Shiz

[xBlueXFoxx]

I'm not great with computers and stuff, but the second setup in the first post, your motherboard is AM2+
Surely the AMD Phenom II X2 is AM3, but supports AM2+?
Won't it create a bottleneck that'll reduce performance?

Probably. I find it easiest to do this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/AMD-Phenom-II-X2-555...41508e3a1e

Buy the processor with the motherboard, much simpler solution because it's for sure compatible.