So I'm gonna switch to Intel...please enlighten me

[JMan551]

Alright, let me give you some background...This is gonna be my first computer build. I've been running a refurbished Netvista for the past 6-7 years, so this should be very exciting!

I was all set on building an AMD machine...
AMD x2
Asus M2R32-MVP
Seagate 320GB
OCZ Dual Channel DDR2 CrossFire Certified Memory
OCZ GameXStream 700-Watt Power Supply
Aspire X-Cruiser
and then top it all off with a high end graphics card (maybe when the x1950xtx comes down a hair in price)

Now, after reading up some more, I think i have changed my mind and will go with the Core2Duo E6600! But I spent so long trying to find all of the right components I wanted to go with the AMD set up, and I'm very much a noob...so I'm having trouble finding comparable components for the C2D setup. I want a good gaming computer, and I will probably give a hand at overclocking just for fun. I play a lot of Flight Simulator, and the new Flight SImulator X is extremly demanding. I also don't want to pay for something that is way more then i'll ever use (ie a $300 motherboard will probably have more whistles then i'll ever blow on it).

That being said...i think that RAM i've picked is probably not the best bet for me, and I like that powersupply, but I'm not sure it is enough Amps to run ATI (website says 30amps is ideal). I really wanna run crossfire at some point, and thats where i bottlenecked on finding a mobo! I don't have a problem spending a little more for good, 'top tier' products...i'd like to stay around the $1500 range.

I know this was long, but ANY help would be great...thanks in advance for helping out a newbie!

JER

 

[Baez]

e6600 easily. Switch the x1950xtx to an nVidia 8800GTS too. OCZ is a good solid company for RAM but you might want to check out g.skill. They have killer OC abilities.

 

[Nagasama]

that sounds like a good rig to me, as well. that e6600 will smoke my amd and its brothers (but i still love it, make no mistake).
my corsair ram can run stable at 500 mhz, so i like it pretty good!
i'm torn between the 8800gts and the x1900xtx as well. my 7900 gs has had all kinds of driver related problems, but once i solved them...awesome card. i think i will wait on the 8800 to make sure they don't suffer the same sort of problems...hmmmm...

 

[JMan551]

Ya, but is there a better specific model from OCZ that would be better? What about speed...will any of that even use 800mhz RAM or should I get a slower speed (to save money perhaps).

And like i said, there is a lot more selection it seems as far as Intel chipsets for Mobos so i'm getting frustrated finding something good for the e6600? I assume your running a C2D, CVB724, what sort of mainboard (or whole system) do you have? (for an example?)
Like I said, real noob! But i learn quick

thanks guys, glad to see an active board
JER

Lastly