$1000 gaming pc, 1st time ever, need help

so how much of that $1000 do you want to spend? You can throw together something for $600-$700 that will play SC2 on highest settings... Basically for $700 you can do a decent AMD build - for $1000 you can do an Intel build. Personally I prefer intel b/c I've always used them... so I'll throw you out a suggestion there. Also, I'm assuming you don't need a monitor? If you do that will change my reccomendations below - aand you dont need thermal paste unless you are buying an overclocking heatsink (the heatsink that comes wit hteh processor will have thermaal grease on it already and will be fine for you)

MSI X58 Pro-E USB3 ($170) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

i7 930 cpu ($290) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Raidmax case ($70) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Power supply ($60) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
*The case comes with a power supply, but its total junk. Good to have as a backup parts around

6gb RAM kit ($120) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

GTX460 superclock (209) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Samsung spinpoint 500gb ($55) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

DVDrw drive ($20-$25)

Total will be around $1000 (after rebates) for individual parts. Newegg will let you combo lots of those things and save $20-$30 here and there... which will add up to about $920 after rebates aand combos. Another $100 for windows 7 64bitt and you have a top notch gaming computer for around $1000

Obviously if you need a monitor - it will be another $160to$200... and of course this is overkill jsut tto play starcraft2. You could save money by going with an i5 build or an AMD version

^+1
PC Recommended Specifications for SC II:
* Windows Vista®/Windows® 7
* Dual Core 2.4Ghz Processor* 2 GB RAM
* 512 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800 GTX or ATI Radeon® HD 3870 or better
Here is the AMD 700$ build for Starcraft II that should do the job smoothly.

Mobo: AsRock 870 Extreme 3 with unique features like UCC, (x8/x8) Xfire layer and others.

HDD: Spinpoint F3 Fast and Reliable.

CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition BE+chance to unlock another core.

GPU: SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 5770 very quiet, runs cold and does the job.

PSU: Antec earthwatts EA500 500W 80 PLUS Certified

Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB Cas Latency 7+ can be OC'd to 1600MHz with no sweat.

DVD/RW + Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...

Total Price after rebates 664.89$: Add to this an OS(W7 64bitt) that you can get in Combo Deal with the HD 5770 + Monitor + HSF = around 1000$
Also if you are a first time builder here is a guide on how to put this system up on your own : http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/build-your-own-pc,review-...

this seems good but the motherboard has bad reviews apparently... should i be worried about that?

Well I chose that one b/c it was the only feature rich mobo that would get you into the 1k budget. Personally, I have the GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R. It's 30 dollars more... but I'd highly reccomend spendin the extra 30!

It also got toms hardware best of 2010 award.

they have a combo with :

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601930

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMP6GX3M3A1600C7

COOLER MASTER Silent Pro RS850-AMBAJ3-US 850W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active ...

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

total : $1045

would this be good?