Gaming Machine

Part	Model	Price
CPU	AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ EE	125
Motherboard	abit KN9	109
RAM	2x512MB Generic DDR2	78
Hard Drive	250GB Samsung SP2504C	99
Optical Drive	16x Pioneer DVR-111D	39
Graphics Card	256MB nVidia GeForce 7600GT	149
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	Foxconn TSAA805	49
Power Supply	430W Coolermaster Extreme Power	49
Cooling	-	-
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	697 + 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	AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ EE	125
Motherboard	Asus M2N-E	113
RAM	2GB G.Skill F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT	189
Hard Drive	250GB Samsung SP2504C	99
Optical Drive	16x Pioneer DVR-111D	39
Graphics Card	256MB ATi Radeon X1950Pro	245
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-BB	72
Power Supply	430W Coolermaster Extreme Power	49
Cooling	-	-
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	930 + 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.

The graphics card selected may be a point of contention for some, since although most reviews state that the X1950Pro is slightly quicker stock, the GeForce 7900GS is a better overclocker. It's up to you.

$1000 Core 2 Duo

Part	Model	Price
CPU	Core 2 Duo E4300	234
Motherboard	Gigabyte 965P-S3	155
RAM	2x512MB DDR2 667	82
Hard Drive	250GB Samsung SP2504C	99
Optical Drive	16x Pioneer DVR-111D	39
Graphics Card	256MB nVidia GeForce 7600GT	149
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	500W Super Flower SF-500P14	90
Cooling	-	-
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	920 + 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 3800+	155
Motherboard	Asus M2N-E	113
RAM	2GB G.Skill F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT	189
Hard Drive	250GB Samsung SP2504C	99
Optical Drive	16x Pioneer DVR-111D	39
Graphics Card	320MB nVidia 8800GTS	429
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	500W Super Flower Black Diamond	90
Cooling	-	-
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	1186 + 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.

Now with an 8800GTS, this machine will be little short of damn fast at gaming!

$1250 Core 2 Duo

Part	Model	Price
CPU	Core 2 Duo E4300	234
Motherboard	Gigabyte 965P-S3	155
RAM	2GB G.Skill F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT	189
Hard Drive	250GB Samsung SP2504C	99
Optical Drive	16x Pioneer DVR-111D	39
Graphics Card	256MB nVidia 7900GS	231
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	500W Super Flower Black Diamond	90
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	65
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	1174 + Postage

This machine is similarly specced to the AM2 system, however with the aftermarket HSF and the E4300 CPU, probably better suited to overclocking.

$1500 Core 2 Duo

Part	Model	Price
CPU	Core 2 Duo E6300	259
Motherboard	Gigabyte 965P-S3	155
RAM	2GB G.Skill F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT	189
Hard Drive	320GB Serial ATA Hard Drive	127
Optical Drive	16x Pioneer DVR-111D	39
Graphics Card	320MB Sparkle 8800GTS	429
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	500W Antec Neo HE 500	132
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	65
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	1467 + 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	18x Pioneer DVR-212D SATA	55
Graphics Card	320MB GeForce 8800GTS	429
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	550W Neo HE 550	164
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	65
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	1722 + 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	18x Pioneer DVR-212D SATA	55
Graphics Card	768MB GeForce 8800GTX	799
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	iCute S901-4GA-SS	72
Power Supply	600W OCZ GameXStream	175
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	65
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	1935 + 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 E6600	439
Motherboard	Gigabyte 965P-S3 3.3	175
RAM	2GB G.Skill F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT	189
Hard Drive	320GB Western Digital Caviar SE16	135
Optical Drive	18x Pioneer DVR-212D SATA	55
Graphics Card	768MB GeForce 8800GTX	799
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	Thermaltake Armor Jr.	165
Power Supply	600W OCZ GameXStream	174
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	60
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	2191 + Postage

$2500 Core 2 Duo

Part	Model	Price
CPU	Core 2 Duo E6600	439
Motherboard	ASUS P5N32-E SLI PLUS	295
RAM	2GB F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK	312
Hard Drive	320GB Western Digital Caviar SE16	131
Optical Drive	18x Pioneer DVR-212D SATA	55
Graphics Card	768MB GeForce 8800GTX	799
Sound Card	Onboard from motherboard	-
Case	Thermaltake Armor Jr.	165
Power Supply	700W OCZ GameXStream	212
Cooling	Thermaltake BigTyp 120	60
Additional	-	-
Total Cost	-	2468 + Postage

After this stage, you get to the area of diminishing returns. This machine is not so much faster than the $2250 system, more a better platform for going crazy with even more high end upgrades, such as two 8800s in SLi or quad core CPUs. However, after this stage, you will get to the stage of spending hundreds of dollars for a small improvement in performance.

The PSU might need to be a little more powerful if you're gonna run two 8800s in SLi and/or quad core CPUs, though.