Probably less than Q9450 for the 3.0GHz and less than the Q9300 for the 2.8GHz. That would put the first one at ~$280 and the second at ~$240.

These are high-end though; cheaper quad-, triple- and dual-cores will come from February to June.

 No they can't.

DDR3 memory can't work in a DDR2 memory controller and vice versa.

Yes they can. AM3 CPUs have a dual memory controller, so if you put them in Socket AM2 they will work with the DDR2 memory you have.

That was the plan. But I think that strategy has been shelved, no dual memory controllers.

I can't find any official comments on the matter. I suppose we'll find out in February. I don't see why the plan would change though.

http://www.overclockers.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4224:am2-denebs-doomed-to-die-&catid=57:processors&Itemid=4263

That's opinion. We know that AM3 chips are going to come after AM2+ chips, but I think a more plausible explanation of the delay is the AM3 motherboards not being ready. The proof of that is that DDR3 server boards aren't expected until 2009, so AM2 45nm server chips exist already and it will be the same silicon in the desktop versions. The chips themselves taped out months ago; "last minute changes" to the core design like that would have been leaked when the chip samples were given out.

Why would they go to tne trouble of making AM3 pin-compatible if you can't use it that way?

Also keep in mind that 1.5tb HDs have impressive performance. They actually beat 15k RPM drives in some areas, such as transfer rate, and are close enough in everything else that matters. I really don't see why you would go with both.

Oh, and ssj, haven't you been planning on making a high end computer for ages? Are you still running an 8300?

 Snappy....lol no problem then.

Of course I have faith in AMD's ability to ruin its own plans. No one knows for sure yet.