Budget Linux compatible

what will you be using this budget system for?

Basic internet/office stuff? Virtual Machines? Linux gaming?

something like batchuka's build then, though I'd go for and 880 motherboard by AS Rock or MSI over Biostar.

As i was sick of my windows XP machine (HP DV8000 Laptop) i tried to install Windows 7 on it, what a joke, no chance, so i decided to build a desktop machine to run on Linux.

I went for a Gigabyte G31M-ES2L\E5200\2GbDDR2-800 bundle, a A-open case, a Asus 4580 Graphics card, a 1Tb Sata Hdd, Pioneer Dvd-rw drive, a new keyboard, Logitech trackball and 21" monitor.
The whole lot including the monitor cost me just under £260--All bought off Ebay.

I have installed the newest Linux Mint "10" and it worked great, no hitches at all, Linux found the drivers i needed and it was up and running and on the internet in less than 20 minutes.
The range of free software available for Linux is amazing, i now have Open Office, Video and audio software, image editing programmes and heaps of games and not a blue screen in sight.

I have now installed Linux on my laptop and run windows in a "Virtualbox" and have no problems there either.
Having used Linux for a few days now i find it very unlikely that i will go back to using Windows as a main operating system ever again.
I hope this list of bits helps someone wanting to do the same thing.