Quote Originally Posted by DennyW
Dave, it's really not hard to build one. Look at me. 1999 was the first time I turned one on, and the blue screen made me cuss.

I built my son's dual core gaming computer for 530.00. The like ones all done were 13-1500.00. You just have to decide what you want it to do first. Some boards are not expandable. There you have to be careful. The low priced ones new, are usually that way. I have built mine also. Not as bold as my son's, because I do not game like him. I have 450.00 in mine. That's new case, new board, pen 4 processor, 3 hard drives. (I just got a 500 gig western digital, new, for 106.50) for the added pictures. I run the case air tight. I use 2 120 x 1" fans on the side, with filters. 2 80 fans on the back for exhaust. No dust, and runs really cool.

I guess I'd best start figuring out if this is the way to go - and quite frankly, think it is. BUT, I still have to make my wife happy as well so she can do her HR thing occasionally at home. The separate monster hard drive for pictures intrigues me as well as it is eating my current one, even with putting many on CDs.

I'll spec out a set of components and run by you via PM for a sanity check - any problem with that?