hehehe… I can’t help myself. After months of planning and saving I finally got all the pieces and put it together:
Intel Pentium 4 2.6 Ghz
1.5 Gb PC2700 Corsair RAM (C2)
Shuttle AS45GT/R motherboard
200 GB Maxtor Diamond Max 9 (7200 RPM, 8Mb cache)
ATI 9700 Radeon All in Wonder
GMC Nobesse case
I’ll keep the CD and CD RW for right now, but a new DVD ROM is definatlely on the horizon.
Quite an upgrade from my P2 333.
Man, is it fast! hehehee… I spent the first night just watching it run SETI.
Now its time to install all my stuff and see what else this puppy can do…

What sort of monetary setback did your accruage run you?
Sounds like a great system. I am working on a similar investment.
Now you need to play MS Soiltare until you win and time how long it takes for the cards to all fly off the screen… thats the only true test of your machines oomph. 
I bought most of it (CPU, MB, RAM, HD, VidCard) at MWave . They got good reviews from Reseller Ratings. I considered New Egg as well, but they didn’t have the motherboard, and I wanted to get everything from one place. They totaled $1300.
The case and power supply (Enermax 465 W with dual fans) as well as new rounded cables (which I’m actually kinda dissappointed with) and case fans (4 Vantec Stealths) I got from ColorCase , but they’re just a front for Ahanix . That was another 150 or so.
I’m really happy with both companies and the system (if that’s not already painfully clear). I walk around all day with this stupid grin. Most folk probably think I got lucky.