You can get a core 2 duo machine for 1,000.00 now that will run Vista like a champ, especially if you put 60.00 more into it and snag 4 GB of high quality RAM. Of course that would only be worthwhile for a 64 bit version of Vista.
I'd argue that going to vista 64 with 4GB is not necessary. You'll probably lose about as much memory from the larger pointers as you'll gain from the larger address space. As I recall, I had about 3.5GB addressable memory with vista 32.
If you're going to x64, go for the gusto and get 8GB. You can do that and still come in at 1000 (or less).
I built a Core2 machine, with an e8400, 8GB of ram, 500GB HD (640 is now the same price), 520W PSU (overkill), inexpensive GPU (machine mostly for photoshop), Vista Premium x64, Norton AV/Ghost 14 and a P180 case for about 1000 (give or take 50 bucks).
I certainly could have done it for less, but it was for my parents and they wanted certain features on the MB, that required a 150.00 for the MB...other wise I'd have gotten one for 100 or less. And the other factor was I wanted to build them a super quiet rig (no reason I just did ;)) so 5 slipstream fans added another $50.00 or so.
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