Hi! I need a new PC. Help me choose one!

[Loony BoB]

So is there anything else I'd need, such as a modem? I just don't know if I've got everything there or not...

Some motherboards will have a 56k modem built in, but if you're using an DSL or cable connection, you probably have a DSL/cable modem/router already and don't need to worry about that. All you need to be sure of in that case is that your motherboard as onboard 10/100 LAN capabilities.

It has on-board LAN, I'm assuming that'll be the standard 10/100 that most PCs have. I use an external cable modem, yeah.

I don't know if £600-800 will get you a computer that will still be decent in 4 years time.

Given that I don't know what will be 'decent' in 4 years' time, neither do I - but I'm willing to make the odd upgrade along the way if the need arises. But I'd say that the one I have in the works is a little better than anything I'd get in the stores right now, especially for that price, so I'm willing to give it a shot.

[MecaKane]

So where exactly do core 2 duo processors beat AMDs, is a 1.83 E6300 faster than a 4600+ 2.4?

[Fatal Impurity]

My recommendations:

AM2 Athlon X2 5400+ (cheap, cheerful and its AMD!)
2GB 533mhz (1066mhz in dual channel mode) dual channel kit
320GB Diamondmax 10 16mb cache hardrive (the one ive got! only cost £72!)
Sony-NEC optiarc 7170A 18x DVD drive (One of the best DVD drives out)
ATI X1600pro PCI-E or Nvidia 7600GT PCI-E graphics card (both hovering around £100 in price)
Any ASROCK PCI-E DDR2 AM2 10/100 LAN 7.1 Audio 4 RAM slot Nvidia Geforce 6600 onboard graphics motherboard (its cheap and cheerful plus it has all the features you'll need)