As you can see, hardware shopping is not for everyone. To do it successfully, you need to embrace the experience. I can spend hours in the cluttered fluorescent jungle of my local computer store. I enjoy scouring each and every aisle for the best deals. I dig computer stores.
Nothing beats the smell of silicon in the morning.
When it comes to a processor, third-fastest is good enough. Don't waste your money on the fastest processor. Get a roomy case. Skip internal modems. Save your receipts.