...Interesting, you know, not everyone builds rigs from scratch. Some people, like me, already have the basics (LGA 775 mobo, PCIEx 16 slot, 250 gig HD, Windows XP OEM, KEYBOARD, MOUSE, 2.0GHz E2180 processor [sure, not the fastest but I havent had any issues with it just yet]), all thats needed is a better psu, and a 4850 or 9800 and I should be able to run RE5 max at 1024x768 on my 15 inch monitor, which in my case would cost about $170, less than a PSP, but graphics to rival/exceed a 360/PS3. PC gaming isnt as elitist as it sounds, not everyone can afford Core i7s and GTXs. Take a look at Steams hardware survery. The average machine aint that beefy. And PC games are $20 cheaper most of the time, most PC games cost $40, most console games cost $60.

^^ Damn it, ignore the typo, I meant Survey.

There is an edit button :P

But yes, chances are you may have some parts from an old build that you can bring to a new one. My DVD drives and a hard drive was from a previous build and I've been using the same keyboard since 2003.

This is very interesting! I find it very curious that you live in one of the poorest countries in the world but you're discussing just like someone who has Western world reference points about what level of gaming hardware is commonly affordable to people, what is seen as too expensive, what is luxury etc, when it comes to PC's and gaming. :)

Could you tell us more about your perspective on the subject of gaming and owning PCs in the context of living in Africa, and in relation to the people in your immediate surroundings, and people in general in Zambia? And what's your economical situation, whats the references in your mind etc.

My mum works at an NGO with several US expats who regulary travel stateside and have no problem buying stuff on her/my behalf. Just because 70% of the population cant afford gaming doesnt mean I CANT, and not every1 is poor, beleive it or not some people HERE are actually richer and live more comfaortable lives than some people over there, you may doubt that but hey it happens. Most people here have PS2s, more are getting 360/PS3s, few have wiis cause people think its gay :(. My friend has a rig and a killer laptop and a PS3 with like 15 games (killzone 2, DMC4, Lair, NFS, Resistance and others). Most people have high end P4s and average dual core machines 2Ghz etc, graphics cards are available locally but are whack and expensive (a 512MB GeForce 8400 SE costs k475,000 or $91, when a midrange 9 series costs $70-90 on tigerdirect). PC gaming was dominant till DRM (We have tiny datacaps and slow net) came and f@#ked up everything.Game (a big retail store) doesnt stock PC games anymore.

Im not rich either, Im middle class and most of my friends are too, my PS3 friend however is f@#king rich though, lives on a farm, has a quad bike (do you have one?), changing his damn cell every month to the latest greatest touch screen, 8 mega pixel bla bla bla etc, spoilt little punk. Yeah, the averange Zambian cant own consoles, they usually go to arcades, or chip their ps2/360s or get cracked PC games. but PC games are 1. cheap. 2, available. 3. Span generations (cant play NFS Undercover, fine play Most wanted, cant run that? Okay Hot Persuit 2, cant run that? geez, High Stakes, CANT RUN THAT? Then dont bother). As for prices, I'll give examples of basic commodities and then you can decide just how expensive games are. $1=k5200 Bread K3500, milk 300ml K3500, Blank CD K3000, 2.5 KG Cake flour K20000. A new original 360/PS3 game costs k300000 to k450000. An 80 gig PS3 costs k3500000. A 360 arcade k1500000, 60gig 360 k3300000. A receiptionist makes like k3,700,000 a month, others get up to k18,000,000.

You make it sound it's normal in Zambia to own a PC and stuff.

Also I find it strange that you describe the lowest example of a job income as a 'receptionist' earning $700 per month!

It must be a very unique, luxury receptionist at a luxury hotel in Mombasa or the receptionist for Daimler-Chrysler Zambia or something?
Because $700 is almost what an average receptionist makes in Portugal and Greece, and a lot more than a receptionist earns in countries like the Czech republic, Mexico, Brazil or Taiwan.

You seem to be a bit isolated in your own world of so called 'middle class' people in Zambia who in fact are quite rich and priviliged, and who seldom meet normal average Zambians.

Nevertheless, your description is very interesting and you must not be offended by my words.

Dude? my sis is a receptionist and she gets k3.7 mil. Tuition at colledge (Bs.C in computing under NCC and Greenwhich costs k6000000 per semester). So, we arent good enough to earn 500-700 bux as a receptionist? Oh, and 1 dollar used to be 3500 before this bloody recession, so she earned more. I acknowledge that of 30% in formal employment, only like 5% can afford gaming, and thats roughly 650,000 people, and Im one of them. Africa isnt as backward as you think, just google earth any city like mine, Lusaka, zoom in and look around, east, west, north. Sure theres poverty, but theres other stuff too.

Dude? my sis is a receptionist and she gets k3.7 mil. Tuition at colledge (Bs.C in computing under NCC and Greenwhich costs k6000000 per semester). So, we arent good enough to earn 500-700 bux as a receptionist? Oh, and 1 dollar used to be 3500 before this bloody recession, so she earned more. I acknowledge that of 30% in formal employment, only like 5% can afford gaming, and thats roughly 650,000 people, and Im one of them. Africa isnt as backward as you think, just google earth any city like mine, Lusaka, zoom in and look around, east, west, north. Sure theres poverty, but theres other stuff too.

Dude? my sis is a receptionist and she gets k3.7 mil. Tuition at colledge (Bs.C in computing under NCC and Greenwhich costs k6000000 per semester). So, we arent good enough to earn 500-700 bux as a receptionist? Oh, and 1 dollar used to be 3500 before this bloody recession, so she earned more. I acknowledge that of 30% in formal employment, only like 5% can afford gaming, and thats roughly 650,000 people, and Im one of them. Africa isnt as backward as you think, just google earth any city like mine, Lusaka, zoom in and look around, east, west, north. Sure theres poverty, but theres other stuff too.