The easy way to get started here is to pick a good reputable source.
http://www.mwave.com, newegg, etc.
Pick a motherboard combo. Typicly you can start with a motherboard & work from there. Or start with a cpu.
Typical motherboard combo will include
Board, CPU, Ram, CPU cooling fan.
The nice part is they won't let you build a system that isn't compatable.
Mwave has a 9$ option to assemble & test before they ship it. This is WAY worth it to a builder. You know when it arrives that it was setup & working. All you have to do is drop it into your box & make connections.
You may want to research different boards your interested in. Time spent here really pays off later.
Case is easy, there are many, just get one with decent cooling & enough Power supply to run your system.
HDD depends on what you like and what you want.
Lots of guys are going with SATA drives.
Some still prefer IDE. Personally I'm a Western Digital fan, and tend to prefer their drives. I've got a pair of 80 Gig 8mb buffer drives that I've been very happy with.
CDRom, dvd, floppy's, can be found at any reputable dealer either online or local. If your looking for a burner I'd suggest a Liteon DVD burner. Prices have dropped dramaticly recently and btw they burn CD's too.
Make notes, take the time to do the research. Its a learning process, and can be enjoyable. Read reviews before you buy.
Building a system is a balancing act.
Budget vs performance vs ease of build.
It can be a bit terrifying, it can also be the most fun you can have short of sex.
Take your time, read the manual that comes with the Mboard. Ohhh and good luck.
