i've built alot of computers for other people and myself at this point my mission is to build a stable, no headache computer that when i give it to someone i never hear from them again (well other than to say its still working great)
so from years of experience and parts i have preferences and shopping right can put them together for a very good price.
unless its for a special purpose i use only intel boards and chips, nothing works better than matched components, their in bed with microsoft and you know they well always be around with support and new drivers so it always works. and other hardware always the same names...
you couldn't pay me to use another abit board, wd hard drive or nec cd drive
my p4 i didn't break $650 with for doing graphics - macromedia/adobe etc and works flawlessly
sure speed is good, but extended reliability is more important if your building them for others
oh that and doublestuff oreos.....mmmm