Need Advice on CPU
 

OK, I am looking up upgrade my board and chip. Ive been looking at the AMD 64 series, and I am very impressed. However, an AMD 64 FX 53 is $733 ( as per pricewatch.com ) Thats a hell of alot of money to spend on a chip. The non FX AMD 64 chips are priced a bit better. So would say an AMD 64 3200 be a decent chip?
I want to have a very fast system that is able to run new games and programs effeciently ( I am also getting an X800 PRO for a vid card )
So what are you opinions? Is there a cost effective solution or am I just gonna have to pay the big $

Well, considering that the FX series is aimed at the corporate market, and the normal athlon 64 at the consumer market... and that everyone I know that has an AMD 64 has the non-FX one...

...I'd say they're up to something. :)

(And yes, the athlon 64 3200+ is a "decent chip", if by decent you mean bloody fast.)

The FX is simply for those who want to spend massive amounts of money to have the absolute best. It's a waste, yes, but you will have power than no other Athlon 64 can give (except the 3800+, but it's really expensive as well).

The Athlon 64 3200+ is an incredibly fast processor. Combined with an X800 Pro it would be insanely good for gaming. Don't get the step below, however...the Athlon 64 3000+ doesn't have as much L2 cache.

-Lasereth

Well, i have the Athlon64 3000+ and its just scary fast. From my experience with it, it will be more than enough for quite some time to come. At the time i got it, the way things were priced, of the 64 series, it just made the most sense to get.

Ok, that makes me feel a bit better. Ill probably stick with the 3200 and get the Asus board that fits it...( K8V i think. cant remember for sure )
Thanks for the advice

the MSI NEo Platinum on Newegg says for athlon64 3500+ and above.. does that mean a 64 3200+ wont work?.. i dont understand...

No, it's fine. It's a typo from NewEgg. MSI's site says the MSI board works fine with all socket 754 Athlon 64s.

-Lasereth