LGA775 is a breeze when installing a CPU. No tiny pins that can get bent. So installing an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU is easy.

IF you are considering dual graphics cards (maybe a future options), you've got to be aware that SLI is nVidia technology, comes only on nVidia based mainboards, and only works with nVidia graphics cards.
Crossfire is ATI's counterpart. Intel and ATI based mainboards may support Crossfire (not all of them do), and Crossfire will only work with ATI graphics cards.

The latest review of the new R600 based ATI graphics cards wasn't very positive about their non-Windows 32 bit drivers. Vista drivers weren't optimal, XP 64 bit drivers aren't, and you can forget about Linux.

While nVidia still hasn't really good Vista drivers, they have drivers for XP 64 bit and Linux that work very well. OpenGL 2.0 is also supported very well. 

So it's probably best to go for an nVidia 650 based mainboard by a decent brand (MSI) and an nVidia graphics card.

As for the case - you're building a fairly high end system, don't skimp on the case. Get a good one. Chieftecs are fine, but I really like the Antec Performance P180 series. Elegant, silent, lots of room for everything (you can install 6 hard drives plus 4 optical drives plus a floppy!), and the power cables can be routed along the backside of the mainboard, which gives a better airflow. Combined with a good PSU you'll have a case that'll last you many years.

The pen is mightier than the sword. But if you literally want to have some impact, use a typewriter

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