IMHO, just a general comment...
you must also consider what games you'll be playing, as some demand more of your CPU (this I know

)and others stress your GPU (this I know, also

).
You can't know what games and apps will require of your system before they are developed and near release. It's hard to "future proof" yourself for long.
At the moment, I agree with those who've mentioned the Intel Core 2 Duo as the best...certainly what I'd choose for now.
But in six months (or less) the hardware landscape will likely change again, and I might become an AMD fan (again).
They always swing, Intel and AMD, Nvidia and ATI. Prices spiral dramatically at times.
Competition is good, but one must balance what you
want with what you
need, tempered by what you can
afford...at the moment.
Almost like buying a house, these days
