AMD or Intel? and what motherboard?

[Drykill]

Hi all,
my pc wont stop crashing, due to dodgy PSU and im afraid i may have knackered some of the components.
so with upgrade time (christmas) comming round the corner, i want to upgrade my machine.
my problem is i dont know what CPU to get, an AMD or intel, i cant tell them appart.
ATM i have an AMD Athlon 64 3400 754 clawhammer which is rather slow IMO as my mates AMD XP 3200+ is faster:(

all im after is some thing fastish (not expensive like fx-55 or 4800x2) which can play todays games without struggling much, or something cheapish which has good OC capabilities and a compatable motherboard to go with it. Im also thinking of going to PCI-e graphics as they are sometimes cheaper and better.
or are there any built systems worth buying (in the u.k.)

you people got any suggestions?

and my system ATM is:

amd 64 3400+ 754
2x 512mb pc3200 low density ram
30gb 5400rpm IDE hdd (im getting a new one)
Gainward 5600xt graphics card (also get a new one depending on what slot
Asrock k8 combo-z motherboard
the new motherboard is)
cd rom/dvd drive
cd-rw drive

all the above i can sell to fund the new components, if i go ahead with the idea of buying a new setup, or i could upgrade what ive got, motherboard has two cpu sockets, one for 754 and one for 939 CPU and takes upto amd 64 4800x2

 

[zRoCkIsAdDiCtInG]

definatelyy amd man

and id recommend an A8NSLI Deluxe which runs socket 939 cpus

 

[zRoCkIsAdDiCtInG]

definatelyy amd man

and id recommend an A8NSLI Deluxe which runs socket 939 cpus

if you want you can spend more money instead of on the mobo to buy a better cpu but idk about asrock so id recommend a Asus A8nSli Deluxe

if i could recommend a cpu it would be a 3700+ San Diego,3800X2 or a 4200X2

 

[Willz]

i would reccomend a 3500+ over a 3700+ as i have been told 3500+'s are better as they can overclock further, and only difference in the 3700+ Is 1mb l2 catch.

 

[Drykill]

thanks for the very quick reply. i look for that motherboard, just a matter of what cpu, 3500+ 939, 3700+ 939? do 939's OC very well? my 754 doesnt OC at all.

 

[Drykill]

lol, you answered the question before i asked it

 

[Big B]

The interface doesn't matter all that much. The newer cores of the 939 Athlon64's do tend to OC better than early 754 A64's, in part due to the manufacturing process.