U should be pretty ok with that budget.
I would say try for a e8400 Core duo, or q6600 (or any cheap quad). but if u are going amd.... i stop watch amd cpu so the others can help there. Try not to settle for a low multiplier... u will just want to kill someone later. New core 2s have lots of cache.... really think u'd be better off with intel for now... even tho they are gay its not like nvidia who is gay and classless.... i don't support gayness... just saying have some pride and stap cheat. U won't be cheated with intel for core 2 duo... quads are a bit poor in the L33T factor cause they aren't true quad but screw it... a duo (2 core) would be better than a quad phenom.
About that cpu article... wat happens if u OC the quad to a decent frequency? And it seems the GPU is still the bottle neck nowadays... they need to give the proc more to do. Find a way to take some of the GPU work or something (simpler graphical enhancements jus for cpu to handle?)
Motherboard- don't go overboard like nuff man on this site. U don't need a 200+ dollar mobo or even a 150 one is pushing it. Get what u need and done (save money). Screw asus. Go gigabyte, foxconn etc... I wanted one with a printer port for my rebuild but it looking rarer and rarer. eSata port could be nice to have too.
Memory - go for 4gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146731
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227267
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184
GPU - get the hd3*** cards or get the hd4*** when they come out. Do not bastardize ur new computer with an nvidia card. Just don't. Dx10.1, cool running (i get low 40s in temps by turning my fan from 25% to 50-60% while the gpu is idle), Video playback hardware supported fully, Company not gay, company not gay.... and company not gay. Currently nvidia performs better but thats just cause nvidia made a pact with the devil, seriosly! We can't support the devil now can we? NOOOOOOOOO! nVidia = EVIL!
Get a good dvd burner with writescribe or whatever it name so u can burn images on the back of dvds.
Hard drive. Get a 40 or 80gb for OS. Partition as u like (20 for xp 20 for vista and 40 for apps maybe... or more for vista etc...). The other big HDs ok. Might consider and external for that 250GB one instead of keeping everything internal. A network capable external would be good. Ur personal server for computers on ur network.
Monitor: Save as much as u can then get a decent lcd screen. Will be around 200+ (think 200 lowest for 22) Don't think u need more than 22" and u would be pushing it if u go over 1680x1050 native res. Try balance with ur GPU power and the fact that as games advance the higher the res u have to play at the worse a hit the gpu u have going be taking. 1080p videos look great on my hanns-g 216dpb monitor. Has hdmi port instead of dvi... thats convenient i think (can just plug ur ps3 or 360 in and it will do 1080p). Price gone up for it tho.
Cooler: I personal would go with this one. Great performance
http://www.abesofmaine.com/item.do?i...-1466&l=NEXTAG