Deciding when to pull the trigger on a new PC isn't easy, since new technology is always waiting just around the corner to spoil the party. As soon as you build a system, something shiny and new will arrive that offers higher performance and gee-whiz new features at the same price or less. This is the way of all things in the PC industry, and it's a very healthy dynamic.

But it's still a pain in the rear.

Happily, though, sometimes all of the elements converge and the time just seems right to build or upgrade. Now is unquestionably one of those times. The past few months have seen the release of a deluge of new PC components that offer solid value for the average enthusiast's PC—not just the high-end stuff with elaborate, snaking heatpipes and outrageous price tags, but truly affordable hardware with next-generation performance. We're talking about quad-core processors, DirectX 10-class graphics cards, near-terabyte hard drives, and the plumbing needed to keep such beasts well fed. At the same time, we've been inundated with a slew of major new PC games—everything from Unreal Tournament 3 to Team Fortress 2 to Crysis, to name just a few—to take full advantage of that hardware. If you've been holding off building until the time was right, your wait may well be over.

Into this fortuitous context steps the latest edition of TR's system guide, with our recommendations for building the best PC for your budget. Our four core systems represent what The Tech Report's editors would choose for themselves at various price points based on the findings from our own in-depth reviews. These systems offer more bang for your buck than ever. Keep reading to see what we've chosen and why.