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rabid lobster

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Me and a friend are going to build a computer from scratch and he hasnt been keeping up with current computer hardware while I don't know much about them. My question is what is some of the mid to high end hardware that goes into them nowadays in order to make a good computer for gaming in?
Also his opinion is that we could make a fairly decent computer for around an estimated $350 while we could make a very good one for an estimated $900, however these are just his estimates from building one a few years ago, I would like to get a more current opinion on this matter if possible. Thank you in advance for any replies.
 
$350 is considered low budget nowadays. I dont know what you consider "decent", what are you going to be using the computer for? $900 is usualy considered midrange, you can get a very nice computer for that price but nothing extreme obviously.
 
The first thing to do is compile the list of items you would want. One of the latest processors for high end would be the AMD Opteron 185 dual cored cpu. The 3800+ X2 is the lowest model dual core cpu. The 3800+ another cpu with the same number is also a single cored model too. Prices vary where you could easily look at over $200- US for a dual core. Memory totals are now going as far as 8gb total on the newer boards. At this point 2-3gb seems to be a good area to be in for a dual channel Socket 939 board.

Do you want a single video card upto 512mb with a fast clock and OC ability? Or how about the new SLI option of running two 512mb cards with something like the ATI Crossfire? That can run up a tab quick. Besides a good number of main boards seen for under $200- you may want other then stock methods of cooling temps down on... cpu, memory, video card(s), sound, bios chipset, memory, and even hard drives. If you go for the latest your friend's estimate has to be adjusted for new technology inflation. The high end stuff can easily climb to over double the $900- figure until it has been out awhile.
( Price browsing plus rebates may see less then the $900- figure total.)
 
I would be getting everything necessary for a gaming computer: video card, motherboard, cpu, cooling system, sound card, power supply, hard drive, and so on. Nothing particularly unique is planned to go into it aside from perhaps a water cooling system which I hear is getting more common nowadays. Thank you for giving an estimate on the costs though, it is good to know what we might be looking at.
 
It's still only a rough not precise estimate due to never knowing which item will cost what from who at what time bought. Plus you may decide on a change or two later when prices drop as they occasionally do. And then there is always who sells what for what price. Remember to look around first.
 
$900 is what my budget is for building my own PC, you can get a nice mid range PC for about that much, currently ive decided to go with amd dual core 3800+, an asus motherboard around a 100 dollars, a 7600GT video card, 250 maybe 300GB hard drive, 1GB memory (for now atleast), a cheap nice lookin case from geeks.com, a dvd burner and dvd rom drive, a HIPRO 500W psu which is very cheap for what it offers, a floppy drive, and i havent quite gotten around to picking a soundcard...so with a soundcard thats about $900
 
If you decide to go with Creative Labs the Audigy 4 Pro is far better then the older Audigy 2 line by a long shot. That would be in a lower price range then a few newer models out. Personally I would be looking at an Enermax or Antec True Power TP550W supply for the next build while one friend just found the True Power 480W runs super quiet in a new NZXT case he built. He also went with the 3800+ dual core.
 
I'd say between $800-$1200 will get you a fairly decent gaming computer. More than that I'd consider it "high-end" (assuming you pick the right hardware and not overpriced stuff). Below $800 is starting to limit your options when it comes to video cards and the "good" brands, you usually have to get your 2nd option over being able to pick "whatever you want". Although some people here have done a good job finding the best sales and getting great hardware for a low dollar price.
 
If you pay top dollar for everything due to being new the average build can get up there as well. Looking over the specifications on the board you select as well as the cpus it supports then can branch out to the memory along with the psu and expansion cards. When you build you want to not have it outdated before you even get to use it. The next build here will jump from an AMD64 3200+ upto the Opteron 185 dual core to see a larger jump then the 4800+ X2 first looked over. Yet there was a quick glance at the 5500+ model.
 
3200+ to opty 185 is the first sizable jump? I dont think so... What about the X2 3800+? Not everyone can afford top end hardware.

Yet there was a quick glance at the 5500+ model.
Click to expand...
What do you mean? Theres no such thing as a 5500+.
 
That's precisely correct! On one board I went through three cpus, three video cards, and two pairs of dimms. I just finished a new build with the AMD64 3200+ to replace the maxed out Socket A case where that happened. That started off with the Atholon XP2600+ to the 3000+ and then to the top of the line(then) XP3200+. At that point the next step was to jump over the S754 boards to the S939 models. The wait now is for the Opteron 185 to drop far enough in price for the next build along with the ATI X1900 XT model. Though I wouldn't be going with Crossfire there.
 
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