My system has been improving over the last couple years.

Its up to $10,000+


2 desktops, 2 laptops, 2 screens, 2 keyboard/mice, and a hifi custom 6.2 surround sound system.

emachine 700id

800mhz
320mb ram
120gb maxtor
xp bone edition

free just had to buy the hardrive

Here we go

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 754 - $136
Nforce3 250 Gigabyte - $65
2 sticks 512 DDR 400 - $80
Geforce 6600GT Leadtek - $140
Case, side window + lights - $60
17in CRT flat screen - $120
80GB Samsung HD - $65
Mouse + Keyboard - $30
Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit - $20 = $716

I have upgraded over the past couple yeras. Real price is probably around $1,000.

i got 3

Alienware ALX
Nvidia 7900 GTX SLI
500GB at 7200 RPM
intel 3.37 D extreme ( something like that)
liquid cooling
PhyX card they are real
Alienwares PSU at 650 watts
total $7200

Sony Vaio laptop
Core duo processor
Nvidia 7400 mobile
120 GB at 5200 Rpms
total $2700

HP pavillion desktop
3.0 intel solo
250 GB hd at 5200 Rpm
ATI radeon Viper
total $500

Monitors
Samsung 193P 19in (alienware) $1800
Samsung LCD TV 32in 4000to1 contrast $2000(HP pavillion)

grand total $14,200


I guess they are getting cheaper only if you are budgeting

e6400 cpu: $235 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004)
Intel BLKDP965LTCK Motherboard: $119.99 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813121035)
2gb (2 x 1gb) pc6400 RAM: $342 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145038)
Antec Sonata II case: $89.99 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129155)
Antec Smartpower 450Watt PSU: See above
Gigabyte 7600gt Silent Pipe II: $169.99 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125025)
2 x 250gb SATAII 7200RPM 8mb Cache Western Digital Caviar: $159.98 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136055)
2 x Dual layer 16x DVD burner: $57.98 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827136092)
Panasonic Floppy Drive: $10

that is $1184.93 by my calculations.

Add my monitor and youre sitting on $1400. Keep in mind that things here in Australia are more expensive so thats $1500.

This is without speakers, mouse, keyboard so add another $200.

Regards,

Korrupt

I built mine for around $200.00

Specs:
Intel Celeron D 2.66ghz @ 3.00ghz
512 Mb. Ram
Via P4m800 Pro Motherboard
Mid-Size Atx Case
160gb. 7200rpm Western Digital Caviar SE Hard Drive
450 Watt Generic Power Supply
S3 UniChrome Pro IGP Graphics
Old CRT Monitor

Parents Computer Went for $1099.99

Specs:
Sony Vaio VGC-RB33GY
3.6ghz Intel P4 560J w/HT
1gb of DDR PC3200 Ram
250 GB 7200RPM Maxtor HD
Ati Radeon X300 w/128mb
Mid-Tower Atx Case
301 Wall Generic Power Supply
TV Tuner
19" LCD Monitor

lets see ..

system bulid 2003
AMD 2500+ $119
Vantec HSF $30
ABIT NF7S $120
CorsairXMS 1gb DDR400 $240
Enermax 350watt psu $70
ATI 9600XT 128DDR $160
MaXtor9 80 ATA133 8mb $80
MaXtor10 160 16mb $80
DVDRW drives $80
aero panel2/HDDcooler $40
Crystal fonts LCD screen $60
Benq 17" LCD $ 420
Sharp 5.1 HTS $440
Razer Mouse,logitech kb $80
Leadtek Tv tuner $50
Case/fans/neons/grilles/cables $200

total= $2269+
this was overtime some parts were upgraded not mention

street value today = $400

My desktop pc cost about £500. I bought most stuff later on and I can't remember the prices accuratly, but anyway:

P4 3.0 ghz with mobo and ram (512MB), and Geforce 5200FX bundle: £350 IIRC
New Case: £25
New 120GB HD: £60
New CPU Fan: £40
HD Cooler: £40
New 17" Monitor: £160
New XFX 6600GT: £120

In my profile, System #1 was El cheapo. The Performance that it got in 2003 may have cost about 500-700$ (Bought by Grandma!). System #2 is a system I designed for my grandmother. The price range was in 1000-1400$. And, it has some pretty great features and performance, even with a VERY low-end graphics card.

I don't think it's where we live, but how we got our computers. I am pretty sure about half (or more) of the people here built there computers as well, but bought most of the stuff cheap online. Especially on Newegg.com (if you live in the US). How did you end up paying $600 Australian on a GeForce 4 Ti? It's about $50-$60 Here online.

System specs on my sig...

CPU: 99
Mobo: 67.99
HDD: 56
VGA: 109.99
Case: 50
DVD Burner: 30
17" LCD: 200
Optical mouse: 7
Speakers: 20
PSU: 38.99

Grand total: 678.97

You were looking at a post from 2003 . The price may well have been that high back then.

True, but that still seems expensive even from then (wasn't that card about a year old then?). I didn't see the date

System #1, El Cheapo, is my family's comp, made in 2003. System #2, my grandmother's photo lab and my "gaming" station, was built last year, about spring. For specs, cilck my name and look under System #1 for El Cheapo, and System #2 for Big Tower. (Note: System #1 is a Compaq Presario S5010NX).

Intel E6300 $320
GA-965P-S3 $209
2g kit Corsair VS 667 $250
6600GT 256mb (575/1100) $320 (kept from old one)
LG H10A 16x DL $45
2x400g $350each(kept from old one)
200g SataII Samsung $91
ANTEC NEOHE 500 $156

I think that comes to a little over $2k but i've also spent about $500 on Zalman cooling + case + surge protectors and wireless stuff