If you live anywhere near the bay area. I've built every computer that I've ever owned. Quite simple! However, the software conflicts in any computer is what I've found to be most troubling. The computer shows offer some great prices on major hardware.

This way you can get all the exact components you want.

However, if you do have any problems you have to look only one place for a fix... In the mirror<g>... However, I've not had any real problems except for BIOS settings which too can be confusing and buggy but once set correctly everything runs just fine.

My current build is an:

AMD 700 MHZ
MOTHERBOARD ASUS K7V SUPPORTS UP TO 1GHz
128MB RAM
ATI ALL IN WONDER 32MB (TV TUNER W/DVD CAPIBILITY and VIDEO CAPTURE)
SOUND BLASTER LIVE AUDIO CARD
300 WATT POWER SUPPLY AND CASE
FAST ETHERNET CARD 10/100
(Just the major stuff)

It was a very simple to put together. Runs like a charm.

BTW I suggest that if you get a Cable modem you also purchase a Linksys BEFSR41 - EtherFast 4-Port Cable/DSL Router. It contains it's own firewall to the internet so your computer cannot be hacked into. Also, it allows any other computers you have to be networked to each other but also allows them to have internet acces at the same time. And if you have the 10/100 cards in your computer everything runs at the 100 speed. I love mine.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=20&grid=5

Hopefully, this links works here.

You might want to put in a 56K modem if you use cable. Mine rarely goes down but when it does at least I have the backup to read these bb's.