Building a gaming pc (1000-1100)

[mark $]

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=11914467

Here's what I have at the moment. I may up to a better motherboard and probably switch the ram.
Should I get the AS5 instead of the MX-2 thermal?

Alternative mobo's are the
Asus Rampage formula http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131284
and a gigabyte x48 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336
Both of these offer CF upgrades later.

Alternative case are the
NZXT Tempest http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047
or other recommendations with a side panel and LED with good cooling.

Ram is open for suggestions.

Also dual core or Quad? E8400/8500 to 3.6-3.8ghz vs Q6600 OC'd to 2.8-3.0.
I know the quad will lose in gaming, but will it really be that much of a difference? Should I wait to go quad later down the road?

Don't feel limited to the 1100 limit, just would like to not go too far above it...

Will also be checking slickdeals for things coming up for a couple weeks until I order.

 

[auscanzukus]

MX-2 any day. Non-conductive. Can be applied to even mosfets.

DS4 if you're new to overclocking. Rampage if you're a tweaker. ASUS lets you save bios profiles (2, I think). GB has only one - the main one. You clear cmos, you lose every setting.

CPU can be upgraded as easy as dropping it in. Mobo is not. Go with E8400 and o/c to 4ghz. Get a good cpu cooler like XIGMATEK HDT-S1283.

Pick out a 2x2GB 1066mhz ddr2 ram kit.

 

[aevm]

+1 for the MX-2 and the GA-X48-DS4

No, the quad will not lose by a big difference, if at all. If you run things in the background, the quad might even give better fps. Even if you don't, the Q6600 is fast enough not to be a bottleneck. Your games will usually be as fast as the video card can deliver, regardless of E8400/Q6600/overclocking.
FSX is an exception - if you play that you want a quad and OCing.

You can get a Q6600 to 3.0 GHz or more with DDR2-800. I'd get 2x2GB DDR2-800.