You've got that right I typically like to leave a minimum of 20% white space (with everything installed). Pushing a PSU to the top not only lowers its life span, it can also take a few other components with it when it goes.

The GTX 460 does quite well by me - but then again, I rarely play anything more intensive than Alice: Madness Returns or Tomb Raider.

I know people who use a gtx 460 , and they highly recommend them ! At the present , I'm using a 2gb version of a gtx 285 , with an Antec Earth Watts 750 watt psu . I realize my gpu is a bit on the older side , but it does it's job well . I play a fair share of darkside games , and the extra ram helps quite a bit . I have intentions to build a new pc this coming spring or summer , and I am contemplating using 2 gtx 570 (2.5 gb version) cards in sli . By the time late spring or summer comes , hopefully , the new gtx 6 series will release , and a price drop on the gtx 5 series will happen . That could be wishful thinking on my part though .

Hey, I'm using a GTX 260 which has served me better than well, although it's getting a bit long it the tooth! Two GTX 570's in SLI? Holy cow, that's better than... ummm, whatever!

So, exalthim2, we're having a great time spending your money, but I agree with everything here. I've had them do one build with that case with it's puny single fan. It was perfect for Sherwood, 78, who can make a dime squeak from 20 paces, who wanted a computer for $400. We put an old E5800 dual core processor in it and used the integrated graphics and sound card - great for someone who only does email, a bit of surfing and watches the occasional movie.

So, if you keep the case that is recommended for this build (which has 3 fans for cooling), stay with 4 GB of RAM, go for the 500 watt Cooler Master Pro power supply and put in a GTX 450 (for some strange reason they don't have a 460), the build is still only $640. If you can eke out a few more bucks, a bump up in the power supply is always better.

3.1Ghz Intel Core i3-2100 3MB Cache Dual-Core
Stock Intel LGA1155 Heatsink and Fan
BIOSTAR TH67B (Intel H67, HDMI, DVI, 2xPCI-E, 6xSATA, 4xDDR3)
4GB (2GBx2) PC3 10666 DDR3 1333Mhz Memory Lifetime Warranty
500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA3 (Major Brand)
24X LG SATA Dual Layer DVD /-RW/CDRW w/Nero
1GB GeForce GTS 450 GDDR5 PCI-E DVI/HDMI (Major Brand)
Apevia Black X-Dreamer 3 (4 5.25, 5 3.5) 3 Fans, Front Audio/USB/eSATA
500watt Cooler Master Extreme Power Plus
Onboard LAN included
Onboard Sound included
Wires and Cables neatly tied up away from fans
3 Year Parts and Labor Warranty

Ah yes ! The venerable gtx 260 ! A very good card ! A bit long in the tooth ? Perhaps . I have noticed that , especially for darkside games , the gtx 260 is starting to age some , but as long as it works for you , then that is all that matters ! Yes , 2 gtx 570 (2.5gb) in sli . It may be overkill , but as long as I am able , then I might as well do so . That may change before the times comes around to build however .

What you have quoted sounds like a winner for the money !

Oh, I'm lusting after some upgrades, Creeping Doom. I did this build 2 years ago and the "itch" is starting! But I'm hoping to get at least another year out of it. It's playing Alice Madness Returns and Witcher 2 beautifully, so I'm just ignoring the itch.

I'm on year three myself , three and a half to be more accurate . I tell you , once you get the "itch" , it can be difficult to ignore ! I take my hat off to you for having the fortitude to ignore it ! I'm getting the itch , & I don't think I can ignore it , or want to !

ok, I've got some extra cash so I can now spend about $650. I was looking at the Dell XPS 8300. What do you guys think.

Kim

Huge dead end at the beginning of game here:
SPOILER ALERT maybe.
You can actually leave the space station w/o 2 inventory items. I can't go forward now.
Maybe I'll start over...
caz

The stock video card in the XPS 8300 is a Raedon HD 6450 1 GB DDR3. Someone else will have to weigh in on whether that card is enough for gaming.

The Radeon HD6450 operates on just a 64 bit memory interface . The amount of ram on that particular card is sufficient , but the small bitrate of the memory interface is a quite serious bottleneck . The only real benefit is DirectX 11 capability . The HD 6450 would be sufficient for general internet surfing and games on facebook , but in a gaming capacity , is low end . A better choice , if AMD is your choice , would be an HD 5570 or 5770 . They both utilize DDR5 ram (the HD 6450 utilizes DDR3 ram) and the memory interface birate is twice the rate of the HD 6450 . There is absolutely nothing wrong with DDR3 ram (my gpu utilizes DDR3). The 64 bit memory bitrate just isn't enough .

Very true, expect to se a bit a lagging.

Thanks guys

I think I'm going to order the computer from ecollege that Draclvr suggested earlier in this post unless there is some more things I need to get on the computer.
Kim

I don't think I included the operating system on that one. These both have that bottom of the line power supply, so if there is any way to scrape up another $38 and upgrade the power supply, I would highly suggest it. See what the others here think about either of these.

Here is a build with a quad core processor for $680... You could get this same one with a dual core E6700 3.32 Ghtz processor for $601 leaving room for that power supply upgrade. But I don't know if that E6700 processor would serve you that well. My processor is an E8400 at 3.0 Ghtz and I can play Witcher 2, Alice Madness Returns and all the new adventure and Big Fish games. If I got Skyrim, I would have to play on reduced settings. Someone who knows more than I do will have to weigh in on this.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 2.66Ghz 4MB Cache FSB 1333
Stock Intel LGA775 Heatsink and Fan
MSI G41M-P34 (Intel X4500 Video HDMI, G41, PCI-E, 4xSATA, 2xDDR3)
4GB (2GBx2) PC3 10666 DDR3 1333Mhz Memory Lifetime Warranty
500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA3 (Major Brand)
24X LG SATA Lightscribe Dual Layer DVD+/-RW DVD-RAM w/Nero
1GB GeForce GTS 450 GDDR5 PCI-E DVI/HDMI (Major Brand)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Foxconn Black TLM436 (2 5.25, 6 3.5) Fan, Front Audio/USB
ISO400 Foxconn Stock Power Supply
Onboard LAN included
Onboard Sound included
Wires and Cables neatly tied up away from fans
3 Year Parts and Labor Warranty


And here is one with the newer Core i3 processor for $641...

3.1Ghz Intel Core i3-2100 3MB Cache Dual-Core
Stock Intel LGA1155 Heatsink and Fan
BIOSTAR H61ML (Intel H61, VGA, DVI, PCI-E, 4xSATA, 2xDDR3)
4GB (2GBx2) PC3 10666 DDR3 1333Mhz Memory Lifetime Warranty
500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA3 (Major Brand)
24X LG SATA Lightscribe Dual Layer DVD+/-RW DVD-RAM w/Nero
1GB GeForce GTS 450 GDDR5 PCI-E DVI/HDMI (Major Brand)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Foxconn Black TLM436 (2 5.25, 6 3.5) Fan, Front Audio/USB
ISO400 Foxconn Stock Power Supply
Onboard LAN included
Onboard Sound included
Wires and Cables neatly tied up away from fans
3 Year Parts and Labor Warranty

is this second from ecollege as well? And I do have the extra $38, so of the 2 which is the best?

kim

They are both eCollegePC options. I would lean towards the one with the Core i3 and upgrade the power supply to the Cooler Master 500 watt. But, hopefully someone who knows more than I do will weigh in with some advice. I'm leery of the E6700 processor for gaming which is less expensive than the quad core, but I might be wrong. The Core i3 is newer technology.