I just built a new pc a month ago and had everything for under $500. I used an Intel i5-3570K overclocked to 4.75Ghz with no issues at all. It is on a Gigabyte UD3H MoBo which was super easy to OC memory and processor with a OCz ZT Series 750 Watt Modular ATX Power Supply. Right now I am using 12Gb of 1600Mhz DDR3 Corsair memory, a OCz 60GB SSD, Coolermaster Hyper 612t cooler in a Thermaltake case with 7 120mm Coolermaster 2200rpm fans. This system was done on a budget and could have really gone crazy with more expensive parts but this system blows away my previous system which was a i5-760 which was the first gen of the Intel i processors and was over 4 times as fast as my Pentium 4 3Ghz HT I had. I am going to upgrade to a i7-3770K which is only $289 but was sold out when I built mine or I would have spent the extra $100 to get more cores. I am fixing to build a fast laptop for a constable friend so he will quit spending outrageous money for Dells that sometimes aren't anymore reliable than a $400 HP. That just means he can buy more guns and ammo which is more fun to play with
