Getting our taxes back and looking to finally kick my 5 year old laptop to the curb. Having survived on a laptop for the last 5 years you can imagine that I am not truly the "PC gamer" type, however I want a machine that will be able to play all of the games that my friends enjoy [The Old Republic, Skyrim, etc] with little to no problems.
I am looking at approximately a $1,000 budget (give or take a couple hundred). I know that as far as PC's go that this $1000 could build something fairly powerful, the issue is that I can't (ie: don't want to) be the one to build it. I realize having to buy a "ready out of the box" machine means I won't be getting as much bang for my buck, but the comfort of knowing I will just be able to plug it in and go is worth the limitations in my mind.
One last note that will affect the overall machine is a monitor. I have monitor's available to me (the business I work for has some just laying around that I have already been told I can have) the issue is that they are not of the highest quality. I would like to get a new one; but I know between a new monitor and being "pre built" I have effectively used a considerable part of my budget.
What I am looking for is some suggestions of things to take into consideration as I shop over the next couple weeks. This can be everything from hardware, to websites, to brands, and other things I have undoubtedly overlooked. I am not as computer savvy as I wish I was and am willing to hear out any and all advice.
I am looking at approximately a $1,000 budget (give or take a couple hundred). I know that as far as PC's go that this $1000 could build something fairly powerful, the issue is that I can't (ie: don't want to) be the one to build it. I realize having to buy a "ready out of the box" machine means I won't be getting as much bang for my buck, but the comfort of knowing I will just be able to plug it in and go is worth the limitations in my mind.
One last note that will affect the overall machine is a monitor. I have monitor's available to me (the business I work for has some just laying around that I have already been told I can have) the issue is that they are not of the highest quality. I would like to get a new one; but I know between a new monitor and being "pre built" I have effectively used a considerable part of my budget.
What I am looking for is some suggestions of things to take into consideration as I shop over the next couple weeks. This can be everything from hardware, to websites, to brands, and other things I have undoubtedly overlooked. I am not as computer savvy as I wish I was and am willing to hear out any and all advice.