Custom Built Rig for 3d Modeling.

[GottaBeTheJuice]

Ok, so my cousin is planning on getting into 3d modeling for video games etc. I'm not the most informed on the 3d world in relation to computer specs.
We are trying to figure out what we need a lot of (ram etc) and what we need the best we can afford of. We want to custom build it, because everyone knows building a custom rig is the cheapest way.
Does he need a good graphics card? A decent amount of ram? Etc.

Sorry for beating around the bush in a sense, but basically, whats the best bang for the buck in terms of performance when 3d modeling when looking to custom build a rig?

Or will some of the pre-built PC's be good from NewEgg?
Such as this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229122

[capt chuck]

I would rank in order of importance:

1. high powered graphics card
-- nvidia quatro series designed for high end graphics work, but expensive
-- A higher end gaming card often does the trick for less

-- I don't know that much about the 9500 model in newegg system, but 1GB ram is good

2. Lots of RAM
3. High power multi-processor cpu
4. Good Power supply
5. nice large high resolution monitor (two better yet)

My system has 8GB ram and 2 dual processor xeons (2.1GHZ) (got it before the quads came out or I would have configured with 2 quad procs), My graphics card was good at the time I purchased, but is obsolete now (and I wish it had more horsepower). I use a 24" and 22" flat screens side by side. Of course for 8GB ram you will need a 64bit OS which most 3d programs support.

As I mentioned I don't know that much about the 9500 card, but the proc seems decent and the ram could be expanded cheaply enough. The power supply seems a bit weak.


EDIT: I didn't notice before the brand is cyberpower. I had very bad luck with a cyberpower pc... broke three times in just over a year.. they fixed the first two (with me paying expensive shipping) and the third time they said the 1 yr warrentee had expired (even though with all the repairs I actually had gotten about 7 months usage out of it). Mine came with XP os just before vista came out with a promise of a free upgrade to vista... that didn't happen either. I purchased my 3D workstation (from Dell) about the same time as the cyberpower and I know some people don't like Dells, but this one has worked with never a hitch and they honored the upgrade.