So, I\'m planning on building my own computer

Yeah, I\'m sick of my old, outdated 1.7 Ghz, 800 Mb RAM computer.

I saw a MaximumPC article about building your own PC for $650! I look into it and see that I can probably get it for 100 less than that! With my university club at my college I can get the new Windows 7 for free! I remember building our own computer in HS and get it up and running(real foggy time in my life).

I believe I have what it takes to make this PC happen but in the article it fails to point out any real specs on the performance of the PC other than the frames per second when playing Crysis or other well known games. Whatever happened to the name of the computer having the speed engraved right into it! I always see some name and a number that appears to have something to do with the speed in the model name of the computers. A little help if this article is pointing out a computer that is outdated in itself. Do you think I should attempt to do this?

I believe I will have to get a more expensive CPU if I want this to be a lasting family computer... Unsure if I can get it for the same as the article is quoting. The video card, I remember, was Radeon, Direct X10?

What\'s up sir.  I\'d start out with a core i5 cpu and build around that. Ram is dirt cheap nowadays and IIRC correctly you wanna get triple channel (3 sticks) so do either 3 or 6gb.

Yeah, I\'m no real nerd about it, as you can see, but I understand the basics and expect to make a computer that is 3 Ghz or faster. I plan on trying to set my computer up to be at least compatible or better than a Pentium 4. I wonder if I could make a dual core CPU happen?

everything is quad core now... sounds like you could even make due with a Q8400 or equivilent.  Although I personally would got for an i5 or i7 and an Ati 5850

Quad-core is the answer I\'m looking for! hahah.. I need to put together a perfectly manufactured computer... Sounds like I\'m in for a ride..

I, as well as others in this forum build quite a few computers for people.  What is the max $$ you want to spend?  Do you need a new monitor?

I have a monitor. I\'m unsure if I should reuse my chassis from old computer. I am $700. Keep in mind I can get Windows 7 dirt cheap, possibly free.