Help deciding if I should buy a new CPU or not?

[leglez]

Ok I have a storebuilt Compaq PC.

I have upgraded the:
Video Card
DVD Drives
Hard Drives
and RAM.

I am now thinking about buying a Dual Core CPU for it for christmas. The PC currently has a Socket 939 Sempron 3200+. If I buy a socket 939 Opteron 170 or Socket 939 Athlon 3800 x2, I should just be able to drop it into the mobo and it works right?

Also what is better the Opteron 165 or the Athlon 3800 x2, if I can't overclock?

 

[ixelion]

the opty 165 and 3800x2 are fairly similar if you are never gonna OC then get whatever is cheaper.

However opty 165 can OC extremely well.

However your Sempron will be ok for now, depending on the rest of your config. I wouldn't invest anymore in a 939 system wait a bit and go c2d.