[ReallyDedPoet]

Originally Posted by Skybird

2000 dollars? I spend 800 Euros three years ago, and the system still can handle all and everything I throw at it.

Just do not buy the latest, the newest, the most recent. That stuff, especially CPUs and graphics boards, is hopelessly overpriced.

Look out for for example a GPU card generation that is one generation behind the current market top leaders. You get maybe 5% more performance with that best of the best. And pay twice as much money. Never forget to consider the bang-for-the-buck ratio. Else you get eaten alive by those shops.

I would check a solid i5 or i7 (try to find an i5 that almost reaches the performance of the more expensive i7, at least three years ago some i5's where not inferior to i7's in gaming purposes, it depends, of course), a solid mainboard of good reputation, a good nVidia GTX 660. Windows 7 x64, 8 GB RAM or more.

And get a good PSU, quality here pays off. Many people underestimate the importance of good PSUs.

You will cry less when buying not the most expensive, because PC tech incredibly fast looses its monetarian value.