Based on what I read in the xbit review on the socket 939 Sempron64,
I'm pretty sure I'd prefer a socket 939 board over a
soon-to-be-phased-out socket 754.

My current Intel board is an ASUS P4P800-E Deluxe, which I think is
great so I was looking for something similar in an AMD flavor and
found the ASUS A8V
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813131541).
It's a socket 939 board with AGP, but it has the Via K8T800 chipset
which I know nothing about.

What are the reputable chipsets and how should I decide between them
if I have any choice?

Also, the AMD A64 3200+ Venice CPU
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103535)
is some $40 less than the AMD A64 3200+ Winchester CPU
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103502).
Looking at the product specifications on Newegg I couldn't tell what
differentiates them other than the price. Can anyone help?

I'm starting to wonder again if I'm going to be much further ahead
going this route than just sticking with the Intel path and finding a
P4 3.0GHz Northwood on eBay and coupling it with an Abit IS7 or Asus
P4P800-E (Intel 865PE chipset). As near as I can gather, performance
isn't going to be all that far apart and the price seems to be very
close.

On the other hand, if I could find one of these new socket 939
Sempron64s, I think I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Anybody have an idea
where these will first become available outside of the OEMs?

Thanks!

Tim