Gaming Machine

Part	Model	Price
CPU	AM2 A64 X2 3600+	125
Motherboard	abit KN9	109
RAM	2x512MB Generic DDR2 667	84
Hard Drive	250GB Samsung SP2504C	99
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	256MB XpertVision 7600GT GDDR3	156
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	Foxconn TSAA805	49
Power Supply	430W Coolermaster Extreme Power	49
Cooling	-	-
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	714 + Postage

This system, despite its low price is a viable ticket to entry level gaming. It features a reasonable sized hard drive (250GB) sufficient for most users, and a 7600GT (capable of pulling reasonable frames for most of today's games I believe). You could also replace the 7600GT with a 7300GT DDR3 and go for 2GB of RAM if you please.

$1000 AM2

Part	Model	Price
CPU	AM2 X2 3600+ EE	125
Motherboard	DFI Infinity NF4 Ultra II-M2	127
RAM	2x1GB Kingston ValueRAM DDR2 667	190
Hard Drive	250GB Samsung SP2504C	99
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	256MB XpertVision 7900GS	235
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-BB	72
Power Supply	500W SilverStone Element ST50EF	113
Cooling	-	-
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	1003 + Postage

I believe this system is the sweet spot for bang for buck computing. It features a decent CPU, plenty of RAM, a large hard drive, and a decent graphics card. The case is pretty good looking too. This system would be appropriate for moderate to frequent gaming.

$1000 Core 2 Duo

Part	Model	Price
CPU	Core 2 Duo E4300	234
Motherboard	Gigabyte 965P-S3	158
RAM	1GB Lemel DDR2 667 CL4	99
Hard Drive	250GB Samsung SP2504C	99
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	256MB XpertVision 7600GT GDDR3	156
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	500W Super Flower SF-500P14	90
Cooling	-	-
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	950 + Postage

At a touch under $1000 the Core 2 Duo system is quite impressive. The RAM, CPU and Board will allow for some nice overclocking, whilst the 7600GT is not too bad either. For $1000, this system would be very quick and well suited for demanding office applications.

$1250 AM2

Part	Model	Price
CPU	AM2 X2 3600+ EE	125
Motherboard	DFI Infinity NF SLI-M2	140
RAM	2GB A-DATA Vitesta DDR2 800	225
Hard Drive	250GB Samsung SP2504C	99
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	2x 256MB XpertVision 7600GT GDDR3	312
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	500W SilverStone Element ST50EF	113
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	60
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	1188 + Postage

This is one of the only SLI configurations that I would recommend. As shown here, two 7300GT GDDR3's will beat a 7900GT. A 7900GT is faster than an X1950 Pro, therefore two 7300GT GDDR3's are a better buy. In this machine though, it was possible to include 7600GT GDDR3's instead. Tom's Hardware shows that two 7600GTs will beat even a 7950GT in SLI - a X1950 Pro is roughly equivalent if not slower than a 7950GT. And finally, because of the heat and lack of overclocking available from the X1950 Pro, these cards in SLI are a winner.

$1250 Core 2 Duo

Part	Model	Price
CPU	Core 2 Duo E4300	234
Motherboard	Gigabyte 965P-S3	158
RAM	2GB G.Skill F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT	215
Hard Drive	250GB Samsung SP2504C	99
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	256MB XpertVision 7900GS	230
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	500W Super Flower Black Diamond	90
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	60
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	1200 + Postage

$1500 Core 2 Duo

Part	Model	Price
CPU	Core 2 Duo E4300	234
Motherboard	Gigabyte 965P-S3	158
RAM	2GB A-DATA Vitesta DDR2 800	225
Hard Drive	250GB Samsung SP2504C	99
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	320MB Sparkle 8800GTS	429
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	500W Antec Neo HE 500	135
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	60
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	1454 + Postage

Sub $1500 Core 2 system with 8800GTS in da house!

$1750 Core 2 Duo

Part	Model	Price
CPU	Core 2 Duo E6400	315
Motherboard	Gigabyte 965P-S3 3.3	175
RAM	2GB F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK	312
Hard Drive	320GB Western Digital Caviar SE16	135
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	320MB Sparkle 8800GTS	429
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	550W Neo HE 550	164
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	60
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	1704 + Postage

$2000 Core 2 Duo

Part	Model	Price
CPU	Core 2 Duo E4300	234
Motherboard	Gigabyte 965P-S3 3.3	175
RAM	2GB A-DATA Vitesta DDR2 800	225
Hard Drive	320GB Western Digital Caviar SE16	135
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	768MB Inno3D GeForce 8800GTX	823
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	650W Antec TruePower Trio TP3 650	185
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	60
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	1951 + Postage

2K system designed for overclocking, hence the E4300 but DDR2 800 RAM and the trusty 1333 FSB of the 965P-S3 V3.3

$2250 Core 2 Duo

Part	Model	Price
CPU	Core 2 Duo E6400	315
Motherboard	Gigabyte 965P-S3 3.3	175
RAM	2x1GB ADATA DDR2 800	225
Hard Drive	320GB Western Digital Caviar SE16	135
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	768MB Inno3D GeForce 8800GTX	823
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	Thermaltake Armor Jr.	169
Power Supply	600W OCZ GameXStream	174
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	60
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	2270 + Postage

$2500 Core 2 Duo

Part	Model	Price
CPU	Core 2 Duo E6600	439
Motherboard	ASUS P5B-E	205
RAM	2GB OCZ PC2-6400 Gold GX XTC	340
Hard Drive	320GB Western Digital Caviar SE16	131
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	768MB Sparkle GeForce 8800GTX	835
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	Thermaltake Armor Jr.	167
Power Supply	600W OCZ GameXStream	175
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	60
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	2394 + Postage