Looking for new gaming computer!

I'd check this out: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Essentio+Desktop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i7+Processor+/+8GB+Memory+/+1TB+Hard+Drive/2634096.p?id=1218341074379&skuId=2634096

easy step-by-step guide.

1. learn your case. Watch reviews, look at it, find the mounts for all your parts etc.
2. Put your CPU into the motherboard and attach the heatsink and cooler.
3. Insert your RAM into the Motherboard.
4. Screw in the motherboard standoffs into the case, Make sure you use the correct holes for the correct motherboard type, (ATX), (miniATX), (E-ATX), (WhateverATX)
5. Install your powersupply.
6. install the IOshield into the case then install the motherboard onto the standoffs. This can be a bit tricky but go watch some guides.
7. Install your drives into their bays. HDDs, SSD, DVD drives etc.
8. Install all your power cables and other cables. The connectors to your front panel and power connectors. This is probably the hardest part because it's not always clear which connectors go to where.. use the manuals for your case and motherboard.
9. Check everything so that no connections are loose and especially the CPU fan header. When you power on your system for the first time make sure every fan is spinning properly and feel the air flow inside the case. Go directly into the BIOS by hammering the setup key (usually DEL). You don't need to set up anything right now but check that all your HDDs SSDs DVDs are recognized. Make sure your full amount of RAM shows up in the POST and check that no overclocking feature has been enabled. I once got a motherboard that fresh from the package set my FSB to 350MHz.. burned my northbridge, RAM and my CPU FML! One thing you want to look at in BIOS is your boot priority. You can accelerate boot time by disabling boot options such as a nonexistent floppy or USB flash drive. Generally you want the boot prio to be 1. DVD reader 2. SSD/HDD. Hope that helps you.

That's a tough question to answer, it's easy for someone who has a knack for electronics. I built my first computer in '96 and it was very simple until I got to the driver install. I got a friend to come over and teach me to use the BIOS and after that I've never needed help building a computer again. If you go on YouTube and type in "building a gaming pc" or any variation of that, everybody wants to show you how to do it, there are thousands of videos. If you decide to go this route, you'll need to know a couple of things, first, I forgot to put a power supply in your list, that will run about $125. Get the CoolerMaster Silent Pro M1000, it's a modular supply so you can use the wires you need and leave the rest in the box. Second, research on YouTube to see if you think you're capable and WANT to try it, if you don't want to do it you'll hate me forever. Third, wait until everything arrives before you start the build or you'll wind up having to take stuff apart to install stuff you didn't have. Fourth, create a checklist and follow it (i.e. assemble case, install power supply, install motherboard, etc.) it will keep you from skipping steps. 4b (oops) Leave all the products in the anti-static wrapper until it's time to install it, don't build on carpet, and touch the screw between two wall-sockets every now and then to expel static electricity. fifth, only install one graphics card and the Solid state drive until you get BIOS sorted out, you want to have all the appropriate drivers and your OS and Software installed on the SSD before you add the other drive and graphics card because it will ensure you at least get a clean boot to BIOS. Two graphics cards on crossfire can cause seriously baffling problems if the drivers aren't installed when you boot. Nowadays, pretty much every driver you could ever need are already installed in Windows 7 so it should be easy to set up. A nerdy friend is worth his weight in gold when it comes time to set up BIOS but the Motherboard I put in that list has a nice GUI. Then, after all the parts are together correctly and BIOS is set up the way you want it, you'll need to boot up and start monitoring your temperature while running different stuff (i.e. 1080p video, a couple of graphics intensive games, a web browser with 30 tabs open) and watch to see if it gets too hot. The case I listed will come with several fans but you may need to add more, the really expensive ones are $20 a piece but you can find 3 packs for $10 or $7 a fan. The really good thing about building it yourself is A) the self satisfaction, B) the knowledge gained, you will know your system like it's your best friend C) You can spend less money or the same money and get more. The system I laid out for you can be converted to a water cooled machine too, should you ever decide to go that route. Good Luck Man, have fun with it and you'll never regret it. I have a 12 core Xeon Hackintosh, 24GB RAM and it's water cooled. It was easy to build and fun. You might consider a Hack, you can always boot-camp Windows7 or 8 on a Mac, you can't run Mac on a Windows machine though.

I agree with Jackster, build your own and pay the same as you would for the XPS and you'll be the baddest kid on the block. I checked the prices on everything contained within the Dell XPS 8300 Entertainment package and was able to upgrade those components for the same price. So, for the roughly $1200 you'd spend after tax here's what I came up with... -Core i7 2600K - $289 Google (shopping) Same as XPS -ASUS P7P55D-E LX M. Board - $81 Amazon.com Same as XPS -Crucial 12GB 1333 SDRAM - $66 Crucial.com Better than XPS -AMD Radion 6770x2 CrsFre - $264 Amazon.com Double the XPS -Blu-ray combo drive LG - $60 Amazon.com Same as XPS -Samsung 2TB HDD - $59 Google Same as XPS -OCZ Vertex 60GB SSD - $65 Google WAY better than XPS -THX true studio sound - $47 TigerDirect Same as XPS -Wireless-N PCI-e card - $28 Google.com Same as XPS -ThermaltakeVM30001w2Z Case - $34 TigerDirect Same or better (pov) -Viewsonic 19" Display HiDef- $95 Google.com Not included with XPS -Keyboard and mouse (decent)- $60 Amazon.com Same as XPS -Logitech S-220 2.1 Speakers- $18 Google.com Better than XPS Total - $1,165.00 / Dell - $1,100 plus TAX and no monitor. So a way better computer for the same money and you get the pride of building it yourself. This was just a quick illustration of how much better off you'll be if you build your own. I pieced this little list together in about 15 min. You can go on TigerDirect.com and check out their barebones kits too. It makes a good starting point because you get so many parts from one place with free shipping. Be careful though, Tiger can be very expensive on particular parts. I highly recommend building your own. YouTube has all the info you'll need to put it together, no matter how much or little you know. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

If the only game your concerned with playing is Minecraft you do not need a very powerful machine at all.

As Jackster1337 said you can build a computer for the same price as the one you linked that is much more powerful. The draw back of course is that you are not your own tech support instead of relying on Dell for support. If your willing to attempt or know how to build your own machine you can buy kits from newegg.com or tigerdirect that can essentially give you 95% of everything needed for the build.

You can save a lot of money by building your own.

Dell computers are overpriced for what is in them.