So, my Desktop computer is crashing, overheating, falling apart, etc. I am looking to spend around 1,000 dollars on a new pc and refuse to go to dell or gateway.

What would you guys reccomend? I haven't really been paying attention to computer hardware for a year or so since mine was doing fine up until recently. The only stipulation for my computer is that I need it to be well cooled because the rooms it will be in are very small and already are hot (gogo dorm rooms :x). Also, I often 2-box on the same PC, will a duel core processor make a difference?

If you want a prebuilt system, I'd recommend looking into <a href="http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Category_Code=PCSystems">Monarch Computers</a>. They have some nice budget computers. If you're looking higher end, <a href="http://www.widowpc.com/">WidowPC</a> is a good up and coming gaming computer maker, but still expensive.

If you're going to build it, I recommend Newegg, Monarch or ZipZoomFly to get your parts. The dual core will help as much as getting a faster CPU - it doesn't benefit games directly, other than it helps with more processing power.

I've had good luck with Monarch and Newegg. I've heard nothing but good things about ZZF.

Here are a few recommendations.

Get the best videoboard you can afford. It makes a huge difference in games. Luckily NVidia just released the 6800GS this week, and it's readily available now. $209 for a very fast videoboard.

Go PCIe instead of AGP. I would even recommend getting an SLI motherboard even if you don't currently plan to go SLI. The price difference isn't that much, and it will give you the option of just getting a second video board for some serious performance increases for short money down the road.

If I had a budget of $1000, I would go for:
AMD X2 3800+ (Dual Core Processor)
1GB PC3200 (2gb if you can afford it)
GeForce 6800GS
Gigabyte SLI motherboard
200GB SATA drive

All of that, plus a case and Powersupply should be pretty close to the $1000 mark.

Now, you don't "need" a dual core processor, but, it really is an excellent processor and is superb for gaming as well as any multithreaded apps. (like any flavor of photoshop) I own a 4400+, myself, and Dual Core processors own when I do things like video editing, or even just windowing out of EQ or other games to look up information.

What's nice is, you can get a second 6800GS down the road for a significant boost in performance. A pair of $209 6800gs's are on par to a single 7800GTX for $500.

What do you guys know/think about Ibuypower.com? (and thanks a bunch for your responses so far)

Never heard of'em, Netura, but they got some awards /shrug.
If you know how to handle your own computer if something breaks, it's usually not a big deal who you bought it from. Just make sure that the motherboard is reputable.

I'd recommend this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131540) for your motherboard. I don't have personal experience with Ibuypower, but anytime someone mentions them, it's usually in a negative way.

I would recommend the below computer supplier. Panamah bought a pc from them. Maybe she will make a comment.

http://www.cyberpowersystem.com/

I would recommend that you buy enough to hit the game minimums on titles coming up. If you are going to two box EQ, you want fast vid card memeory and fast memory. Processor speed does not matter much. Also, games don't use much of a processor capacity.

You know, I couldn't remember who I bought my last computer from. Was it cyberpowersystem? It might have been. Iagoe and Jinjre were just visiting me and admiring the case I selected (crazy looking thing) and asked me where I got it from. Now they'll know!

The computer is fine.

You can find my new build here (http://van.forums.thedruidsgrove.org/showthread.php?t=11862) along with my reasoning on each component.

It's more than you are budgeting but you can go a step down or 2 on each component and get where you want to be.

You know, I couldn't remember who I bought my last computer from. Was it cyberpowersystem?

I can't tell you for sure that you ordered it from Cyberpower. I remember that I said that cyber power sold good stuff at cheap prices. I remeber that you agreed with that. There were a few other places mentioned such as newegg. Newegg has given a positive experience in the past for me. I, also, had said that cyberpower has custom service ran by people that spoke very heavily accented english. I thought it was Korean.

I would suggest looking at the setups that they have and look at the configurator. If you can reuse parts such as a floppy drive, you can get a stripped down box with a good process in your price range.

I personally doubt that duel cores will be of any value outside of a server. A faster MoBo and faster memory( vid and board) will be better enhancements.

PS if you bought a cyber power you will have a CP in script on your box cover. I have a sticker with the OS on the side and the name cyberpower inc.

I'll look for the sticker.

The web site looks like the one I went to before.