1 Don't waste money on fancy cases. Focus more on the hardware, then get an inexpensive case. (Sorry, I just hate ricers, wheather they're cars or PCs. Lights, windows, tubes, fish, whatever. It's all fluff that does nothing for your performance.) If you want some customization, you could paint the case and get something more custom than a shiny expensive case that was produced by the thousands.
2. Tiger Direct (
http://www.tigerdirect.com ) and MicroCenter (
http://www.microcenter.com ) are a couple other places that carry inexpensive computer parts. I like them.
3. Don't buy any parts from Circuit City, CompUSA, Best Buy, or those other retailers. They inflate prices through the roof.
4. Why do you want to build 2 computers? You should put all the money into one really nice one.
5. Core 2 Duo processors beat anything AMD currently has on the market.
6. Don't ask me about what gaming hardware is better than others; I don't keep up with that stuff.
7. Get a video card with S-Video output, or if you have a TV with HDMI, a DVI-HDMI cable.