personally i do NOT recommend am2. just because the motherboard selection is very limited. and from my experience, it is very buggy, and unstable. and there is very little support.
if u need something NOW get a socket 939 system. get a mid-range, single core processor. something cheap. then eventually, get an x2 processor (dual core). at the moment, there is no real performance difference between a 939 x2 3800+ and an am2 x2 3800+.
if u can wait, then get a conroe system