What I did when building my computer was start with a list of parts in PC Gamer magazine's "Hard Stuff" section. They have lists of parts for low, medium, and high end systems. Those can give you a fairly decent starting point from which to improvise based on budget. If nothing else it helps you get a foothold into how good different parts are. And before you buy anything, make sure everything is compatible. Nothing will ruin your fun faster than finding out after the fact that you don't have the correct connections required to make your computer run.

And make sure wherever you decide to put the computer is either near an AC unit or at the very least not enclosed, since a $3k computer is gaurrenteed to create more heat than your furnace. 

Ditto

and just because you build it yourself does not mean it is not covered.

ALL of your components will be covered under manufacturer warranty.

A lot of Power supply manufacs are offering 3 or 5 yr warranties.  DON"T go cheap, THE POWER SUPPLY IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT. based upon the Alienware config....1000W+ PSUs range about $160-$600, DO NOT buy a $200 one, stay in the $400+ range You get what you pay for.  Buying a cheap one can end up damaging other system components like the video card, CPU or Motherboard, I would HIGHLY recommend PC Power and Cooling or check JonnyGuru.com and find a 1000W that he has rated at least a 9

EVGA and XFX offer lifetime or even double lifetime warranties on Video cards.

Western Digital covers hardrives for 5 yrs.

Gigabyte Motherboards are covered for 3 yrs

everything else will be warrantied for at least a year maybe upto 3 depending of the maufac.

With prebuilt machines they offer a 1 yr warranty usually with the option to buy an extended warranty. so they are charging you for something they get for FREE, they get the same manufac warranty you do.

I would also find out where Alienware services warranty systems. Do they have a local approved service center or do you have to ship back to them???

BTW....glad you decided to buy a new system rather than trying to upgrade the old one. you'll be much happier and if you got a budget $3k you won't be hitting any gaming walls for a while.

as CommanderAdama suggested feel free to PM me and I'll give you my IM or email. be happy to help if you want to build your own.contact one or both of us.

Building your own is very easy, you'll enjoy the system more knowing you built it.

However, these warranties just cover normal wear and tear. Any user/assembly screw up, and you're on your own.

well, I'm taking all of this info down and looking at the specs. sure are a lot of options. I will probably not build but buy ready made (or they build) but at least there are several vendors to choose from.

I'll check back and see if there are any more suggestions, thank you all for you help.

Meant to link it to this, which has a monitor and is what I actually bought, not whatever the other link was.  Just a suggestion if you're looking for something to start with and maybe build on later but don't want to build one yourself to begin with.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11334819&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US

That's the exact same link as in your previous post and my earlier criticism still applies. 

I thought it was good when I bought it, guess I shouldve asked people who know first...like you guys.

It looks like ibuypower has the best configurations for the buck. I'm under 2K but will go back to upgrade some things before I actually buy.

again, thanks for all of your suggestions, you all made it easier to wade through the "stuff".

and yes, a valid concern for a new builder.

just be careful and wear a static strap and all would be fine. if one is going to build they gotta start somewhere. preferably having a friend that knows show you how to build the first.

I just can't stand pre-built systems. they always f*^k you somewhere and you can rarely get the exact configuration you want even from the customize options.

and the BIGGEST piece of BS from them is the fact (as mentioned before) that they charge you extra for an extended warranty that in the end is the exact same warranty you get yourself from the manufacturer. talk about a scam.

If you're going iBuyPower, do not, I repeat, do not use the default power supply in whatever system you configure.  It may theoretically be 680W, but it doesn't tell you what the hell it is.  Depending on the video card you wind up choosing, the Corsair CMPSU-650TX (650W) for $23 over the default one is your best bet.  If that's not enough for some reason (which it should be, but if you were to post what video card(s) you've decided on, we can tell you), the 850W Cooler Master for $53 more than that is solid.

I'm not certain all choices are available in all configurators, and I'm making the assumption that you're using the lowest priced configurator for it (as the whole idea of a configurator is for you to add what you want), but the point still stands.

