You can pay a bit extra for a better CPU + GPU if you want.

CPU: AMD Athlon x4 640 - $100

MOBO: Gigabyte 870A-UD3 - $98

RAM: 4GB DDR3 Kingston Value RAM - $71

GPU: 6850 - $200

PSU: Antec True Power New 550 - $90

DVD BURNER: pick any

CASE: Antec Three Hundred - $60

Add a 22" monitor and Win 7 x64 Home Premium.

My Contac 29 is 558g, so its not too porky. Does it come with a backplate?

$500? Double it and you'll get what you want (well, more or less).

I'd adjust the build to a 24" monitor and a 6870.

[QUOTE="desertpython"]

AMD Phenom 965 + 6870 + 4GB DDR3 Kingston Value RAM + Gigabyte 870A-UD3 + Antec True Power 650 + Antec Two Hundred.

outcasted1

Less than $700 but you also need a 1TB HDD (I'd recommend Seagate) a monitor and a copy of Win 7 Home Premium.

Move your mouse down and if it appears then right click and uncheck the option to auto-hide the taskbar. If the mouse doesn't work press Ctrl+Esc to bring up the taskbar and adjust it from there.For the explorer issue get this app:

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html

and disable all the shell extenions you can temporarily until explorer stops crashing.

AMD Phenom 965 + 6870 + 4GB DDR3 Kingston Value RAM + Gigabyte 870A-UD3 + Antec True Power 650 + Antec Two Hundred.

[QUOTE="desertpython"]

[QUOTE="Xeogua"]

It was $400 on Black Friday at Best Buy

Xeogua

Add an extra $200 and you have a desktop PC that is 3x faster.

Need a laptop for college, so I just get one now.

What you gain in portability, you lose everywhere else.