please do some research on wikipedia before giving false information: ..

That line gave me a pretty good laugh. Wikipedia? A place to do research? What a riot.

That middle zone where the Phenom II might fit in sounds like a dead-zone either way. Even the low-end processors are good enough that you're not going to need an upgrade for a while, and if you're looking towards the future, you'd go with Intel's lines, not AMD's. So you've got this Phenom II line that may be "future proofed" against its own future line, but whose future doesn't seem all that bright anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if AMD aborts its socket again too, and won't that piss people off?

also, I was a little misleading in my first post. The socket can handle DDR3 or DDR2 memory, but the can't support both at the same time.

Apparently I'm good at spreading misinformation too.

the last sentence should say "Also, since the AM3 socket can support DDR2 memory, DDR3 is not holding the socket back". I apologize for the typo.

Two points here:

The AM3 socket does not require DDR3 memory. It can handle both DDR2 and DDR 3 on the same motherboard

"Since AMD-based motherboards can support any of the firm's CPU lines" is false. You can use an AM3 CPUs in AM2/2+ sockets but not AM2/2+ CPUs in AM3 sockets.

please do some research on wikipedia before giving false information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AM3

Also, since the AM3 socket can support DDR3 memory, DDR3 is not holding the socket back.

I like the idea I can drop an AM3 Phenom II in my AM2+ board today for an instant speed boost. I'm sure a few of my customers of AM2+ based PCs will be happy in that thought too.

Sure I do like the Intel kit, I like the idea that when I'm replacing cheap crappy dead ECS motherboards on some of my client's PCs I can still get Socket 775 boards that will take a P4 2.8 and in the future be swapped out with a Core 2 Quad. The thing is, how long are Intel going to keep selling the Core 2 Duo & Core 2 Quad for now the Core i7 is out and by the sounds of it the Core i5 being out soon too.

Still at least when the Core i5 comes out I might be able to pick up a cheaper Core 2 for the wife's PC (she has a Pentium Dual Core at the moment).

Rob

I think that due to recent financial and economic events worldwide AMD is an ideal CPU to buy. Quite literally intel has caused people to upgrade their motherboards every time they came out with a new CPU.

Beyond that intel CPUs are more expensive & in comparison to Phenom II intel cpus consume more power. They require a more expensive platform as well.

In a time of recession when people are encouraged to spend and yet are weary, what will they buy?

I think AMD will do nicely this year.