Desktop Computer Packages

Custom designed computer, I need to know details?

A friend of the family is a paraplegic computer-nerd repairman and builder...so he's offered to build me a computer wholesale (or whatever the term for "cheaper than buying one" is). I will have my current laptop (runs quite well) for college, and this new computer is more for my own recreation. It will be a desktop- and I need to know what exactly I should be asking for when it comes to memory, speed, graphics, and such. My laptop is a Toshiba from two years ago, I don't really know much else...but it is fast (though kind of jerky when playing The Sims 2). I am an avid fan of games such as The Sims (awaiting The Sims 3) and games that have large worlds for freelance exploration (Oblivion and Morrowind). I also have a tendency to store music; so I guess what I want is a computer with very little load-time in playing games, fast and smooth performance, and room to store mp3/document files. What are some things I should be asking for when I talk to him?

Public Comments

1. ask for a graphics card that is direct x10 compatible and HDCP compatible. and probably around 512mb of memory. Ask for 2-4 gbs worth of ram. (cost issue) Ask for a Widescreen HDCP compliant monitor. (you choose whatever size up too you for cost) the rest is mainly up to you. like how many dvd burners you want, do you want a blu-ray player. stuff like that. Graphics cards with 2 dvi ports is always nice. or one that has 2 dvi ports and one hdmi port. thats all i have to offer right now :)
2. AMD Athlon 64 FX-57; Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe gaming motherboard; 1 GB + RAM [2-3 GB recommended]; 120 GB + HDD. Please check out the links for more details. All the best. ST