so i guess it wont take my post?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.435816

is that a good bundle?

Yeah that bundle isn't bad just remember you need Case, optical drive, Windows, graphics card etc.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.448444

Has everything and an AM3 processor socket so you could upgrade it easily. @330 you can add windows and a GPU and fit under budget easily.

oh nice find! that would easily fall into budget. my only concern would be the cpu, but that could be upgraded easily. cant it?

Just because I am curious and looking at all options, what if I got one of those amd x3 cores with the potential to unlcok a 4th for like $80 and I been reading they are easily unlocked with a 785g mobo. any truth or can someone explain this to me?

I have no overclocking experience or anything but am willing to give it a try if it is not too overwhelming, exspecially since it could save me some cash.

I know nothing of core unlocking sorry. But what you could do is buy that package there with say an HD 5770 and then next year you can re-evaluate your needs when the next generation processors come out in quarter 3 or so. Thats a reasonably competent processor but it lets you get a decent system coming under your budget and you can leave some money aside for upgrades in the future if you need them.

what makes a good mobo btw? I know what to look for to make sure it matches your cpu and what not, but other than that i dunno...

What makes a good motherboard? Well for most people its reliability, compatibility and having the required number of USB ports! However the one in the bundle above looks pretty good except for the fact it doesn't have USB 3.0. However that can be added later with a cheap add on card if you wished.

lol yeah those count but more on the speeds, and all that mumbo jumbo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815150161

Something like that. It'll probably work better than the early on board USB 3.0 anyway.