Based on stuff I use, I would probably go this way.

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail [link]

GIGABYTE GA-EG41M-S2H LGA 775 Intel G41 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail [link]

COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail [link]

COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-460-PMSR-A3 460W ATX12V V2.3 Power Supply - Retail [link]

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail [link]

Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EACS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM [link]

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM [link]

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM [link]

Total Price: $588.92 without the shipping costs. Maybe about $650 with.

The OS is mighty subjective, but a 64 bit OS will let you use all 4GB of RAM instead of 3GB. Audio, Video, and Ethernet are on the board.

I would research very carefully before trying to do sound editing on Vista.

Thanks, Gud! I'll sort through those recs forthwith.

I would research very carefully before trying to do sound editing on Vista.

Oh, yeah, I'm sticking with XP for now. Does that mean I'd be limited to 3GB of RAM?

Yes, with 32 bits you would think it would be 4GB, but in practice it turns out to be 3GB. There is a 64-bit version of XP out there, but there are serious compatibility issues with it.

Can I still use the two 2GB sticks? The other option would be three 1GB sticks, but I can't imagine this costing less than your $40 kit.

Also, I'll be attaching 3-4 hard drives and two DVD/CDR drives. Can the PS you recommended handle that?

The annoying thing is that Windows will report the system as having 4GB of RAM, but it will only use 3GB of it.

The annoying thing is that Windows will report the system as having 4GB of RAM, but it will only use 3GB of it.

But that's simply a reporting error, right? It'll have the same performance as if I'd put in 3GBs? Maybe better, since it'll have a matching pair?

Another question: Newegg has a Seagate Barracuda 1TB drive for the same price as the Western Digital Caviar Green that Gud quoted above.

I seem to remember Noisedesign preferring Seagates. Still the case? Any other differences between the two that I'm missing?

Can I still use the two 2GB sticks?

Yep, you just won't actually get the use of all that memory.

It'll have the same performance as if I'd put in 3GBs? Maybe better, since it'll have a matching pair?

Marginally better. I picked an inexpensive MB with only two memory slots, because I'd go for the savings over more memory slots.

Also, I'll be attaching 3-4 hard drives and two DVD/CDR drives. Can the PS you recommended handle that?

I would think so unless you have a monster video card in there. A 460 Watt supply used to be a lot.

Actually, Newegg has a Cooler Master 500Watt supply for less.

[link]

I've been quite happy with my Cooler Master power supplies.

I seem to remember Noisedesign preferring Seagates. Still the case? Any other differences between the two that I'm missing?

I've got nothing against Seagate drives. I was just sticking with stuff I own that has worked well for me. My WD is in my homemade DVR that runs 24/7 and does video streaming all the time, but I'd bet a Seagate would work just as well.