Just my two cents.

there's no need to spend 400 bucks on a power supply when you can get a pc power & cooling 750 silencer for 150 or less these days. pc p&c rates their psu's by constant output, not peak. therefore, their 750 silencer is rated at 750 watts constant, not 750 peak or max like other companies rate their psu's. heck, even their 860 watt unit is less than 300 bucks. and yes, i am aware newegg lists the the 750 silencer as 750 watts max but that is wrong. it's 750 watts continuous.

what I'm leaning towards for power supply and graphics card are the 1000 Watt -- Corsair CMPSU-1000HX Power Supply with a geforce 285 graphics card.

1k watt is a bit of an overkill for a single card, though. It certainly doesn't hurt, but it also shouldn't be needed.

GMC with a budget of 3000...omg. You can do almost anything.

I'm going to spell out what you can afford in a computer right here (for fun):

Core I7 Extreme 3.2Ghz

Gigabyte X-58 Extreme http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128361

Patriot 6GB DDR3 1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220365&Tpk=PVT36G1600ELK

2x Gigabyte GTX 295 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125254

2x Intel X-25 SSDs http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167005

Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817814012

Extra HDD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136317

Blu Ray Burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136155

Vista Ultimate 64bit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116493

+ Case of your choice ~$150

Somehow that ended up coming out to 4k.... I guess i got a little carried away.

Get this processor instead http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202 and Overclock!

+

Only get one of those GTX 295s. Add another later, if ever necessary...Voila, under 3k.

Anyone here will agree that is GOD in computer form.

PS. The offer still stands. I'd be honored to build this monument of computing  

The whole thing depends what you want to do with it.  A Mega power rig is one thing, its a little pointless if in reality it just sits licking its lips but not much else .....  and all the latent power goes to waste. 

Its highly likely that a "standard" entry level quad and "average" hard disks (circa 300Gb each - get two, so you can have a totally separate load of the Op Sys for those times of hassle and woa, and easy BackUp), would do you well.  Its going to be a good while yet before mainstream 64Bit becomes reality, so there's no point getting more than 4Gb RAM.  Once the software houses start producing multi thread 64Bit apps as a routine norm, you can add more RAM and switch to 64Bit Windows, not a lot of point  before then.

The graphics card is worth spending the dosh on if you are an avid gamer of resource hungry games - get the most powerful you can afford giving it priority over the cpu for cash outlay, and fit third party cooling fans, to the case and the card.  Its reality now, that with all the eye candy being added to games - a situation likely to stay until 64Bit multi thread is a mainstream reality, when development will switch from eye candy - is that emphasis is placed on the GPU, not CPU - todays quad's are massively powewrful, most can only use about 20% of the fitted data crunching power, even therefore have a built in "upgrade" for the early days of the multi thread revolution to come.

Get the maximum amount of VRAM the card catagory will hold, dont skimp on the latter, its the one area of any PC that will explode in terms of need over the next couple of years - it does vary even for high end cards what the Vendor will fit - 512Mb is common now, need to look harder for 1Gb on the same card.

Optical device has to be Bluray, they won the DVD Wars, so fit it.

Get an 850W quality PSU  (The new Enermax ones are ideal), that will do you for the life of the rig even  with additional hardware, unless you get really outlandish on numbers of multiple graphics cards.

Spend wisely against need not dream list - and you will have enough to get a wireless router with fitted ethernet sockets giving you massive long term flexibility re house LAN/Wireless LAN ready for the coming explosion in House Network based devices (and the computer is just a minority on that particular coming list), and any future laptop/notebook.  Its not essential, agreed, but get it now and settle it in, and it will make life easier when these other devices come down the road.

Dont forget to get a good memory stick at least 32Gb - 64Gb if you have the dosh - they cost peanuts these days for what they are.

The difference in price of the above to a mega power rig that sits idle most of the time, means you will have the cash to get a decent colour laser printer, a top line games mouse (eg logitech revolution MX), some cash for essential quality Anti-V/Firewall/Office apps etc etc, and a decent headphone/mic setup.

Regards
Zy

Here is my newest design for the new age to come!

Any EVGA product you buy  -  be sure it is either ar or a1 at the end of the product number and it will be warranteed for life!

1. EVGA X58 SLI Classified motherboard - $449.99 [link]  buy direct not from new egg!

2. SILVERSTONE ZM1200M powersupply - $399.99 [link] this power supply will come very close to just doing it...

3. Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem  CPU - $288.99 [link] best for the price at this time.

