wtf...you need the computer for 4 years am I correct? So I say spend as much money as it takes to buy the best possible computer you can with all your money...it gets to be a real hassle not having a good computer in college...ugh...by the ps3 next year...
if you want to jump now, IBP - i suggest waiting a week if you want somewhat better bang/$ as both the 8800 and Kentsfield qz6600 are out like now... core 2 duo(i'd suggest either the e6400 or the e6600) 2GB RAM 8800GTS one fo the better power supplies(trust me the ones included in the cases will slowly kill your expensive stuff) done. again you won't be getting a PS3 for anywhere enar retail unil supplies are up at a later date. and certainely not before christmas.
you get diminishing returns past a certain point as the highest binned parts might only be capabel of operation at 5% higher frequencies but cost 200% more. It is wiser ot buy half as much twice as often(to a point there is a point where saving money offers less performance/$ there is a ballancing point) example given, in 2003 a 3.0Ghz Pentium 4(northwood) cost 100$ all by itself. now in 06, a 3.06Ghz(prescott) Pentium 4 costs about 70$ and scales to 4.5GHz relatively easily(though Pentium 4s are obsolete and underperforming as are thier dual core pentium D counterparts)
ok Xelink I will buy the computer from I buy power but they dont give a good video card only a 128 radeon 1400x Zain ;( Merged Post: or I can just buy a laptop from Sony Style Zain
Well personally if I had that money, I'd buy the $600 PS3 with one or 2 games and maybe an extra controller the rest of the money would go into building a computer system from the bottom up using stuff off newegg for the best prices.
with your budget, you shoudl be abel to get an 8800GTS, and yes they might not have it immediately - it just came out yesterday.
Buy both...and have some $$ left over...then give that left over $$ to me..... jk, seriously, buy both and keep some money. You can get the PS3 and a high-end computer for 1500
