Start with a top-of-the-line CPU and the nicest available motherboard in a soundproof case. Max the RAM. Add a fancy graphics card, a big fast drive and a pair

Start with a top-of-the-line CPU and the nicest available motherboard in a soundproof case. Max the RAM. Add a fancy graphics card, a big fast drive and a pair of giant spinning disks, a big ultra-high-res monitor, and the input devices that you really want. Buy new, brand name, and not on a special sale. Et voila, one $5000 desktop machine. (If you put it together over the course of a year, buying reputable reliable parts on the best sales, it might be a $2500-$3000 machine, yes.)