New Build? Need Advice Before Ordering!

[G.e.e]

Hi All...

I'm thinking of the following hardware components but need advice...

AMD Dual Core Phenom II X2 550 3.1GHz 7MB Socket AM3 - Retail - Link! (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/processors/amdathlonx2andx4/amd/hdx550wfgmbox.html)
Gigabyte GA-MA78LM-S2H AM3 DDR2 Motherboard - Link! (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/motherboards/amdam3amdchipsetmotherboards/Gigabyte/GA-MA78LM-S2H.html)

The only thing I'm now unsure about is the memory to use... I know it's DDR3 but what's the best to use? Also, is the hardware components I've suggested above a good choice? Need help folks!

G.e.e

[A Ginger Sheep]

whats the build to be used for? budget? is it just a mobo upgrade your going for?

[G.e.e]

Hi Bud...

I'm kinda stuck in a dilemma at the moment... It's for graphic design, web design, general multimedia like DVD, no gaming as I've got a games console for that...

I'm stuck between the Phenom II X2 550 and the Athlon II X4 640 Quad Core... I'm in a right pickle! LOL...

My budget is low, around £170 odd...

I'm looking for a decent processor, mainboard and memory I can get and came up with that above, without the memory obviously...

G.e.e

[A Ginger Sheep]

i would go for the quad mate, would be far better than dual core. only difference between them really is that the phenom has l3 cache and the athlon doesn't but that only matters in games so its irrelevant here. give us a minute and i'll have a look at what you can get. will you be overclocking btw?

[A Ginger Sheep]

also have to ask, do you have ddr2 ram already btw? if so this could be re-used by getting a ddr2 am3 board along with the quad, also means that it will only cost you £120

[A Ginger Sheep]

well this processor

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/processors/amdathlonx2andx4/AMD/ADX640WFGMBOX.html

then if you have ddr2 ram that you can re-use, then this board
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/motherboards/socketam3motherboards/gigabyte/ga-m68m-s2p.html

if you dont have any ddr2 ram to re-use then you will have to buy this board
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/motherboards/amdam3amdchipsetmotherboards/gigabyte/ga-ma78lmt-s2.html

along with ddr3 ram, decide whether you need 2gb or 4gb, although i would recommend getting 4gb though this does mean you go over budget

2gb - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/memory-pcandlaptop/ddr3-pc3-10666/1333mhz/geil/gv32gb1333c9dc.html

4gb - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/memory-pcandlaptop/ddr3-pc3-12800/1600mhz/g.skill/f3-12800cl9d-4gbrl.html

[G.e.e]

Hi Bud.

Thanks for the suggestions, I maybe able to go slightly higher on budget... £200 for mainboard and processor this month, I can always get the memory the month after really...

I take it the Phenom II X2 550 isn't worth it? I did look at the Quad Core, and though I do fancy a Quad but looked at the L3 Cache and wondered if it's worth it or not really...

How does the Quad stack up against that particular dual core? Is it worth it?

G.e.e

[A Ginger Sheep]

yeah mate that quad is a better bet by miles