[recycledelectron]

Start with the motherbaord. That's the key to expandability. A GA-PO35-DS3L will do everything you need. 7 slots, 8GB RAM, Socket 775, 1333FSB, 4 SATA, IDE, FDD, 10 USB, etc.

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

* Dual core processor and reasonable FSB speed

Take a serious look at the cache. I was used to a Pentium D (775) 915: 2.8GHz, 800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache and then built a second (otherwise identical) system on a Core 2 Duo 2160: 1.8GHz, 800MHz FSB, 1MB Cache. The second system could not play a video without serious frame drops.

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

* 2 gig RAM, plus two empty sockets to add 2 gig later

RAM is critical! If you are really cheap, get 4GB ($65) to start and add 4GB later. Start with a 64 bit OS and save the cost of upgrading later.

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

* Adequate video driver which won't drag down the system

Any $30 PCI-E video card will work, unless you play games. Ideally, look for a card with independent multiple monitors.
I run a Matrox PCI (not-E) G450 MMS that was $100 off eBay. It rocks on x4 monitors.

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

* 500 gig HD (SATA?) - or a throwaway drive I replace myself

from http://www.Frys-Electronics-Ads.com, 750GB HDD $99

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

* TWO additional FOUR (now that I see it's possible as I start to look at Jon's suggestions!) open hard drive slots and available power/data cables. (I want to add 2x1TB 4x1TB more internal drives later)

The GA-P35-DS3L has 4 SATA ports, and an IDE channel. The x3 PCI and x3 PCI-E slots allow great expandability.

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

* DVD drive bay and cables - I already have a DVD drive from another system

If you do ever replace it, get a Samsung SATA drive for $29.99 ($34.99 w/ Light Scribe) from http://www.MicroCenter.com. They never wear out, and always burn correctly, unlike the Memored @#$% I used to deal with.

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

* A video card slot (to upgrade if needed in the future)

x1 PCI-E x16
If you move from the Intel P35 chipset to a P38 or X48 chipset, you move from PCI-E 1.1 to PCI-E 2.0, which doubles the clock rate with PCI-E 2.0 cards, but drops back for older cards. PCI-E 2.0 cards are not currently common nor are they cheap.

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

* Ethernet, 802.11g and 6-12 USB ports

Most Gigabyte S-series boards have 10+ USB ports, but most of those are USB 1.1, not USB 2.0, so be careful what you wire where.

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

* A decent power supply that I can leave on without worry about fire hazard or the fan failing

I went with a RaidMax xB case for $34.99 from Fry's Electronics. That includes 10 drive bays (x4 5.25" exposed, x2 3.5" exposed, and x4 3.5" internal) and a 380 watt (80 plus) power supply. There's plenty of cooling once you install 2 more 80mm case fans ($3.99 each)

Alternately, there's a junk computer store locally (http://www.DiscountSales.com) that has a 14 bay ATX case for $69.99 with a cheap power supply, but I can not imagine needing those extra drive bays.

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

* In addition, if there was a bundle price break to add a (black) 17" widescreen LCD with speakers, I could also save on the monitor cost.

LCDs are for idiots. They offer nothing other than sexy slimness over CRTs, and cost a fortune. Get x2 (with a cheap PCI-E card) or x4 (with a Matrox MMS card) 21" CRTs that run 2048x1536 for $15 each off http://www.CraigsList.com and start enjoying some screen space.

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

P.S. If a system has two optical drive bays, I know you can't put a HD on the same controller cable as the optical drive without a huge performance hit, but can you put three drives together on other same controller and use the empty optical bay only for physically holding the HD?

With the GA-P35-DS3L and RaidMax xB, you should have no problem.

In short, here's my recommendation:
$120 MB : GA-P35-DS3L (Fry's)
$100 HDD: 750GB (Fry's)
$100 Video: Matrox G450 MMs Quad PCI (eBay)
$ 60 Monitor: x4 21" CRTs (Craig's List)
$ 35 DVD: Samsung SATA DVD +- RW DL LS (MicroCenter)
$ 35 Case: RaidMax xB (Fry's)
$ 8 Fans: x2 80MM Case Fans (Tanner Electronics)
$ 24 KB: Wireless Keyboard / Mouse / Remote Control combo (Wal Mart)
$ 30 Proc: Used Pentium D processor 800MHZ FSB, 4MB Cache (Craig's List)
$ 65 RAM: 4GB PC26400 RAM
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$577 w/ Linux, more with a 64-Bit Microsoft OS
you can save $100 by going with a cheap NVIDIA card and x2 21" CRTs.

One final recommendation: your data is probably more valuable than your PC. Back it up. Buy an Apricorn drive cloner thingy ($24.99 at Fry's) and a second HDD ($99.99) and clone your hard disk weekly. I'll leave it to you to find a fire-proof file cabinet for free on Craig's List, or to find a friend for off-site backups.

Andy Out!