I build my own desktop when i buy. The best value can be had from the lower end of mid-range gear. Its all so powerful now and mygawd its cheap. As i got money to burn ill prol splurge a little more than usual when i next upgrade/getnew.

If i were you i'd ask aruond if you have any nerdy friends and find out the place with the cheapest systems, this is usually not 'brand name' gear like dell or HP or whatever, but just systems that the store puts together. The quality would be just as good generally, i mean its hard to bugger up since the parts in any computer are all just standard stock.

This way you can customise to ANY spec you want and just pay lik ea $50 premium for the store to put it all together for you. Get an idea for your spec (eg. warpes post and sawyers), run it by the PC store person to make sure it all works together, and youre all good.