You could save quite a bit of money by getting a HD4870n 512mb. While it would be slightly slower than the GTX 260 Core 216 the lower price more than makes up for it.
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100259L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
yeah i didnt think about that!!! good catch... going for cheapest/startout/upgradable... gotta keep that in mind...
otherwise... i gave up on budget and decided... if i break $1000, newegg will give me 12mo. no interest... and if i keep it under $1200 after rebate... it will be $100 a month!... so thats then new goal... here is what i got so far.
Case
Newegg.com - NZXT LEXA Blackline Series CS-NT-LEXA-BLB Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
MoBo/CPU combo
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!
CPU cooler
Newegg.com - Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120mm "Core Contact Freezer" CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks
RAM
Newegg.com - OCZ Reaper HPC 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 15000) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
PSU
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Power Supplies
GPU
Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
HDD
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Green WD6400AACS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (bare drive) - Internal Hard Drives
DVD
Newegg.com - LG Black 22X (CAV) DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X (CAV) DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - CD / DVD Burners
OS
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - Operating Systems
Shipped & after MIRs = 1159.58
chew on that! .........then spit back wutever you think i missed or should change.