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2008 built Desktop PC System: A Quiet Linux and Windows Gaming/VPN Desktop PC System (updated: June 6, 2011)
reference 1 - reference 2

Vendors: Newegg - CrazyPC - Amazon - Frys - ZipZoomfly - Mwave - eWIZ - Tiger Direct - Directron - Meritline
Motherboard * Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4 (DTS Connect) - Newegg
CPU * Core 2 Duo E8400 3GHz(45nm) - review - wiki - SpeedStep (running at 1999MHz only?) - 45nm - Micro Center - Newegg - ZipZoomFly - Mwave
CPU Cooling Hardware * Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer
reviews: bit-tech - tech-reviews - frostytech - tweaktown - bcchardware - ocia - overclockercafe - pro-clockers
vendors: coolpc - coolerguys - performance-pcs - petrastechshop - nwca - xoxide - * crazypc - Newegg
Thermal Compound * Tuniq TX-2 (comes with Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer)
reviews: mvktech - techpowerup - mikhailtech - 3dxtreme - Newegg
Thermal material Remover & Surface Purifier * ArctiClean ACN-60ML - svc - Newegg
Video Card * ATI Radeon HD 4850 (55nm) - wiki - drivers - XML fan speed - Newegg
reviews: expreview pics - hardwarecanucks S1 - techreport - anandtech - gameplanet - tomshardware - techpowerup - overclockersclub - legitreviews vs. 9800 GTX+ - vr-zone - xtremesystems
forums: anantech 4850 cooling - (techpowerup: 4800 - RBE v1.12 - RBE General - voltmod) - (xtremesystems - > 700MHz - 700MHz smashed - 4850 > 700/1200 - cooling) - visiontek - visiontek 4850 fan control - idle power
Bios changing software: adjust fan speed and overclock: Winflash/ATIFlash: flash - RBE: edit - 4850 Bios Collection - ATITool - AMDGPUClockTool 9.8 - Guide to Video BIOS flashing
Video Card Cooling Hardware * Arctic Cooling - Accelero S1 Rev 2 - coolerguys - directron - * svc - Newegg
reviews: hardforum - tomshardware - silentpcreview - bjorn3d
forums: anantech 4850 warning - techreport - xtremesystems - silentpcreview - silentpcreview 4850 - redflagdeals - hardforum - ocforums
and
* Zalman ZM-RHS1 Aluminum VGA RAM heatsinks - Frys - svc - Newegg
Sound Card * Motherboard Realtek ALC889A sound chip - drivers
Memory * G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) 5-5-5-15 2.0-2.1V - forum - Newegg
Case * Antec P182 - review - Amazon - Newegg - Frys - ZipZoomfly - Mwave - eWiz
Case Fans: Quiet 120mm * Scythe SFF21E 120mm S-Flex Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan 3-Pin 49CFM 20.1dBA - review - * svc - Newegg
Power Supply * Antec Neo HE 550 (Got it because it was cheap after rebate. Perhaps too many failure counts on Newegg to buy again)
Hard Drive 1
(boot disk)
* Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3yr warranty - review - review 2 - review 3 - Newegg
Hard Drive 2
(data disk)
* Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3yr warranty - review - review 2 - review 3 - Newegg
or
Western Digital Black 1TB - Newegg
or
Western Digital Caviar Green 2TB - review - Newegg
DVD/CD Writer * Samsung SH-S203B SATA DVD burner - review - review2 - Newegg
Operating System(s) * Fedora Linux
and
* Windows XP Pro - Newegg
* = Actually owned, used, and recommended.

Things to keep an eye on:
Fusion-io

Old:
2008 built PC system - other options
2006 built PC system