Desktop Sys. need feedback (AMD v Intel)

Hey all,


Well I have been looking around/researching for awhile now and I need some info on two possible desktop setups both from:

www.cyberpowerinc.com

AMD base is a:

Xtreme Gamer Platinum Pro (http://www.cyberpowerinc.com/highendsystem/xtremegamerplatinum.htm)

which I modified a bit:

Aluminum SX1030 SOHO Server Tower Case 425Watt w/MOD "See-Thru Window" & Neon Light
AMD Athlon XP-2600+ 333FSB CD203
ASUS A7N8X nVidia nForce-2 8X AGP w/USB 2.0
1024 MB PC3200 400MHz DDR
(Free upgrade to CORSAIR High Performance Mem w/Heat Spreader)
Thermal Temp LCD Display w/3x Fan Controller
AMD Cert CPU Fan & Heatsink + 3 Extra Case Fans
Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM ATA 100 8MB Special Ed
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 8X AGP 128MB DDR w/TV-OUT & DVI (though I will probably down-grade to save cash)
White SONY 16X DVD-ROM
White 48x16x48x CD-RW EIDE (? Brand)
White SONY CPD-E440 19" FD Trinitron
Creative Labs SB AUDIGY X-GAMER 5.1
*BLACK Creative Labs Inspire 5200 5.1 Subwoofer Speakers System
Microsoft USB Optical Intelli Explorer
MS Windows XP Home
Std. 2 USB Ports + 2 Extra USB Port Connectors

(~$1,980 US)

v

Intel model:

CyberPower Royal Xtreme (http://cyberpowerinc.com/highendsystem/INTEL2.htm)

which I modified a bit:

CoolerMaster ATC-710 SOHO Server Case w/420Watt
Inel P4 2.53 533FSB
Shuttle SIS 648 AS45 Mainboard w/8x AGP 533FSB & USB 2.0 -(their other option is)- MSI 648 MAX-L SIS648 MB w/ATA 133 8x ABP & USB 2.0, LAN
1024 MB PC3200 400MHz DDR (requires KT400)
From standard memory to CORSAIR High Performance Mem w/Heat Spreader
Intel Certified CPU Fan & Heatsink + 3 Extra Case Fans
Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM ATA 100 8MB Special Ed
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 8X AGP 128MB DDR w/TV-OUT & DVI (though I will probably down-grade to save cash)
White SONY 16X DVD-ROM
White 48x16x48x CD-RW EIDE (? Brand)
White SONY CPD-E440 19" FD Trinitron
Creative Labs SB AUDIGY X-GAMER 5.1
*BLACK Creative Labs Inspire 5200 5.1 Subwoofer Speakers System
Microsoft USB Optical Intelli Explorer
MS Windows XP Home

(~1,997 US)




(Note: No I don't take you guys for idiots, I typed out the list as-is on their order form in case you guys wanted to check it out at their site, I tought it would be easier for you if I wrote it all out.)

How will the AMD fair compared to the INTEL system, does one hold an advantage in this case? What about speed, performance, and stability? I will be using it for downloading and uploading on the net as well as games and graphics programs. I dont not know that much about computer hardware so any information concerning the setup would be great. Your opinions on the mobo would be appreciated as well. Please check out the site itself to see what options they allow in the system. Again any knowledge about the above components or any usefull info would be greatly appreciated. I have spent sime time looking all this up, but the knwoldge you guys have is limitless. thx.

P.S. where all should I post this for best results?

peace,
-=i3lue}{orneT=-


<font color=blue>--------------------------------UPDATED--------------------------------
Also, how upgradable will they be? Mobo? What will be options for upgrading to later? What do I need to be carefull about as far as putting myself into a system that won't upgrade well/what sould I watch out for? Why?</font color=blue>

thx for all the help.
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by BlueHornet on 02/01/03 11:22 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

2 sticks of 512 better than one 1024 for the nForce2 mobo...why is that? Is having just one better for the Intel board?

peace,
-=<font color=blue>i3lue}{orneT</font color=blue>=-

Im not sure what CL2.0, 2.5 or 3 is, at the site (http://cyberpowerinc.com/highendsystem/xtremegamerplatinum.htm) it doesnt list any options for RAM with that, please explain what it is.

Also, LiteOn doesn't appear to be an option for a ROM.

Really, Audigy isnt worth it if ASUS is Deluxe, what about Audigy-2? Which I need to call them and ask, phones not open today, if the Mobo is Deluxe because the site does not specify, thx.



peace,
-=<font color=blue>i3lue}{orneT</font color=blue>=-

Yo B,

Sorry, it's taken awhile to get back to you..........MF'ing Chinese New Year..........Happy Year of the Ram......whatever! The nForce2 chipset is a "Dual Channel DDR" setup & to take the best advantage of any "Dual Channel" ram setup, you need 2 sticks of Ram(this includes Rambus systems as well). As far as having 1 stick or 2 in your Intel system, that is still open to debate. In most cases, I believe in using just 1 or 2 sticks of Ram, no matter how many slots that you have in your mobo. When you go to 1 gig of Ram, I believe that is overkill, & from the people that I trust, tell me that the 1 gig sticks of any ram have a higher "DOA" rate than the smaller sticks.

So I guess, I should have said get 2 X 512mb sticks of DDR no matter which system you decide.

Peace Out.................tile2

Why do you want to believe me?

why on earth would you use an audigy over the nvidia soundstorm audio? scrap that and save more $$.

....the crows seemed to be calling him, thought caw....

Well, the question is why would you use the Audigy X-Gamer? If you don't know then you may be wasting money. The Asus A7N8X Deluxe has good sound and Dolby Digital Audio. The A7N8X doesn't have Dolby.

But don't get a sound card unless you have a reason. You can always add it later if you want. You may be very happy with the onboard sound.

<font color=red>The solution may be obvious, but I can't see it for the smoke coming off my processor.</font color=red>