After installing all my programming tools on my home desktop computer, the performance just isn't cutting it anymore. It has lasted me about 4-5 years now and isn't bad as a hand me down after a clean reinstall of Windows without all my junk. This whole weekend I read, researched, and speced out the best desktop computer for the money and below is what I came up with. This should last me five years easy. I'm very happy with what I came up with. A special thanks goes out to Kevin at work who gave me great specs to start from! Oh yeah, and this is for my birthday!
 
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 AND aftermarket fan: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX

Video Card: XFX HD-487A-ZHFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

Memory: 2x (8GB) G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

Case and Power Supply: Antec Nine Hundred Case & Rosewill RBR750 Power Supply (Combo Deal!)

DVD Burner: Samsung SH-S223Q

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