if you had to do it all over again

[ziglg]

So I have to upgrade. I have a 3200+ (non 64), the last cpu to NOT support sse2 (and of course sse3). So, I need to upgrade. Is there a prefered cpu in the cheaper realm? (if i wanted to spend money, i would just buy a mac). I would like to find a newer motherboard that still has agp on it do I can still use my 6800gt. I know that pci express is way better, i just dont have the cash to throw down for a new mb and cpu AND video card. I just want a cpu mb combo that is cheap from pricewatch, that will work with OSX as seamlessly as posssible. I don't mind if I hafve to patch until the cows come home, as long as it works well enough to run shake and motion and {censored} like that.

[troisd]

Dual dual-core Opteron is great value. Finding the right setup is hard.

 

Otherwise, a Conroe-based machine is the fastest setup right now...

 

... until we learn more about Dual dual-core Xeon setup (not great value because Apple MacPro has pretty good pricing compared to a clone).

[abbub]

I think you want a couple of things that are contradictory. For best performance and stability, you definately want an intel processor, and probably a 945 chipset. The problem, of course, is finding a board with a 945 chipset that also has an AGP port. I'm not sure that such a beast exists. Newegg's advanced search certainly didn't bring one up. Another possibility is to use the integrated video that comes with such boards until you can afford a better PCI-Express video card. My second system, built exclusively for OS X, works like a dream.

[Conroe Mac]

I would have sucked it up and bought the Intel Bad Axe. Though I guess I've learned quite a bit outfitting my board. I also would have bought a different graphics card since mine is giving me hell. Probably an X1600 pro or something.