Gaming Machine

Part	Model	Price
CPU	AMD Athlon 64 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 Point Of View 7600GT GDDR3	151
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	Foxconn TSAA805	49
Power Supply	430W Coolermaster Extreme Power	49
Cooling	-	-
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	708 + 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.

I've included a dual-core CPU in this system, although a faster single core system may be better for gaming, in which case a 3500+ is about 125.

$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 Serial ATA HDD	95
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	256MB XpertVision 7900GS	231
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-BB	72
Power Supply	500W SilverStone Element ST50EF	113
Cooling	-	-
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	995 + 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	155
RAM	1GB ADATA DDR2 667 kit	105
Hard Drive	250GB Serial ATA HDD	95
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	256MB Point of View 7600GT	151
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	500W Super Flower SF-500P14	90
Cooling	-	-
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	944 + 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	AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+	187
Motherboard	DFI Infinity NF SLI-M2	140
RAM	2GB A-DATA Vitesta DDR2 800	225
Hard Drive	250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive	95
Optical Drive	16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S	42
Graphics Card	256MB Albatron 7950GT	309
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	500W SilverStone Element ST50EF	113
Cooling	-	-
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	1183 + Postage

This machine originally sported two 7600GTs in SLi, a 3600+ X2, and an aftermarket HSF. Whilst the aftermarket HSF is still able to fit in the budget (Thermaltake Big Typhoon 120), I've decided to focus this machine more on stock performance than overclocking, since the Core 2 Duo systems are typically the way to go for the overclockers.

The SLi 7600's were removed due to simplifying the system, two 7600GT's may beat a 7950GT in some benchmarks, but it's generally recommended to have one card over two (for upgrading purposes), and the two 7600GT's are now about the same money as the 7950GT anyway.

Another option would be to replace the CPU with a 3600+ and buy a 320MB 8800GTS, but I'm unsure if the CPU would be holding the system back at that stage.

$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