If Im lucky in February I might get a new PC. So Im looking around now and thanks to EGM I found this site.

Minus the ugly Halo 2 theme is this a good deal? Also if I change the Case will that effect anything else that comes with the PC?

Pretty much If the power of the universe is in my side I'll get this.... and if I get positive feedback from you guys.

More then likely I'll end up getting the one below but please tell me what you think of both.

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http://www.ibuypower.com/mall/amd64-lobby.asp

Gamer mage D230 - $620.84 after tax+shipping

AMD Athlon X2 5000+ CPU
Silent & Overclocking Proof CPU Cooling System
Asus M3A78-CM AMD 780V/SB700 Chipset MB
2 GB DDR2-800 Memory
500GB SATA-II Hard Drive
Integrated ATI Radeon HD 3100 256MB
20x DL DVD+/-RW Drive
8-Channel Surround Sound
600Watt Subwoofer Speakers
10/100/1000 Network LAN
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
iBUYPOWER Vantage Gaming Case w/Halo 2 Custom Painted Side Panel
FREE Silent & Overclocking Proof CPU Cooling System
FREE 802.11g Wireless LAN

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=403256&pCatg=5816

 
Processor and Memory: 
AthlonTM X2 4050e Dual-Core Processor 
3072MB PC2-6400 DDR2 SDRAM memory (1x2048MB 1x1024MB) (expandable to 4GB) 
1MB L2 Cache 
Memory Slots: 2 DIMM (240-pin, DDR2) (occupied) 

Hard Drive and Multimedia Drives: 
250GB 7200RPM SATA hard drive 
SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology; 16x max DVDR, 8x max DVDR DL, 8x max DVD+RW, 6x max DVD-RW, 12x max DVD-RAM, 40x max CD-R, 32x max CD-RW, 16x max DVD-ROM, 40x CD-ROM 

Audio, Video and Graphics: 
High Definition Audio, 6 speaker configurable 
NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE Graphics with TurboCache with 128MB dedicated graphics memory; up to 1343MB Total Available Graphics Memory as allocated by Windows Vista

Connectivity: 
Integrated 10/100Base T network interface 
56k modem 

Ports/Slots: 
2 PCI (1 one available) 
1 PCI Express x1 (24) (available) 
1 PCI Express x16 (24) (available) 
Expansion Bays: 2 external 5.25" (one available) 
1 external 3.5" (one available) 
2 internal 3.5" (one available) 
6 USB 2.0 ports (2 front, 4 back) 
Headphone, microphone (front) 
2 PS/2; LAN; Microphone/Line-in/Line-out; VGA-out (back) 

Keyboard and Mouse 
Compaq keyboard 
Compaq scroller mouse

Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium with Service Pack 1

What are you going to use it for? That 2nd PC is dirt slow BTW, which doesn't matter unless you want to play games with it.

Not games. Basic media usage.

If it could play games it would just be an extra. If I do get the 1st PC however I might try out a game or two.
Mainly DMC 4....if it can run it.

Unless you're locked in on Athlon, here are a couple over at Newegg you might want to consider:

Quad Core (less essential than often believed), twice the RAM and I much prefer the 64bit OS which means you can add more RAM

CyberpowerPC Gamer Infinity 4411 Core 2 Quad Q6600(2.40GHz) 4GB DDR2 500GB NVIDIA GeForce 9400 GT Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit - Retail

·         Recommended Usage: Gaming

·         Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600(2.4GHz)

·         Processor Main Features: 64 bit Quad-Core Processor

·         Cache Per Processor: 2 x 4MB L2 Cache

·         Memory: 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800

·         Hard Drive: 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 7200RPM HDD

·         Optical Drive 1: 20X DVD±R/±RW Dual Layer Drive

·         Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400GT 512MB PCI Express Video Card

·         Model #: Gamer Infinity 4411

·         Item #: N82E16883229066

·         Return Policy: Desktop PC, Notebook, and Tablet PC Return Policy

$ 649.99

CyberpowerPC Gamer Infinity 6311 Core 2 Duo E8400(3.00GHz) 4GB DDR2 320GB NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit - Retail

·         Recommended Usage: Gaming

·         Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400(3.0GHz)

·         Processor Main Features: 64 bit Dual Core Processor

·         Cache Per Processor: 6MB L2 Cache

·         Memory: 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800

·         Hard Drive: 320GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 7200RPM

·         Optical Drive 1: 20X DVD±R/±RW Dual Layer Drive

·         Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT 512MB PCI Express Video Card

·         Model #: Gamer Infinity 6311

·         Item #: N82E16883229062

·         Return Policy: Desktop PC, Notebook, and Tablet PC Return Policy
$ 649.99

^
I thought there was tons of issues with 64bit Vista though. Mostly stuff was not compatible with it.

Vista 64 is fine (despite what mac ads tell you), and if you ever think you'll get more than 4GB RAM, it's required. Read up on it here:

http://techreport.com/articles.x/15941/12

Also, check the PC build in my sig :)  $489, runs Crysis on high @ 29fps

My only complaints about cyberpower / ibuypower is that they like to push you towards older mobo's (so upgrading is harder) and crappy power supplies.  But if you're careful you can get some good deals.

bottom is the better media computer.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103188

Processor AMD Phenom X3 8450(2.1GHz)
Memory Capacity 3GB DDR2
Memory Spec 1GB x 3
Memory Slots (Available/Total) 1/4
Hard Drive
HD Capacity 320GB
HD Interface SATA
(1/1) PCI Express 2.0 x1
(1/1) PCI Express 2.0 x16
(1/2) PCI v2.3

Cost $370+Shipping/Tax (I assume shipping will be $20-$30)

Its much more powerful than both the computers, it just lacks in terms the GPU department which can easily be fixed with a next generation GPU (Coming next few months)

if your going to suggest waiting than I will too since since the Core i7 dual cores should be out in a few months. Now tell me do you really think AMD can stand up against a dual-core Nehalem considering how cheap the processor will be?

Do you actually believe anyone will be able to buy a Core I7-2 system for less than $500 within 6 months?