Best $1200 Computer Setup

[Bagel Fuzzynuts]

My company has a micro-purchase plan, and I will be reimbursed up to $1200 for computer/computer related item purchases. There are some excluded items (monitors over 24 in., smartphones, PC games, etc...) but everything I am interested in getting is included. I don't engage in much PC gaming, and streaming Netflix would be the biggest resource drainer on my system.

My thought is to buy a decent desktop, upgrade the video card so I can output through HDMI to a 40" LCD, and maybe upgrade the HDD as well. I would also like to get a router and modem (currently renting the modem from the cable company, and my wireless router is an older linksys G). I would also like to get a wireless/bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Maybe a decent webcam for skyping?

Can anyone make suggestions on what I should/should not do? What are some solid buys (or current cheap ass deals) on a modem and router? Any computer lines I should gravitate more towards?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[jchoi]

How comfortable are you with buying the parts yourself and putting it together? Even though you won't be doing too many intensive tasks, it's always nice to pick each component yourself so you know exactly what you're getting. Plus, you'll be familiar with the hardware in case anything goes wrong down the line.

I'd suggest getting a system with an Intel i7 or AMD hexacore processor with 6-8 GB of RAM and an nVidia GTX 460. A dual channel wireless-N router is also the best available right now.

 

[legendarydogs]

[quote name='jchoi']How comfortable are you with buying the parts yourself and putting it together? Even though you won't be doing too many intensive tasks, it's always nice to pick each component yourself so you know exactly what you're getting. Plus, you'll be familiar with the hardware in case anything goes wrong down the line.

I'd suggest getting a system with an Intel i7 or AMD hexacore processor with 6-8 GB of RAM and an nVidia GTX 460. A dual channel wireless-N router is also the best available right now.[/QUOTE]

6-8 gb of ram is good, I say 4 gb is the sweet spot though. I would get a ati 5870 for a graphics card though.