confused?

sounds like you don't want the best performance, and would need easy tech help, I'll suggest you buy a Dell, or Gateway machine because you probably won't be able to build and trouble shoot one yourself. Just don't buy anything over $1000 without a monitor.

I suggest you talk to a person who knows their pc hardware, and not a person at a store. Get a list of the components he suggests for your system, bring it to a mom and pop computer store.. and they will assemble the system for you.

AMD = Anger Management Disorder

http://www.compaqfactoryoutlet.com/
Go to desktops and look at the 5000z CTO
I've gotten a few computers from there including my current one.
The 5000z CTO is the one outta those that i would get. I got the 7000z CTO in the employee purchase and since it's CTO (custom to order) i got more than it said i was getting. If you want to guarantee what you're getting get the one below it.
Here's what mine said it came with
Athlon 900
64mb memory
10gb hdd
unknown video
unknown sound
40x CD-rom
No CD-RW drive

Here's what it actually came with:
Athlon 1.1ghz
16x DVD-rom drive
8x4x32 Philips Cd-rw drive
128mb ram
40gb hard drive
TNT2 m64 16mb AGP
SB128 PCI sound card
Word 2000

Compaq uses FIC motherboards. Mine came with the AZ-11, but w/o the onboard sound. It's a Compaq revision of the board but it's still quite quick. It in CPU tests beats my dad's ASUS a7v by a little bit. In memory it's also ahead by a little bit. From my experience with this system is IT ROCKS! Well there's my opinion.

My system: <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=8946" target="_new">http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=8946&lt;/A>

well except for the TNT2 M64 16mb graphic card.
that sucks.

but if your not doing any serious gaming it wont be a problem.

Excuse me for a moment. I need to drive my ergonomic wheely chair over a sheet of bubble wrap!

Best part is with my dad's employee price I got it under $400 shipped.

My system: <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=8946" target="_new">http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=8946&lt;/A>