My thoughts ona the best performance without going broke:
CPU - that's up to your wallet
512MB 400Mhz dual channel DDR memory
SCSI or ATA 100
Lots of cooling!!!

I recently built the above with a lowly AMD Athalon XP2400+ and it 
screams.  I had the same CPU on a much slower motherboard is it was OK. 
  Using vmstat before and after shows I am no longer IO bound, which is 
a good thing.  My current case has 6 thermally controlled fans.  I also 
had to replace that POS AMD-certified CPU cooler as it was inadequate. 
There are some really cool CPU coolers out there now (pun intended) - 
make sure that CPU is cool.
-- 
George Toft, CISSP, MSIS
CIO
AGD,LLC
www.agdllc.com
623-203-1760


Josef Lowder wrote:
> I am planning to build a new system and would appreciate having 
> any recommendations PLUG members would be willing to offer 
> regarding the most workable and cost-sensible hardware configuration 
> (desktop). 
> 
> This will be an individual user system _primarily_ for the usual office 
> applications, plus I want to be able to do audio recording, editing, and CD 
> burning.  I have no interest in games. I just need the box, no monitor, 
> keyboard, mouse, or other peripherals. 
> 
> I'll probably install Mandrake with which I have become comfortable 
> over the last three years (unless someone would like to talk me into 
> a different distro).  I may want to dual-boot with another Linux version, 
> but do not plan to install anything M$ (though I may install Win4Lin 
> which I have on my current system if I can use the copy I already 
> have and get a new kernel to work with it). 
> 
> Just to price shop, I'll probably look at Costco, Walmart, Best Buy, 
> and Frys plus some online vendors, once I get the specs defined. 
> 
> Below is a list of components recently emailed to me by an online 
> vendor (some of which specs is a bit confusing). 
> 
> I'm open to any and all suggestions. 
> 
> Thanks. 
> 
> Joe Lowder 
> Mesa 
> 
> --------------------------- 
> 
> 450W POWER SUPPLIES - OKIA 450W ATX P4/AMD -- $18.00 
> ECS INTEL 865PE-A MAINBOARD 
> 	533/800FSB ATX SATA, 4 X DDR400, 6 CHAN AUDIO, 10/100 -- $66.00 
> SONY CD-RW 52X32X52 -- $28.50
> SONY DVD BURNER 8X +/-RW BULK -- $78.00
> OPTORITE CD-RW 52X32X52 NERO -- $24.00 
> OPTORITE DVD BURNER 8X +/-RW W/SOFT RETAIL -- $71.00 
> MITSUMI CARD READER 7 IN 1 INTERNAL CARD READER (USB2.0) -- $21.00
> USB 2.0 ENCLOSURE KIT 320U2 USB2.0 DRIVE ENCLOSURE (3.5") -- $30.00 
> 	UP TO 300GB HDD, DVDRW, CDRW, DVD 
> ARTEC COMBO CDRW / DVD 52X24X52 / 16X NERO & POWER DVD -- $38.00 
> ARTEC DVD BURNER 12X +/-RW NERO OEM SUITE -- $82.00 
> D-LINK WIRELESS DI-524 802.11G CABLE/DSL 4PT -- $66.00
> D-LINK, LINKSYS, NETGEAR, SMC 
> 
> AMD XP300+ SYSTEM / FREE MID TOWER 400W USB2.0, 
> AMD XP3000+, 512MB DDR PC2700, 40GB 7200, CDRW 52X24X52, 
> 1.44 FLOPPY, 56K V.92 MODEM, 104 KB, 2BUT OPTICAL WHL MOUSE, SPKR SET.
> 3 YEAR WARRANTY -- $500 with FREE UPS GROUND 
> 
> 
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