Here's an update to the computer I was talking about building a few months back. After lots of reading and researching, I finally came up with a great upgradeable rig that should last me all the way through grad school.  Check it out:

CPU - i7 920 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819115202 - $295

Case - Antec Twelve Hundred - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...%20hundred - $110

PSU - Corsair 750TX - http://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-750w-Certi...242&sr=8-1 - $105

RAM - Mushkin 6gb DDR3 1600 7-8-7-20 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820226030 - $175

MOBO - EVGA x58 132-BL-E758-A1 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813188039 - $300

GPU - EVGA GTX 295 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814143167 - $505 -45 for comboing with mobo

Monitor - Samsung T240 1920x1200 - - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...5&Tpk=t240 - $300

HDD - 300gb Western Digital Velociraptor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6822136260 - $200

Mouse - Logitech G9 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...20logitech - $64

Cooler - Cooler Master V8 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...055&Tpk=v8 - $70

Optical Drive - LITE-ON 20X DVD±R iHAS120-04 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6827106263 -  $24

Total - $2100 with monitor, $1800 without monitor.

I am planning to OC this to about 3.6ghz and maybe throw in a 2nd gtx 295, and upgrade the PSU if I ever actually need to, which may or may not be necessary.  This rig is mostly meant to allow me to experiment with anything I want to, since I am really starting to get into computers, and video editing, and programming, as well as allow me to run any games I want for a while.  I just ordered the last few parts today, and will be receiving them throughout the next week.  That hard drive is for my OS and for quick all around launching of apps. I will get a 1tb hard drive for straight up storage later.  Those mushkins have been getting outstanding reviews, and are able to hold their own against all the best DDR3 RAM out there.  

I know many of you are going to probably say this was a complete waste, but this is going to be my computer for the next 5 years, and I'll be upgrading parts where needed.  

When I graduate from grad school, I will consider getting my next computer then.  I'll be posting pics of the computer as I build it.  Of course, such a high cost is the result of buying new tech, but I still am happy with my choices.  

Have fun?

Meh, it was mostly just an update from when I was talking about building a new comp a few months ago.

stunning!

though is 300GB good enuf to last 5 years? and 6GB RAM is a little too much imo, but nothing bad with that. Also, if you not going to be gaming, then I'd save a little more money on the GPU.

I am definitely going to be gaming. That is why I went with that GPU. It has better heat and power management than the 4870x2, and is doing better in most tests.  As far as the RAM amount, I figured I'd get as much as I think I'd need now, rather than run into problems later.   And I am getting a 2nd hard drive for my storage. It'll probably be a 1tb Spinpoint F1, or a 1tb WD Black Caviar.

Yeah, but SSDs aren't worth the espense for the low capacity IMO.  I am plenty happy with any increase in boot up time, and launching time, so the velociraptor will do me just fine.  I was considering a 32gb SSD for a while, but decided against it, as I didn't find the space vs price to be a good enough ratio.

As far as the case, I got it on sale for $110, and the 900 goes for only a little less. I like having the extra air circulation.  I don't think I'll end up getting a 2nd 295 for a while, as it depends on how games utilize GPU technology in years to come. For me to SLI a 2nd one, it'd have to be for a much lowered price, a couple years from now, and the tech would still need to be good enough to warrant such a move.

You are right about it not being even worthy of being called a low end PC in 5 years, but as I said, I will be upgrading parts when necessary, but nothing too big.  It should get me by quite easily till then.  I am using an 800mhz computer that was actually an upgrade from my older computer a year ago (lol).  So, really, I can deal with old tech quite well.  This is just meant to keep me satisfied until I end up spilling for another entirely new build in like 5 years.

a couple of years from GTX 295 will be sweet history. To be replaced with more modern and far more powerful cards...

I still feel that you should have more hdd. Maybe a 500 GB + a 120 GB SSD for OS.

Hmmm. Well, I was really against the getting an SSD considering their prices at the moment.  However, I could probably get by with just 64gb on an SSD, and put the other stuff on the 1tb storage.  If I can find a decently priced 64gb SSD, that has good reviews, I'll go with it instead.  I kind of would like to see it go a little bit more mainstream, but I was already going to spend 200 on the velociraptor...

ZiNgA BuRgA Wrote:A single GTX295 is pretty insane - I doubt you'll need two.

Darn tootin'.  I recently purchased a 4870x2 and it's pretty sick.  I might even go crossfire.  And I brung this up because the GTX 295 and the 4870x2 have similar performance.