4 cores or 8 cores and which video card to choose

Question

My father and I are presented with a dilemma. Should we get 8 core model or the 4 core model at several hundred dollars cheaper?
I have never actually bought for myself a computer, and I want to make this one last. At the moment, 8 cores is completely top of the line, and assuming I choose such a model, I will probably have an exceptionally well computer that will last be many, many years.
I am most likely going to at all times be running Windows and Leopard side by side using Parallels and have a game running in Windows and developing, browsing, chatting, watching movies, ventrilo, etc. in the other space.
For this reason, would it be wise to purchase the 8 core model? It is considerably cheaper to add the extra quad core with Apple as it is nearly half the price of one found on newegg or a dell configuration. I really want this computer to last and use it for a long time and play the most top of the line games with my friends such as Age of Conan, Crysis, etc. Also, I will have a 24 inch monitor that I will also need my computer to power.
My current computer cannot even run Age of Conan at the lowest quality settings. I figure if I want to be able to run this game at 1920x1200 resolution in Parallels while running applications on Leopard, shelling out the extra three or four hundred dollars would be worth it. Seeing as I will be using this computer for years, even though most applications do not use 8 cores now, they will then.
I believe that the 4 core model of the Mac Pro does not allow for an additional xeon quad core, so if I did buy the single quad core model, I would not be able to add another quad core, thus limiting me. Also, even if there were, it would void my warranty.
Also, I have heard of the 8800 GT causing some problems in the Mac Pro, typically in the first generation ones, however, I had seen cases of people noting problems in the January edition. I want to do a lot of gaming in this rig, and the 8800 is the de facto card of choice for most gamers, at a reasonable price. However, will it give me problems? I have heard of some people having 0 problems at all with this card. Will it give me those occasional blue and green lines through my monitor? Has Apple fully developed the drivers for this card? Will I have problems with it?
Thanks for any help and I await your responses.

Answer 1

Fromethius,
you cannot assing CPUs to the VM in Parallels. In VMware you can select 1 or 2 virtual CPU for the guest OS, though that doesn't neccessarily translate 1:1 with your physical CPUs.
As for games, neither VM nor Parallels with run most later games well; remember, shader support is only experimental right now, so your results will vary.
I play games on Mac natively, but it depends on which ones you are after.
The is no problem with the 8800 card. The issues talked about - which is valid - is it's subpar CORE performance. That hopefully will be addressed in a driver, but won't affect you.
As for the system - get all you can afford. Don't wait for 'upgrades' - you'll never buy s system otherwise as something new is always on the way.
I work with a lot of video so I have an 8 core 3.2 with 16GB or RAM - and would never want less. Does that mean you need that? Or someone else doesn't even need more? Not at all - you just need to see what you really mean to do. 4 cores and the 8800 should be just fine for you. IF you can afford the 8 core, in case you will do a lot of work at the same time, great. Otherwise, rather not skimp on memory. Anything under 4GB, IMHO, ain't good enough.
Cheers,
dan