I'm kind of torn.

I would say one of three:
1 - Hard Drive
2 - RAM
3 - Video card

Motherboard.

Harddrives aren't that expensive (like $100 for >=120gb) RAM is $50-$75ish, and my video card (Radeon 9200 Pro) was $100 when I bought it (it's about $80 now.)

So, Motherboard/Hard Drive probably.

..or monitor if you're counting that.

[quote author=cefx- link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=0#msg72796 date=1090896745]
I'm kind of torn.

I would say one of three:
1 - Hard Drive
2 - RAM
3 - Video card
[/quote]

If you mean money, then by all means the video card.

Unless you're using RAMBUS RIMMs, then I doubt you'll buy enough memory to warrant spending more money on memory than a video card, especially if you want top-quality gaming. I'd like to get a GeForce 6800, but I don't have enough money atm... $600.. :o

Processor.

I say Hard Drive, because I intend to reach at least 1 TB.

After all, I have a 5 slot Drive Cage in my new case.

It's just begging for four 250gig hdd's.

RAM..well...

Getting 2 sticks of high end Mushkin RAM, 512mb modules, is pricey.
About $400-500.

[quote author=Maddox link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=0#msg72800 date=1090897872]
Processor.
[/quote]
Agreed.

[quote author=cefx- link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=0#msg72802 date=1090898069]

RAM..well...

Getting 2 sticks of high end Mushkin RAM, 512mb modules, is pricey.
About $400-500.
[/quote]
That's actually probably closer to $300, unless you're buying somewhere shitty (or canadian).

I spent the most on a case. :)

[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=0#msg72809 date=1090899537]
I spent the most on a case. :)
[/quote]

And the case is cardboard. :P

[quote author=Myndfyre link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=0#msg72810 date=1090899920]
[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=0#msg72809 date=1090899537]
I spent the most on a case. :)
[/quote]

And the case is cardboard. :P
[/quote]

$15 for the case, plus $15 shipping. But it came with a cdrom/power supply/floppy drive, so it was a pretty good deal.

$5+$6.50s/h for a video card
I got 2 motherboard/cpu sets, one was free (300mhz) and the other was $5 + $9 shipping

Harddrive/ram/fan/speaker Free + $10 shipping (from j0k3r)

I would spend quite alot on RAM.

[quote author=Maddox link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=0#msg72800 date=1090897872]
Processor.
[/quote]

[quote author=Newby link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=0#msg72806 date=1090898480]
Agreed.
[/quote]

Processor by far, video card is second.

I spent 180 on my processor. I spent 120 on my video card (but will probably spend close to 200 when I upgrade it). I spent about 70 on my motherboard. I spent the most on my hard drives. But I have a few so it doesnt really count. My ram was about 120 bucks for a 512 stick.
But processor or video card interchangeably depending on what you are running. If you go cheap on the video card and are running intel then easily the processor. But if you go amd and get a pricy video card then by far the video card.

Now that I think of it. Monitor.

My monitor came out of a dumpster and my computer is pieced together from leftover parts from people's computers that I upgraded for them. I'm collecting pieces right now for a cluster so if anybody has any crap parts they don't want P.M me.

Depending on what type of computer your going for, you can easily spend a shitload on a processor, or the video card. These days RAM is actually pretty cheap compared to the other components the computer. But I must agree with everyone else, monitor is most likely to be the most expensive.

I spent $999 on my computer, and $450 on my video card last summer.

Video first, certainly. Probably CPU second, then mobo.

Kingston KHX4300K21G DDR SDRAM 1 GB RAM

PC, Sun - 533 MHz Bus - PC-4300
$379 to $560

For anybody who cares, I just spent $14 on a NIC :)

Monitor. Mine costs 900$.

Apple Cinema HD Display (30" flat panel)

$3,299

[quote author=Maddox link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=15#msg72923 date=1090950722]
Apple Cinema HD Display (30" flat panel)

$3,299
[/quote]
How about something in the realm of reality. :P

Software, mostly development tools and libraries.
Current value about $35000 in development tools and libraries.

[quote author=Grok link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=15#msg72925 date=1090950878]
Software, mostly development tools and libraries.
Current value about $35000 in development tools and libraries.
[/quote]

It's supposed to be in a computer. I see those as on a computer. It's just a matter of semantics.

[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=15#msg72906 date=1090948467]
For anybody who cares, I just spent $14 on a NIC :)
[/quote]
I got mine free ;D

[quote author=Falcon[anti-yL] link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=15#msg72935 date=1090952865]
[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=7905;start=15#msg72906 date=1090948467]
For anybody who cares, I just spent $14 on a NIC :)
[/quote]
I got mine free ;D
[/quote]

I had 3 which were free, and I finally had to buy one. So now I have 4 :)

Iago, the sad part about all this...
Your cheap computer you made is probably faster than the current computer I'm on will ever be. :/


Video cards seem to be the most expensive.