CPU/Mobo comparison - opinions needed

[hartmri]

Looking for some opinions on a couple of CPU/mobo combinations I am thinking about for my new system build. This is a first for me - although I am very familiar and comfortable with upgrading/repairing existing systems at home I've never built from scratch. The PC I am replacing is a 5 year old Dell 4600 P4 3.0GHz that I've upgraded over the years, but now it's time to go.

Uses - it's the "main" PC in the house for my wife and I (kids have their own PCs), so it gets a fair amount of mundane email and web surfing use. In addition, I do a lot of photo editing (Photoshop CS3) and video editing/rendering/ripping, etc. Due to the latter, I am leaning towards a quad-core setup, although I don't think I need an i7 quite yet... No gaming requirements at all, although who knows for the future. I may overclock so I'd like the flexibility on the mobo.

The contenders (prices from Neweggg) - both are around $300 or so, but there may be good combo deals out there I haven't found yet:

Intel Q6600 w/ GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128345

------ OR --------

AMD Phenom II X4 (which one?) - 810, 920 or 940BE? Price diff is about 50 from 810 to 940

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4 AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128381

Not wanting to start a flame war at all here, just looking for the best price/performance. Upgradability, etc. might suggest the AMD platform. I would expcect to use this setup for at least 2 years before doing any type of upgrade. Considering that, I am leaning towards the AMD side, but want to get some opinions and make sure the choices are sound. Will take any and all recommendations/opinions.

Thanks for looking.

 

[xthekidx]

I'd go with the 940 BE for best performance to price ratio, but if you want better upgradability then I would go with the Q6600, as there are quite a few Core 2 Quads that would be good upgrades for you. 940 is as high as the AMD's go, and I don't think AMD will be continue its backwards compatability for long with its new processors that are coming out.

 

[gkay09]

Well go wit the 940BE...
And I feel that AMD is better for upgrading because the new processors and the upcoming processors are sure to fit the AM2+ socket bcos they have 938 pins and the AM2+ socket has 940 pins...so they would easily fit the AM2+ sockets...so wit a BIOS updates am sure u will be able to upgrade to newer Phenom procesors later...

And the 940 is a AM3 processor but it is supported by the AM2+ mobos...this will be the same case for most of the future AM3 processors...

But i doubt the same for intel because intel is planning to launch core i5 mainstream processors, which eventually will replace te 775 sockets...

 

[xthekidx]

The 940 is only available for the AM2+ platform, it cannot run in an AM3 board. The 945 is due to come out soon that will run in the AM3 socket.