4. COOLER MASTER V10 Hybrid CPU Cooler - $139.99 [link] other than water cooling this will work well.

5. 3x - EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 Graphics Card - $199.99 ea. [link] 3 of these to get the max performance.

6. EVGA 512-P3-N975-AR GeForce 9800 GT  - $129.99 [link] PhysicalX Graphics Card needed for peak performance.

7. 2x - CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) - 112.00 [link] for 12 GBs of Ram get 2 sets.

8a. Intel X25-M SSDSA2MH080G1 80GB SATA Internal Solid state disk - $393.00 [link] OS system drive.

8b. Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS 300GB Hard Drive - $229.00 [link] Gaming Drive & Programs...

I would use a eSata external drive for my backups and such. Which would only be connected at the time of it's use. Otherwise it is stored for better lifetime.

This being a moderate rig for the new age. I am still very picky about what case I would use!

9a. RAIDMAX SMILODON Case - $139.99 [link] this is good but cramped for space and cooling.

9b. COOLER MASTER HAF case - $159.99 [link] this has the space and the cooling... plus you can add water cooling later on.

As for DVD or CD and other Peripherals it will be good to start out with high end equipment. But this changes so fast I wait for things and buy just basic stuff I need.

My base price for this rig built by myself and ready to go with coolmaster case of course and basic Peripherals is  $5000.00

otherwise with shipping and you build youself it would be close to $3500 to $4000 and you do your own warranty for installations.

Most  have a lifetime warranty; others are like 3 years or better. NO OEM Manufacture will give you this for any kind of rig they build. Maybe 3 yrs - but it will cost you.

My best design for this new board has yet to come to light for the newest intel I7 chips are still being worked out. The true 8 core chip has yet to hit. Plus 64 bit Windows 7 is in the works of being released. I'm presently waiting for both of these to be complete before I go off the deep end and build the newest super computer I want here at home. But time will tell and I really can't wait for that day when I can place the order and get what I want.

Good luck with you new system and here is a pic of a HaF Case I did for my son here just a month ago for him to play his video games on and just have a better machine than he had before.

That and built another with a Sigma La Vie Case for my Daughter with basically almost the same. Except she is an ole timer and does not like vista so we used XP x64 and only 4 gigs of ram.

Here are a few photos

Sigma case 1

Sigma case 2

Sigma case 3

Haf Case 1

Haf Case 2

Haf Case 3

Also I would only recommend a 24 inch monitor or larger with this type of system!!!

mine's better

okay, here is what I thinking of:

Case Thermaltake V9 Gaming Tower Case w/420W Power Supply Blue )

Power Supply ( 750 Watt -- Corsair CMPSU-750TX Power Supply Quad SLI Ready )

Processor Intel Core i7 Processor 940 (4x 2.93GHz/8MB L3 Cache) )

Processor Cooling ( iBUYPOWER Napoleon CPU Cooling Fan System Kit )

Motherboard ( Asus P6T Deluxe V2 Intel X58 Chipset CrossFire and SLI Supported w/7.1 Sound, Triple-Channel DDR3, Dual Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, Three PCI-E MB )

Memory ( 6 GB [2 GB X3] DDR3-1600 Triple Memory Module Kingston HyperX )

Video Card ( NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 1GB w/DVI + TV Out Video )

Video Card Brand ( Major Brand Powered by NVIDIA )

Hard Drive ( 500 GB HARD DRIVE [Serial-ATA-II, 3Gb, 7200 RPM, 16M Cache] )

2nd Hard Drive ( None )

External Hard Drives [USB 2.0/eSATA] ( None )

CD/DVD Drive ( [5X Blu-Ray] Sony Optiarc BC-5100S BLU-RAY Reader & DVD±R/±RW Burner Combo Drive )

CD-RW/DVD-RW Drive ( Sony Dual Format/Double Layer 20X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive Blue )

Sound Card ( Creative Lab Sound Blaster Audigy SE )

Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )

Meter Display ( Thermal Temperature LCD Display Blue )

Flash Media Reader/Writer ( 12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader/Writer Blue )

Operating System ( Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium + [Free 60-Day !!!] Microsoft Office 2007(Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access ....) 64-Bit )

Additional Software ( Microsoft Works 9.0 (make the most of your home PC) )

I'm getting the works ($9) so that I can use my office 2000 professional upgrade. and all of the above is subject to change.

what's the price for that spec, gmc2?