Help me build a PC...or two

I would just check out a few of those sites and pick from what you're wanting, if it's not too big of an issue you could still probably get a nice barebone kit from either site and go from there, or customize it from your own wants.

Alternatively, check out the pre-made ones and make a list of those that meet your requirements and the price (also make note of the specs), come back to us with that list, and we'll go from there.

Well, how about I throw down some things I'd like to have and see if you all can fill in the pieces or perhaps a cheaper yet similar equivelant?

It's a bit overkill, but I'd like an Intel i7 920 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115202) for a processor. Looks like $290.

Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro) 1GB Black Edition 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150454) $340

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231225 $165 for good memory, not sure if that would be overkill. Or if 6 gigabytes is too much.

I'm looking at $800 already. What motherboard would I need to be looking at to go along with that setup, and where can I afford to downgrade some while still maintaining performance that will last 2-3 years?

A DDR3, Socket 1366 mobo will cost maybe $170, with the better ones being more expensive (obviously you've got to make sure that you go for a board with three or six memory slots - an odd number of sticks won't work in a board with four slots), which knocks it up to ~$1000.

Hard-drives are inexpensive, as are cases, fans, mice and keyboards.

You could probably downgrade the graphics card - Crysis 3 may end up on Medium settings when it comes out, but it'll still be perfectly playable.

That doesn't sound too bad. Sounds like it might be more like $1100 or 1150 than 1k, which wouldn't be too bad. Thanks Lenny. How many watts do you think I'd need power supply wise? It doesn't sound like it'd need terribly much, and I wont be doing sli with her pc :P.

I imagine 750W should do it, maybe even as low as 600W. You might want to get confirmation on that, just to be sure.