john, if you have to get a PC now, i highly recommend you set up yours just as i set up mine.... budget priced pero killer pa rin! WinXP Pro boots up in less than 30 seconds!

AthlonXP 2500+
2pcs 512MB DDR
Epox 8RDA Rev 2.0
SB Live! sound (get an audigy)
GeForce FX5900 Non Ultra (Go for the Radeon 9800Pro)

Promise.... this system wont let you down, plus it costs a lot less than an intel based solution.

lunch muna!