okay in short u need the following:
cpu
hard drive
cd/dvd drive
motherboard
memory
graphics/video card (simply an alternate name no difference)
powersupply
and a case to put it in.
if you give me a budget i can recommend parts
in short the idea when shooping for parts works like this
cpu: this tiny piece is the "brain" of your computer all data ingoing and outgoing goes into it before its destination. the speed of ones is measured in gigahertz (or Ghz). the higher the speed the fatser it examines and directs data. furthermore modern cpus have what are called cores. having multiple cores means rather than the entire cpu directing everything on its own each"core" deriects and organizes it seperately allowing for even faster data processing. currently cpu's come in 2 3 and 4 cores.
motherboard: this is where all your parts connect into. it is the roadmap for your computer and everything thats attached to it uses it to send data to where it needs to go.
memory: memory is used to store information the computer will need to access in a hurry. such as the next 10 minutes of the movie your watching or the next area your about to enter in a videogame. the more memory u have more it can prepare in advance. currently the best memory for a gaming pc is ddr2-667, ddr2-800, ddr2-1066, ddr3 (dont know the numbers for this sorry). the number after ddr is the number of pins it has and uses when connected, more pins means faster access to that memory
video card: this paints the pretty pictures. it makes images sharper and provides advance visual properties such as cell shading and texture rendering. the best one for you is determined by two factors. 1) your use: if you want to be playing the creme of the visually stunning games you will need a powerful card that runs fast. but if your not like that having one will only make replacing it a delayed reaction and it wont use its full potential it would be wisert to have a less powerful card then. 2) what kind of slot your motherboard has.generally speaking motherboards have a pci-express x16 or pci express x16 2.0 card slot for a video card, but some still have what is know as an agp card slot, these are inferior and should be avoided. furthermore some video cards come in all three slot types meaning u should be careful to ensure you have the right one. pci express x16 and its 2.0 counterpart are interchangeable meaning u can place a x16 card in a 2.0 slot or the other way around.
hard drive. this stores all your information. it stores everything you need to make your computer function (the operating system, the programs you run, etc.) currently these come in 2 different makes, solid state, semi soli, and plug into a motherboard either by a serial ata cable (or sata) or an intermedieate data cable (or ide cable). this also applies to your dvd/cd drive and the two must be the same or you will encounter conflictions between the two. solid state and semi solid are defined typically by there speed solid states hold less but can read and write information at dangerous speeds (10,000 rotations per minute(or rpm)) wheras semi solid hold alot more but are slower (7,200 rpm) both are equally good it really comes down to what you need.
powersupply: this massive part is what powers all your pieces. it turns the energy from your outlets into organized pieces and amplifys them where necissary to all your parts its plugged into. the more and more powerful parts require a powersupply that supplies more power, generally speaking it is best to find one that has a maximum output of 550watts or better.
case: this is the outter shell of your computer it need to be big enough to allow for all your parts and provide room for proper cable organization, as the worst thing is a cluttered computer. generally speaking if your not buying the finest parts money can buy an atx form factor case that provides ample room inside will be fine.
to close here are a few part gidelines you CANNOT IGNORE:
1) video cards come in different slots make sure they match the motherboard
2) cpus come in different speeds and slots as well ensure its fits and provides enough speed to do what u want.
3) memory requires a certain number of pins in the slots for it. make sure it is supported. if you cant find out talk to your parts retailer they should have a list of memory that will work for it.
4) cd/dvd drive and hard drive moth BOTH be sata or ide caable or you will have the two conflict with one another.
hope this has helped. as stated throw me a budget and a list of games you will play on it (or want to play on it) and ill give you some recommended parts.
if you live in the US or canada newegg.ca/com is the best for parts online. oh and heres a video on hom to assemble all your parts if you can ignore the cheesy intro that is: link
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