AMD or Intel

For gaming, an i7 isnt the best bang for buck, either a P2 or a Yorkfield is the best, and depends on how often you upgrade, duals still do great in gaming

Oh.. and it's better to get a motherboard with 790GX NB and SB750 Southbridge chipset.

Though I would agree that If I am going to game an i7 isnt the best. I was wanting a quad.

I do alot of multi-tasking and will also be using the computer as a Media machine.

Alot of the computer will be me using it to game and my wife using it to watch hi-def video footage for work. (She works in the film industry)

Which is why I was leaning towards an i7. For this reason, I wont be able to SLi and unless Cross fire supports dual screening while enabled. I will be limited to one GPU.

Yeah, there will be some 3D requirements.

CF can multi screen while enabled? lolwut.

I was unaware that CrossFire was able to support Multi Monitor Setups While utilizing both of the video cards.

Intel i7 should be faster in most things if not all. However, I don't think you use computer at 100% cpu usage on 4 cores at all time.

Cheaper alternative probably will do the job done just as good. Just imagine if you drive a ferrari which can reach 300km/hr at ease while your wife drive a ford... lets say capable of doing 200km/hr MAX. On your everyday use of the car, chances are both of you will never drive any of the car above 150km/hr.

It took me a while to decide between i7 vs PII vs C2Q. I end up going for PII due to the processor is enough for my use and giving me the ability to upgrade without changing new mobo and ram say in 2-3 years time. I'd love to go with i7, but I can't justify the price increase. With C2Q, performance are pretty similar to PII, but the future upgrade seems unlikely.

After all, money is yours... spend at whatever make you happy.

Intel Core i7 rocks at encoding. Are you encoding videos a lot? If not a Phenom II should do fine. The reason I didn't say anything about the Q9550 is because the price for it is $282 on newegg whereas the Phenom II is $195 and $235. The phenoms with the combos are more affordable.

So really what you are all saying is I would be better off with the i7 for multitasking apps and the PII is better for gaming..

When you are encoding video every little advantage helps. With an i7 you will spend alot less time encoding, but of course it's gonna cost you some extra money. If you are mostly going to game it would probably be better to go with the Phenom II to save some money and put towards other components. As far as watching hi-def videos there won't really be any difference as far as your viewing experience.

I think everyone here knows what the best processor is... it's only when VALUE is introduced into the equation that the lines become blurred. The price of a Phenom II system (cheap memory, cheap mobo, relatively cheap processor) make a convincing case... especially for people who already have AM2+ systems.