Socket 939 systems just may be the top value choice for any budget-minded AMD enthusiast: Select processor models have fallen well below the prices of newer Socket AM2 counterparts, and the builder can carry over any DDR-1 performance RAM they have left over from their previous build. Recent CPU prices have seen the X2 4400 Socket 939 at half the price of its AM2 counterpart!

AMD's shift to AM2 has all but eliminated development of high-end Socket 939 boards, though a few low-cost models may yet be released. But buying AM2 for "future proofing" makes little sense if you already have good DDR-1 RAM and don't plan another upgrade until after AM2 is gone. What then?

An enthusiast's eye for "bang for the buck" makes one the latest and last high-end 939 platforms seem very appealing: the Asus A8R32-MVP Deluxe. Can it still provide a viable reason to stick with the older socket type? And just as importantly, can it live up to our standards of delivering value, even at the high-end?