I am wanting to get into some graphics and design programs for fun, mainly some basic CAD and animation to include video. I would like a software package that is user freindly, affordable and hopefully upgradable should my skills and interest grow. I looked around and I saw a lot of great suites out there but I succeeded in giving myself information overload and I am now more uncertain than before. Can anybody reccomend a good beginner suite with expandability from first hand experience?
As far as the rig to run it sure I can just built a speed freak with raptors and Gigs of memory on a dual proc board yada yada (insert Tim Allen man-grunt here) but honestly do I truly need that? I will as is my habit start with top rung MOBO with the ability to upgrade as my needs demand so honestly what would everyone reccomend for the simple stuff I will be doing initially? AMD or Intel, which processor is more adept at the types of work required to run these sorts of applications? If I go off the deep end and really start working with some serious software would a dual proc workstation give a performance boost ?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated

I dont now much about this topic but before I visited the dual processor issues I would decide on software - some will use both processors but most wont. Im guess AMD 64 bit for future-proofing - its just my guess but when 64 bit hits big it will be in the exact areas you speak off first.

NOOOO, don't give me a logical excuse to buy an FX55!!!