Now that this seems unable to buy in the uk, what to u recomend as a good value option with potential to udgrade Cheers
Phenom X2 555 BE is a good alternative for cheap, easily overclockable, cool running CPU... I dont think you'll lose much performance dropping a core.
I'd go with the 555 as well, it clocks well and with some luck you'll also get it running tri- or quad core as well.