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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Steel_Wind" data-source="post: 1685609" data-attributes="member: 20741">The original poster has not mentioned yet what he wants it for.If portability or space premium is important to you, I'd look at one of the new Shuttle Athlon mini PCs. They are tiny and work well. Premium cost for such a case/mobo combo is about $100 - but this may well be something you would appreciate. Sound and Ethernet are on board. They also are largely pre-assembled mobo/case wise, so it's a matter of:1- pop in Ram2- pop in CPU and clip down the shuttle cpu cooler3- insert vid card4 - insert Lite-on CD/RW/DVD combo 5- insert hard drive6- plug cables in  There is only one slot for each component. It's pretty straightforward and marginally more complex than Lego or Ikea furniture building- but not much more.Then it's install time fore the software. Off you go.A few other points:Shuttle system aside...<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I recommend an Asus NV8x for an Athlon Mobo. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Athlon 2800 is the sweet spot for that CPU line right now.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">DO use the on board sound on an NForce2 chipset equipped Mobo (yes, the NV8 is an NForce2). It's *excellent* sound.  Don't get a non-Nforce2 or Nforce 3 based mobo if you are getting an Athlon.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">the Samsung 19" 955DF is a good recommendation and probably the best CRT you can get price/performance right now. I would also recommend that, as have others in this thread.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Assuming you want to play PC games on your system, do NOT get an LCD screen with 17 ms or more response time. The minimum response time for an LCD monitor to use for games is 16 ms response.  You'll want at least that and preferably 12 ms.  You'll also notice a 12-16ms LCD monitor costs a fair bit more.  Response times are like Golf - lower is better</li> </ul>Moral of the story: CRT monitor is still the way to got for gaming. The Samsung 19" DF is a good buy. Lastly - all of this advice should just illustrate to you that building a system is little more than Lego for grown ups. Take the plunge. You'll be fine.Monitor aside, don't cannibalize your old system for the sake of a hundred dollars.  Keep it intact and keep it running so you can access the web reliably for help should something go wrong when building your new one.  Then you can use it as a back up system, give it to kids, family, as a second system for some head to head gaming, NWN server - whatever.</blockquote>

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