Think twice that money for a top system (3-4 times for the best of the best).

Here's a very nice can capable budget PC ofr around $1000.00


A8N SLI or A8N_E

7600GT (eVGA for the warranty)

Antec LanBoy case

Audigy 2 ZS

160 Gig Seagate 7200.9 HDD (SATA)

BenQ DVDRW

Antec 550 power supply (24 pin)

Samsung 19" LCD with 6MS RT @ 1280x1024

pretty useless without a CPU and RAM
The screen will cost almost half the $1000 budget already, CPU and RAM together will fill the rest.
That videocard will set you back about $250, the drive about $75, the case $150 or so.
Don't know the prices of those mobos and soundcard, but you'd end up paying at least about $1500 total, probably closer to $1700, for that config.

You 're light years off on your pricing ($1500.00 to 1700.00? :eek: ). Not even remotely close.

Just for starters nearly any 7600GT can be had for under $200.00 easily (are you getting a 7600GT confused with a 7900GT's pricing?). For example, the very first 7600GT on a search at newegg is a mere $169.99 US$ retail, and with the $30.00 rebate it's $139.99. Those parts i linked is with the assumption that a budget CPU would be used - like a 3500 Venice which is easily overclocked to FX 57 speeds on that motherboard.

Here's the exact part list at newegg.

PNY 7600GT PCIe $139.99 AR (169.99 before)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133150

1GB of Kingston PC32000 2x512 $94.00 (we'll call it $100.00)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820144114

SAMSUNG 913V-Black 19" LCD Monitor $268.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824001192

Antec SuperLanboy $80.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129145

Asus A8N-E $88.99 (we'll call it $90.00)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131530

Antec TruePower 550 $79.99 After $10.00 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103931

Seagate 160GB HDD $63.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148105

BenQ DVD-R-RW $33.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827101010

3500+ venice AMD $113.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827101010

Samsucg Floppy $8.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16821103203

Audigy 2ZS soundcard OEM $75.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102178

XP Home (OEM) $90.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16837102059

----------------------------------------------------

From bottom to top_
$90.00
$8.00
$113.00
$33.00
$63.00
$80.00
$90.00
$75.00
$80.00
$268.00
$94.00
$140.00
----------------------
$1134.00




Add $50.00 for shipping = about 1174.00. Take out a few rebates i didn't mention and it's around 1150.00 - change the brand of LCD to Acer then it's a cool $1100.00 for the complete system. If you really wanted to go budget here you could forgo the Audigy 2 ZS and it's suddenly around $1000.00 for the entire system shipped? Not quite $1700.00

I think the config you posted is pretty great, but I think it overlooks the fact that you could scrimp on the monitor, and get a faster CPU.

I'm no big fan of overclocking-- I picked up a used 19" Dell Trinitron for $70 shipped on eBay. The display is PERFECT-- no problems with it whatsoever. So, I could save $169 on the monitor, and either beef up the CPU (no longer need to OC), Graphics, or add more RAM. Or, that would take me just under the $1000 threshold for your price

No, I didn't get the prices wrong...
That same hardware would cost upwards of €1500 here, which when converted to dollars comes nearly at $2000.

Looking at the prices posted by vicec64, I don't see any discrepancy. Where are you getting your prices from? vicec64 was using Newegg.

He gets his local prices, I get my local prices. Of course mine include our skyhigh VAT, which US online retailers don't charge (as under US law interstate mailorder sales aren't taxed and salestax in most US locales is far lower than our VAT anyway).

Sorry there i didn't realize you were where you are and you're right it is much tougher to get a deal where you're at but in the US a very good sub- $1200.00 USD rig is easily attained if you're willing to build it. In fact i would leave out the Audigy card and upgrade to a 20" wide screen monitor, or a 7900GT vs 7600GT - lots of combinations are there. UK i know is much tougher to get decent prices.