[kwlug-disc] new hardward for linux - recommendations?

[Insurance Squared Inc.]

I'm looking at getting my wife a new business computer and I've been 
confused by the variety of hardware available on everything post 386.

We need:
1) powerful processor.  I want to run a 64 bit version of linux on it 
though of course we don't need much power for that.  But she also runs 
virtualbox with XP inside it and that does need some horsepower.
2) quiet.  The box sits on her desk in our home so quiet is better.

I read briefly that AMD motherboards are set up to allow updating of 
more powerful CPU's coming in the future?  I like to get my machines 
from Dell but they don't typically have AMD.  Thoughts on processor,and 
where to buy are welcome.

g.