I've been researching, learning, and still learning and I have finally found a computer that's relatively cheap but will blow a chunk out of brand name computers.
Here's the list I have and even now I'm starting to order some of the parts. Hope it helps!
----------------------------------------
BAREBONES
Raidmax Scorpio Aluminum Black/Red ATX Mid-Tower Case
Price: $105
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=11-156-126&depa=1
Asus P4P800 Deluxe i865PE P4 (800FSB) Skt478 DDR ATX Motherboard w/Audio, LAN, RAID/Serial ATA
Price: $128
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=13-131-450&depa=1
Intel Pentium4 2.6C Ghz 800Mhz FSB HT
Price: $173
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=19-116-159&depa=1
Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu Aluminum + Copper CPU Cooler for AMD XP Socket 462 & 754 and Intel Socket 478
Price: $36
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=35-118-108&depa=0
Corsair XMS3200 (DDR400) 1GB TwinX Ultra Low-Latency DDR RAM
Price: $212
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=20-145-450&depa=1
74GB Western Digital Raptor 10,000RPM Serial ATA 8MB Cache (use for OS and progs)
Price: $292
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?DEPA=1&sumit=Go&description=22-144-160&searchdepa=1
Sapphire Atlantis ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB
Price: $352
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=14-102-281&depa=1
Lite On 48x24x48x16 CDROM/CDRW/DVD Combo Drive
Price: $56
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=27-106-192&depa=1
Logitech Elite Keyboard & Logitech MX310 Mouse
Price: $29 + $23
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=23-126-114&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=26-104-136&depa=1
Power Supply Cable Splitter (x2)
Price: $5 = $10
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=12-101-203&depa=1
Total: $1416
FULL
Creative MegaWorks THX® 6.1 650
Price: $330
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=36-116-127&depa=1
Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 ZS
Price: $88
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=29-102-162&depa=1
My Total: $1854
----------------------------------------
Believe me, this is cheap compared to what performance you will get.
Those speakers aren't what I'll be buying, I'll be buying the GigaWorks 7.1 speakers but NewEgg doesn't carry those yet.
Let's go through the parts, shall we?
Case
This case is almost exactly like the Thermaltake Xaser III but without all the extra fans and comes with a power supply.
Motherboard
This motherboard is a 865P chipset motherboard. The latest is 875P but Asus provides a "Turbo" mode on the 865P and besides, the performance for both chipsets is almost identical.
CPU
Why buy a 3.2Ghz CPU for $500 when you can buy a 2.6Cghz for $173 and overclock it to 3.4Ghz?
Fan
This has the best reviews as a P4 fan and was recommended to me by a friend.
Memory
A little pricy, but you'll never have to worry about not having too little memory. If you're a gamer, it's a must since new games will be memory hoggers. If you don't like the 1GB idea, do NOT go below 512MB.
Corsair was the cheapest and seemed to have the best reviews.
Hard Drive
You may opt for the smaller but cheaper 36GB version but the 74GB version is quieter and faster than its predecessor. Look at the reviews for the Raptor series, it is the fastest IDE hard drive and should be a requirement for high-performance desktop systems.
The motherboard comes with SATA support so no need for a controller card.
Video Card
This is where your needs will differ. If you are a gamer, either go with the 9800 Pro 128 or the 9600 Pro 128. Don't bother with the overrated XT series or 256MB versions. This has been a dream come true for me, excellent performance and excellent quality.
CD-ROM
Why spend $40 for a CD-RW and a DVD drive when you can get both in one package for $50? The Lite-On version was the best cheap version. If you want the best of the best, go with the Plextor drives.
Keyboard and Mouse
Logitech is hands-down the best input device manufacturer. The Elite keyboard coupled with the MX310 is a dream come true for gamers.
Splitters
The case power supply has too few cables, and it was recommended to by two splitters.
Speakers
Gamers want the best. The 6.1 system is not the best but it's damn good. If you don't plan to watch THX DVD movies and play EAX 2 games, I'd recommend a cheaper solution.
Sound Card
The motherboard comes with a sound system, but if you need EAX 2, THX and 7.1 support, better go with the Audigy 2 ZS series.
