PC Building Help

I'm looking into a new PC and I've learned that it's cheaper to build your own. However, I am entirely incompetent on hardware and such. So I have three questions:

1. Where would be a good place to buy a custom PC?

2. When is the right time to do this?

3. What kind of specifications should I be looking for?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

I'm looking into a new PC and I've learned that it's cheaper to build your own. However, I am entirely incompetent on hardware and such. So I have three questions:

1. Where would be a good place to buy a custom PC?

2. When is the right time to do this?

3. What kind of specifications should I be looking for?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

superdance14

1. I live in America, I'm looking for an online store preferably.

2. Last time I bought a computer, within a month is was discontinued and replaced.

3. If possible, less than $1000, but I'm willing to go a little over.

It is really personal preference as far as which custom builder to go with. As far as what kind of computer to build, it really depends on if you want a "gaming" machine or a more all around machine. Check out my True Gamer 200 (see sig) as an example for a less than $1000 system. If I was to buy a custom computer not from my self, I would chose Puget Systems, or Veloctiy Micro. But that is just from personall research, many pepople go with ibuypower as you can find their systems on newegg.com and the like.