DS, if you can wait a few weeks, intel is going to drop their core 2 duo -processor prices. AMD is also going to cut their prices (again). A very cheap solution would be to get an AMD x2 4600+ / 4800+ or something but you will have to switch your motherboard next time when you upgrade your processor in the future (usually that's the case anyway). I would probably wait a little and get an intel core 2 duo processor. They are the best consumer processors available right now. Quad core-processors are coming too and if you buy now a good motherboard for a core 2 duo, you can later upgrade to a quad core processor. Of course the socket types change all the time and it could be that next time you're going to upgrade your computer, you will switch your mobo anyway. Btw, the quad cores which intel sell now are not real quad cores but 2 dualcore chips on the same die. AMD will bring "Barcelona" and intel also has a new real quadcore processor coming soon which means that all the cores of the processor have their own memory line etc. which improves performance. Anyway, if you just need to run your insert fx etc. you're pretty much fine with any fast dualcore processor which you can buy now and if you get a grazy idea of running softsynths too, it's also possible.
