Anyone with a screw driver and the ability to use it can build his/her own custom `super' PC system starting at under $300.  To get educated on the components go over to PC Hardware, and then check out the shopping list below.

WHAT YOU NEED:

The following list is a total inventory of parts needed to build your own PC.  The only critical items are the motherboard and CPU models which must be compatible.

	Case you like with at least a 300 watt power supply (about $25).
	Motherboard (start at $30).
	CPU & fan (AMD or Intel - AMD is faster) - (good AMD Athlon XP 2400 sells for about $50).
	80GB Hard drive ($40).
	512 MB DDRAM ($35).
	Video card ($25).
	Sound Card ($15).
	Modem (good Intel modem costs $12).
	DVD player/CD POM burner combo ($35).
	1.44MB floppy drive ($10).
	Mouse & keyboard (great Microsoft combo sells for $25).

Add this up and you come up with $302. 

An alternative to this is start with a `barebones' system and add to it whatever components in your present PC you can salvage.  Barebones systems typically come with case, motherboard, RAM, video, sound & modem cards, and floppy & CD drives.  As a start, I found www,newegg.com on line with some real deals .  For example, they have an AMD Athlon XP 2400 CPU/PC Chips motherboard combo for $85.  I've used Athlons and they outperform Intel PIVs by about 20%.  This would be a good place to start looking, or you could search for a `barebones' system yourself (suggest www.google.com)  and poke around some more on your own.  Last, for small stuff like cases and power supplies and sound cards, etc. I have found the best deals at www.geeks.com.  Both Newegg and Geeks are fast and highly efficient, and they charge no sales tax.

ASSEMBLY:

After years of refining the process, component manufacturers have provided the would-be computer builder with a wide array of totally compatible parts to choose from.  The assembly process is much simpler than with a lot of children's toys that require "some assembly"  - ha!  Just mount the CPU and RAM on the motherboard, screw the motherboard onto the side of the case, mount the floppy, CD, and hard drives in their holders, connect the power and ribbon cables between the drives and motherboard/power supply, connect the power lead to the power jumper, and push the `on' button.  That's it!