I've recently been looking into a family computer. We decided that collectively we can throw around $1,000 toward it. What I'm looking for is a machine that can run Windows 7 and play some games. It doesn't have to be the latest technology, but if it could run games like Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 I'd be happy. If it could play Skyrim, then even better of course. My main concern is finding a decent pre-built machine than can handle most of these things.

Right now I have my eyes on http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.647222, although the graphics card and operating system seem to be missing I'm taking on the task of finding the computer we end up with, and any suggestions or advice would be helpful.

That's not pre-built.

Well, glad we can knock that idea off the list

It seems like the computer I'm looking for just doesn't exist.

It's much cheaper and better to by your hardware and assemble your own. Pre-built usually come loaded with tonnes of crap you don't need, GPUs which can't really do much above running MS paint, and tend to be pretty bad. For $1000 you could easily just make your own for that, and it would run any games for the next 5 years, requiring, at most, a new GPU every couple (thats if you HAVE to run the game at full graphical capabilities).

Mine cost me just over $1200, however I am also running crossfire cards which both run me about $400 (not including any of my cooling stuff).

I'd say just go with a Dell if you don't want to build a computer or don't know how to. If anything I'd buy a brand name computer with a PCI express 16 slot and buy a good video card and install it. I'm not sure if dells have PCI express 16x cards but they might. Building a computer for your first time can be pretty intimidating and you can fry your ram and processor if don't know how to install it right. The first time I built a computer a friend helped me who knew what he was doing and I also took courses in high school on how to build them or well the class was called cybercore.

If it must be pre-built, $1050 custom build here:
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/CyberPower_H67_Configurator/


Customized as such:

Case: NZXT M59 Gaming Mid-Tower Case with See-Thru Window [-7]
Extra Case Fan Upgrade: Default case fans
CPU: Intel? Core? i5-2500K 3.30 GHz 6M Intel Smart Cache LGA1155 (All Venom OC Certified) [+104]
Freebies: You choose...
Venom Boost Fast And Efficient Factory Overclocking: No Overclocking
Cooling Fan: CoolerMaster Hyper TX3 Gaming CPU Cooling Fan [-6]
Motherboard: [CrossFireX] Asus P8P67 Intel P67 Chipset DDR3 ATX Mainboard w/ UEFI, DIGI+VRM, 7.1 HD Audio, BT GO!....
Memory: 4GB (2GBx2) DDR3/1333MHz Dual Channel Memory (Corsair or Major Brand)
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 1GB 16X PCIe Video Card [+182] (Major Brand Powered by NVIDIA)
Multiple Video Card Settings: Non-SLI/Non-CrossFireX Mode Supports Multiple Monitors
Power Supply Upgrade: * 650 Watts - Corsair CMPSU-650TX 80 Plus Power Supply - Quad SLI Ready [+99]....IMPORTANT!!!
Hard Drive: 1TB SATA-III 6.0Gb/s 32MB Cache 7200RPM HDD [+23] (Single Hard Drive)
Optical Drive: 24X Double Layer Dual Format DVD+-R/+-RW + CD-R/RW Drive (BLACK COLOR)
Sound: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
Network: Onboard Gigabit LAN Network
Keyboard: Xtreme Gear (Black Color) Multimedia/Internet USB Keyboard
Mouse: XtremeGear Optical USB 3 Buttons Gaming Mouse
Flash Media Reader/Writer: None [-3]
USB Port: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
Operating System: Microsoft? Windows? 7 Home Premium [+104] (64-bit Edition)

Everything else is set to NONE or default.


OR you can go with these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229221
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227322

I'd go with the third choice. or this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227322

The third choice has a better better video card and more ram than the other 2. The 2nd choice isn't bad, but if 1,000 is your limit I'd go with the 2nd choice. But if you don't mind spending a little more than 1,000 go with the 3rd choice defiantly. I'd buy the third one myself if I had the money and didn't want to build the PC myself.