Build one yourself ?, definately !
My last three I built myself. But you have to spend time researching for the components which do not conflict.
You will however still get conflicts and as such getting advice from 'tech-heads' on these forums is VITAL. I have sort advice 100's of times and without these guys I would have fallen at the first hurdle !!
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/
http://discuss.futuremark.com/forum/wwwthreads.pl
Here is the spec. I just recently built, but bear in mind this pc is for running fantastic combat flight sim games such as IL-2 Sturmovic/Forgotten Battles. You might not want something so powerfull if all you want to do is browse and word process.
Abit NF7-s mobo
Geforce 4 Ti4600
1 gb Corsair XMS 3200 ram
Athlon Barton 2600 + PCU
Thermaltake Xaser ll case