With that budget you should be able to get a high-performance PC like and i7 CPU or Sandy bridge i5, 8GB RAM and a GTX580 which should last for more than 3-4 years.
I would suggest buying the parts separately but eeeh ok here is a PC website with a LOT of good customs that you can chose from but here is my favorit to look at, and yes it will last you a LONG time if you customize it the right way http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/AMD_Athlo...
I have a pretty awsome pc that can run pretty much anything with the i7 intel core chip 2600k version I think clocked in at 3.4ghz and a evga 560ti graphics card, 8gb of ram im running crysis 2 maxed out on it and a nice LED monitor as well and I like playing games on the pc but sometimes I prefer my ps3 because it's more relaxing and laid back using a controller rather than using a keyboard and mouse all the time, you can chill back on the couch playing console but on pc you can't. I rarely play any games now but im waiting for the new games coming up before christmas! I'm actually trying to decide right now if I want skyrim and battlefield 3 on pc or console, skyrim is designed for console but im sure graphics is better on pc and battle field 3 the multilayer games are much bigger but I like that relaxing factor playing on a console as I said.
If you got a good enough pc then I say pc beats console in hardcore gaming.
Owning both a gaming PC and a PS3. For hardcore gaming I turn to my PC simply because it is more powerful, offers better and faster controls with keyboard and mouse, gives me third party voice-comm (TS3, Vent, etc.) and of course offers certain types of games that just won't work with a console - esp. On the MMO segment: Just look at WoW or EVE Online or even APB:Reloaded (and in particular at the whole customizing options that would be a pain in the royal butt to use with controller).
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.