For my birthday, I got the parts to build my very own super-awesome gaming desktop for $500 less than a similar alienware. I used the last-generation
Alienware Predator 2.1 chassis, which is actually rather spacious compared to my desk :\
So anyway, my specs:
Asus Rampage II Extreme mobo (love it)
Intel core i7 920 running at 2.9 GHz with Corsair H50 liquid cooling (currently working on optimizing the highest clock speed to temp ratio)
2x ATI Radeon HD 5870 (yes, two of them. They never get hotter than 75 C)
6 GB Corsair DDR3 ram, 1333 MHz (going to get to 1600, since that's their actual speed)
640 GB 7200RPM drive
This thing handles any games I throw at it with ease. On Blockland, FRAPS peaks out at 1000 FPS on Slate in BL, but it probably goes way higher. It also plays Gmod and every Source game at a consistent 59-60 FPS, only dipping when the HDD loads something on-the-fly or I explode more than 20 explosive barrels at a time. Going to test in Crysis Soon.
I would have pics, but Photobucket is shatting itself right now. I'll get the pictures posted later, but all you need to know is that my computer is pretty much the Predator 2 chassis with the side door open because otherwise the hatch fan would just get in the way right now.
