Under $1000 Gaming Build

[1337_JohnN]

^^^ The E5200 is only like $85, but can like OC to 3.6GHz.

 

[GeneralB]

If I go with the components that Vernong linked, how do I set up those WD HDDs (2) on RAID? Do I need a RAID card and is it complicated? Also what MOBO and Vid card do you suggest? Trying to stay under a grand..

Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E7300 Wolfdale 2.66GHz 3MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

For CPU's

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives x2
For RAID

PSU:
Newegg.com - G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

RAM:
Corsair TX CMPSU-650TX ATX12V & EPS12V Power Supply - CMPSU-650TX - Buy.com

 

[Fat.Clown]

wow, you are persistent
here is to confuse you even more, my suggestion (building on what you had before)
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$70 (****, shoulda waited a week, just bought one for full $75 last week)
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$70
G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
$60
PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
$105
Sony NEC Optiarc Black 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R Burner
$23
BFG Tech BFGEGTX260MC896OCE GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
$259
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$110
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
$250 (make sure you click the combo list)
Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120mm "Core Contact Freezer" CPU Cooler
$40

987

P5Q pro have onboard raid

 

[veg1992]

If I go with the components that Vernong linked, how do I set up those WD HDDs (2) on RAID? Do I need a RAID card and is it complicated? Also what MOBO and Vid card do you suggest? Trying to stay under a grand..

I'd recommend an HD 4850/4870/GTX 260 Core 216, and a TP45HP, P5Q Pro, or Biostar I45 depending on your budget..

Most high-end Boards have RAID built in (like all the ones listed above this line), and to set it up, you set it up when you do Windows Setup.. but you have to configure your BIOS to make it read it as a RAID Array (I think I've confused you more..)

But you don't have to use a RAID Array, its just a suggestion