Component Recommendations needed for new comp!

[ah6tyfour]

hi folks! long time member....but dont post very much (usually view the Hot Deals section...hehe)

anyway....its almost time to go off to college and i figure i should have a new system ready to go when i do (my current one has some good parts, but its still running a P3 500mhz...)

so how would you like to have a go at recommending the perfect computer?

Please base your suggestions on the following criteria:
I am an Intel person, so no AMDs please....
need high performance computer, but not a "Dream" computer (in other words, no water coolant running through it...hehe)

I currently have ready for new system: Viewsonic VX900 19" LCD, ATI Radeon 9700 Pro, and a SB Live Audigy

thats it....now its your turn to recommend a system =) have fun! hopefully i can take one of your specs, or a combination of a few of yours, and start shopping....i wanna start now so i will have a good 4-5 months to get things together before i do the actual building this summer.... =)

responses greatly appreciated! THANKS!

 

[xSauronx]

reccomendations are gonna change in 4-5 months due to price drops and new components...at least, i would certainly think so, id ask about a month before you wanna build, thatll give you a week to get opinions and read up on stuff, a week for shipping, an afternoon for building, an afternoon for installing everything and getting it working, and the rest of the time you can use to realize how much money you would have saved if you had started going through the hot deals forums today...

speaking of, get one of the WD 100gb 8mb buffer 7200rpm drives from best buy, 60 bucks in rebates, and theres coupons and such for bb as well, got mine sunday

/me likey new hard drive

i think the deal ends tomorrow, may not be able to find em now, but worth a look

 

[PCMarine]

Yes, I would until a month before as well.

 

[ah6tyfour]

heh...thanks guys....

i think i'll pass on the HDs though....since I currently have 3 100GB WD drives (although only 2MB buffer) from that Sams Club deal a LOOONG while back....i think they were like $90 after rebate over a year ago....

ok then, i'll wait until around may to start getting components together...wonder how much faster Intel can make their processors in 5 months..... perhaps i'll get a P4 5Ghz? hehe...