Other
The motherboard comes equipped with GB LAN and SATA and RAID controllers plus a sound system.
Here's the list I have and even now I'm starting to order some of the parts. Hope it helps!
----------------------------------------
BAREBONES
Raidmax Scorpio Aluminum Black/Red ATX Mid-Tower Case
Price: $105
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=11-156-126&depa=1
Asus P4P800 Deluxe i865PE P4 (800FSB) Skt478 DDR ATX Motherboard w/Audio, LAN, RAID/Serial ATA
Price: $128
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=13-131-450&depa=1
Intel Pentium4 2.6C Ghz 800Mhz FSB HT
Price: $173
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=19-116-159&depa=1
Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu Aluminum + Copper CPU Cooler for AMD XP Socket 462 & 754 and Intel Socket 478
Price: $36
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=35-118-108&depa=0
Corsair XMS3200 (DDR400) 1GB TwinX Ultra Low-Latency DDR RAM
Price: $212
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=20-145-450&depa=1
74GB Western Digital Raptor 10,000RPM Serial ATA 8MB Cache (use for OS and progs)
Price: $292
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?DEPA=1&sumit=Go&description=22-144-160&searchdepa=1
Sapphire Atlantis ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB
Price: $352
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=14-102-281&depa=1
Lite On 48x24x48x16 CDROM/CDRW/DVD Combo Drive
Price: $56
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=27-106-192&depa=1
Logitech Elite Keyboard & Logitech MX310 Mouse
Price: $29 + $23
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=23-126-114&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=26-104-136&depa=1
Power Supply Cable Splitter (x2)
Price: $5 = $10
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=12-101-203&depa=1
Total: $1416
FULL
Creative MegaWorks THX® 6.1 650
Price: $330
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=36-116-127&depa=1
Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 ZS
Price: $88
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=29-102-162&depa=1
My Total: $1854
----------------------------------------
Believe me, this is cheap compared to what performance you will get.
Those speakers aren't what I'll be buying, I'll be buying the GigaWorks 7.1 speakers but NewEgg doesn't carry those yet.
Let's go through the parts, shall we?
Case
This case is almost exactly like the Thermaltake Xaser III but without all the extra fans and comes with a power supply.
Motherboard
This motherboard is a 865P chipset motherboard. The latest is 875P but Asus provides a "Turbo" mode on the 865P and besides, the performance for both chipsets is almost identical.
CPU
Why buy a 3.2Ghz CPU for $500 when you can buy a 2.6Cghz for $173 and overclock it to 3.4Ghz?
Fan
This has the best reviews as a P4 fan and was recommended to me by a friend.
Memory
A little pricy, but you'll never have to worry about not having too little memory. If you're a gamer, it's a must since new games will be memory hoggers. If you don't like the 1GB idea, do NOT go below 512MB.
Corsair was the cheapest and seemed to have the best reviews.
Hard Drive
You may opt for the smaller but cheaper 36GB version but the 74GB version is quieter and faster than its predecessor. Look at the reviews for the Raptor series, it is the fastest IDE hard drive and should be a requirement for high-performance desktop systems.
The motherboard comes with SATA support so no need for a controller card.
Video Card
This is where your needs will differ. If you are a gamer, either go with the 9800 Pro 128 or the 9600 Pro 128. Don't bother with the overrated XT series or 256MB versions. This has been a dream come true for me, excellent performance and excellent quality.
CD-ROM
Why spend $40 for a CD-RW and a DVD drive when you can get both in one package for $50? The Lite-On version was the best cheap version. If you want the best of the best, go with the Plextor drives.
Keyboard and Mouse
Logitech is hands-down the best input device manufacturer. The Elite keyboard coupled with the MX310 is a dream come true for gamers.
Splitters
The case power supply has too few cables, and it was recommended to by two splitters.
Speakers
Gamers want the best. The 6.1 system is not the best but it's damn good. If you don't plan to watch THX DVD movies and play EAX 2 games, I'd recommend a cheaper solution.
Sound Card
The motherboard comes with a sound system, but if you need EAX 2, THX and 7.1 support, better go with the Audigy 2 ZS series.
Other
The motherboard comes equipped with GB LAN and SATA and RAID controllers plus a sound system.