good things about them also)

Which other ones are you considering?