dont bother with RAID, you really don't need it. have you decided on AMD, have you look at Intel's Core 2 Duo at all? Intel's Core 2 Quad will be very cheap in a month anyways, the only thing that i would change would be the sound card. there is a new sound card that creative and auzentech are making, the Auzen X-FI Prelude, http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-fi_prelude.php this card will own! but go for the x-fi if you want something cheap..