I wouldn't spend more than $200 on a CPU considering how fast the technology is advancing and ESPECIALLY if you don't want to spend more than $150 on a graphics card.
The graphics card is DEFINITELY the bottleneck in this setup. I would recommend spending $200 on a CPU and $200-300 on a graphics card, or some sliding scale of those numbers in proportion to each other.
500W power supply is safe, 600W is unnecessary except for high end graphics card AND in SLI. Low end SLI and high end single cards will both be fine with 500W. $40 is an amazing deal on a 600W PSU but won't that hurt the electric bill? I honestly am not sure on that point.
Personally I would get a second hard drive for backup purposes, but if you have a different backup solution then never mind.
And get XP Pro if you can, Vista is a total resource hog. Vista is slick but gaming will probably suffer.
Tag (courtesy of fkusumot): "Please feel free -- nay, I encourage you -- to offer rebuttal."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
My advice to fanboys: Brag about stuff that's true, not about stuff that's false. Predict stuff that's likely, not stuff that's unlikely. You will be happier, and we will be happier.
"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." - Sen. Pat Moynihan
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The old smileys: 
; - ) : - ) : - ( : - P : - D : - # ( c ) ( k ) ( y ) If anyone knows the shortcut for 
, let me know!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I have the most epic death scene ever in VGChartz Mafia. Thanks WordsofWisdom!
