First CPU build, AMD or Intel. Help!

[SoloKillah]

I can't decide....

AMD Phenom 9950 2.6Ghz 125W
Asus M3A79-T Deluxe MB
4 GB Corsair Dominator DDR2 1066
Asus Radeon 4850 1G VC
Antec Nine Hundred Case
Antec TPQ-850W Power Supply
WD Caviar Black 1TB
Lite-on 20X DVD Burner
Vista Ultimate 64bit
Zalman 2 Ball Cooler
Arctic Silver Thermal Compound

OR...

Intel Core i7 920 2.6Ghz 130W
Intel BOXDX58SO MB
4 GB OCZ Reaper DDR3 1333
Asus Radeon 4850 1G VC
Antec Nine Hundred Case
Antec TPQ-850W Power Supply
WD Caviar Black 1TB
Lite-on 20X DVD Burner
Vista Ultimate 64bit
Zalman 2 Ball Cooler
Arctic Silver Thermal Compound

Prices are about the same, $1500 for the intel, $1340 for the AMD.
Thoughts, suggestions???? Any help will be appreciated.

[RaiZen18]

with the i7?? thats a no brainer go for it its sar better than the AMD!! And why you going for the 4850 spend a bit more and get the 4970x2 then your pc will be super! I have AMD now and want to go for an Intel upgrade but its to expensive and I need a laptop for studies. Damn choices! But go i7 its the best atm...

[Slaymate]

The Intel i7 Is the Big Winner in this match-up.

You should look at the EVGA X58 mobo. And the i7 has a triple channel memory controller so you should be looking for a 3 or 6GB set of memory (3x1GB or 3x2GB).

And dump the Zalman Cooler, Look for the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme or the new Cooler Master V8

[whitealexander]

i'll still go AMD cause its best for gamers...

[RaiZen18]

Originally Posted by whitealexander

i'll still go AMD cause its best for gamers...

I used to think that. But not anymore. With the i7 Intel is leaving AMD in its dust! I would go i7 if I could afford it but its nearly twice the money of what I have spent on my pc in the last year, and thats just for the CPU nvm the motherboard 2... But I can only dream...

[SoloKillah]

Yeah, I was going to go with the AMD, but everyone I have talked to prefers the Intel i7. Slaymate I did look at that mobo, its $50 more than the one I picked out. That's the only reason I didn't go with it. As for the CPU fan, I don't plan on overclocking anything, so do I even really need an extra fan? The CPU does come with a stock fan. I could just use it, right? Not to mention that V8 fan is huge, I might have to go with a full size tower instead of the mid size.? What about the OS, is the Ultimate version worth the extra $100? Oh and RaiZen18, I do plan on getting a second VC, maybe in a month or 2. Just trying to save some cash, that's why I went with the 4850. It is 1g so I'm hopping that will be enough, for a little while.

[RaiZen18]

Originally Posted by SoloKillah

Oh and RaiZen18, I do plan on getting a second VC, maybe in a month or 2. Just trying to save some cash, that's why I went with the 4850. It is 1g so I'm hopping that will be enough, for a little while.

My bad didn't see the 1 gig part... yea Its a good card for its price. I also want 2 cards but I only have the 512mb version... Its still a great card and gets my friends jealous so thats good enough for me... I have always (literally) had the worst pc by a long way and now I finally have a good one... and they all tell me to go away (usually in more creative language...) ;)

[Slaymate]

Originally Posted by whitealexander

i'll still go AMD cause its best for gamers...

Says the man in the 2 year time warp.

AMD hasn't been in the game since the Core 2 Duo was released.

Originally Posted by SoloKillah

As for the CPU fan, I don't plan on overclocking anything, so do I even really need an extra fan? The CPU does come with a stock fan. I could just use it, right?

You can use it, but your going to be running on the Hot side. My temps dropped by 10dC when I used the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme instead of the stock cooler.

The Zalman is better than the stock cooler. Make sure it has a LGA 1366 retention bracket.

[SoloKillah]

Thanks for the help fellas. I will definitely go with the Intel. I read a review yesterday about the new Phenom II's, and the i7 still outperforms it. So now the hard part is over and the fun begins. Putting it all together and praying it works.

[[RRCS]Mike]

Originally Posted by whitealexander

i'll still go AMD cause its best for gamers...

Haha...if money is not the problem, deff go for INTEL!