Need help building a computer

[Gosha]

I want to build a computer but don't know the best combinations of hardware. Should I buy something now or wait for something better to come out. These are the things I want in it:
fast(est) AMD CPU
good motherboard with room for upgrades
512 or 1gb DDR
quality harddrive, doesn't really matter the size
ATI video card that I can use to squeze out every drop of Half-Life 2
power supply
tower
I don't have the money for the best on the market, but I do want one that will be good for the nest 2 years, because I'm planning on selling it then and getting a laptop
Please critique and give some advice on anything u see or don't see here.
Thank you

 

[coolred]

A budget would likely help, otherwise you may have a large price spread.

 

[mlody]

one thing is that you could wait forever and you will never buy anything becasue there is always something new on a horizon to show up.

what is you budget?

 

[Fern]

Hi Gosha & Welcome to the forums!

Yeah, peeps will need a budget from to really help.

But in general, you should start looking at an AMD 64 bit cpu, socket 939.

A soket 939 mobo with the features you want.

An ATI series 800 gfx card. 800pro, 800XT etc.

PSU, Fortron 530 watt

Fern

 

[GasX]

the stickied thread will give you a good starting point whatever your budget...

 

[Gosha]

I'm looking at around $1000 and don't want any accesories, just hardware and probably a towet. By the way, should I get one of those super-cooling towers with an LCD screen in it, or is it not worth buying it?