new computer

Here it is, 690$ with 35$ MIR.

Total: 655$ USD

If you want it cheaper, I'll slash in the processor, memory and maybe hard drive if you don't need 1 TB although the price is very fair.

	Qty.	Product Description	Savings	Total Price
select item 1	quantity of item 1	Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM Item #: N82E16827118030 Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy		$30.99
select item 2	quantity of item 2	COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811119137 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$5.00 Instant	$84.99 $79.99
select item 3	quantity of item 3	Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM Item #: N82E16822136284 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$10.00 Instant	$109.99 $99.99
select item 4	quantity of item 4	CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 ... - Retail Item #: N82E16817139005 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$60.00 Instant $20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card17-139-005	$159.99 $99.99
select item 5	quantity of item 5	G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail Item #: N82E16820231166 Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy	-$5.00 Instant	$54.99 $49.99
select item 6	quantity of item 6	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569Q9550 - Retail Item #: N82E16819115041 Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy ASUS P5Q Pro Turbo LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813131377 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$15.00 Instant -$20.00 Combo $15.00 Mail-in Rebate Card13-131-377	$364.98 $329.98
Subtotal:				$690.93

Here's the next best thing for 620$ or 585$ with the MIR

Total: 585$ USD

Couldn't get much cheaper on the memory so I took another good PSU with a lower price tag, reduced the hard drive from 1 TB to 750 GB and took the Q8400 instead of the Q9550.

EDIT: Now waiting for any other computer knowledgeable person to comment on this build.

----------------------------------------------------BUILD 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (middle ground)

	Qty.	Product Description	Savings	Total Price
select item 1	quantity of item 1	Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM Item #: N82E16827118030 Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy		$30.99
select item 2	quantity of item 2	COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811119137 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$5.00 Instant	$84.99 $79.99
select item 3	quantity of item 3	Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822136283 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy		$79.99
select item 4	quantity of item 4	OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC ... - Retail Item #: N82E16817341017 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$20.00 Instant $20.00 Mail-in Rebate17-341-017	$99.99 $79.99
select item 5	quantity of item 5	G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail Item #: N82E16820231166 Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy	-$5.00 Instant	$54.99 $49.99
select item 6	quantity of item 6	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569Q9550 - Retail Item #: N82E16819115041 Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy ASUS P5Q Pro Turbo LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813131377 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$15.00 Instant -$20.00 Combo $15.00 Mail-in Rebate Card13-131-377	$364.98 $329.98
Subtotal:				$650.93

---------------BUILD 2 -------------------- Less expensive

	Qty.	Product Description	Savings	Total Price
select item 1	quantity of item 1	Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM Item #: N82E16827118030 Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy		$30.99
select item 2	quantity of item 2	COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811119137 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$5.00 Instant	$84.99 $79.99
select item 3	quantity of item 3	Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822136283 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy		$79.99
select item 4	quantity of item 4	OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC ... - Retail Item #: N82E16817341017 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$20.00 Instant $20.00 Mail-in Rebate17-341-017	$99.99 $79.99
select item 5	quantity of item 5	G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail Item #: N82E16820231166 Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy	-$5.00 Instant	$54.99 $49.99
select item 6	quantity of item 6	Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 Yorkfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80580Q8400 - Retail Item #: N82E16819115057 Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy ASUS P5Q Pro Turbo LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813131377 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$5.00 Instant -$15.00 Combo $15.00 Mail-in Rebate Card13-131-377	$319.98 $299.98
Subtotal:				$620.93

in case you missed it, you better get this problem fixed soon. =|

Quote:
Incorrect.

If you are playing tf2 you want to spend the money on a fast processor, and not so much on a video card.  My 896 mb gtx260 just barely outperforms my old 320 mb 8800gts due to my limited processor speed (2.4ghz)

ok well my computer works to a degree. i can play tf2 but after about a half hour of playing my sound goes nuts and starts skipping but i can still play just with no sound then when i go to close tf2 to try and fix it my computer locks up so hopefully it will work untill i buy my new computer. i put my fan in front of it with the side pannel open to reduce heat.

Quote:
check to make sure all fans that are in there are running. mainly the fan on the CPU heatsink. im guessing this fan has stopped and the removal of the side panel is only prolonging the time it takes to overheat.
try adjusting the fan you have to blow directly onto that area

as far as a new build goes, keep the original if you can afford it. i personally dont build anything without a corsair power supply and you'll want that extra processing power. If you have a little more money to spare, look into this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.208888
this mother board has a few more options like tri SLI plus a better cooler and reputation.

none of the builds so far should dissapoint but always buy a little better now and it will come in handy later

I would agree except that I don't really like motherboards with tri SLI, they are a waste of money IMO. Indeed, it is often more cost efficient to buy a single performing video card (by the time the price goes down on the SLIable cards, there will be better ones to buy for the price)

That is the main reason why I chose the P5Q Pro motherboard. Also, even if I *ALWAYS* prefer a corsair PSU, I currently have an OCZ Stealthxstream 600w PSU and I truly believe it works fine. Still running good and quiet like a champ for soon 2 years.

But if you have the extra money, make sure to get the corsair PSU

All in all, it always goes down to your budget.

The 8600 series sucks, I know I have two of them you can't control the Fans on them they are set to 40% all the time and over heat quickly.  I use a box fan next to my computer it is only way they don't lock up after 10 mins.

Since you aren't buying a GPU and have a budget of $900, I decided to max you out and give you some of the best tech on the market:

Qty.	Product Description	Savings	Total Price
1	LG DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS50 - OEM Item #: N82E16827136167 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy		$25.99
1	COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811119137 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$5.00 Instant	$84.99 $79.99
1	Western Digital Caviar SE WD5000AAJS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822136178 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy		$57.99
1	OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC ... - Retail Item #: N82E16817341018 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$30.00 Instant $30.00 Mail-in Rebate17-341-018	$129.99 $99.99
1	CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C7 G - Retail Item #: N82E16820145242 Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy		$144.00
1	ASUS P6T SE LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813131386 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	$15.00 Mail-in Rebate Card13-131-386	$219.99
1	Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail Item #: N82E16819115202 Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy	-$9.00 Instant	$288.99 $279.99
Subtotal:			$907.94

For a little bit more, you can get an even faster hard drive.  For $120 more, you can get a Velociraptor Drive.  WIN!

Definitely go for Big Lou's Core i7 build. I'm surprised that no one (at least on the second page) has suggested a core i7 build. I built a new core i7 computer a week or so ago on a slightly higher budget ($1100, I already had a graphics card and monitors) and it was the best decision I've made. Also with a Core i7 platform, you'll have many, many more upgrade possibilities. Intel's recent Core 2 cpu's have really only been filling out their lineup and introducing low power variants.

tl;dr: Big Lou's core i7 is a great suggestion and it has much more upgrade potential than Core 2s.