If you have to go with an AMD CPU or a non-Intel board, I'd recomend VIA...

And a thumb drive for your project backups. I use my MP3 player [size=9px](works just like a 2.5 GB USB drive)[/size] and it works like a charm.

Of course my system is barely 6 months old, so I don't think I have to worry for at least a year or so at the latest...