Here's a good resource for you:
PC Perspective's Hardware Leaderboard -- This is a--monthly updated--cherry picking of the best bang for the buck for 3 different price points (well, if you include the Dream System, 4 price points). If I were building a system, I'd use the Mid-Range one. Keep in mind that this components (and therefore the price) don't actually include a case, or anything outside the case (keyboard, mouse, monitor)
PC Perspective's Hardware Leaderboard -- This is a--monthly updated--cherry picking of the best bang for the buck for 3 different price points (well, if you include the Dream System, 4 price points). If I were building a system, I'd use the Mid-Range one. Keep in mind that this components (and therefore the price) don't actually include a case, or anything outside the case (keyboard, mouse, monitor)