Help finding best possible custom build (considering price range)

[josh17]

I'm saving up to build a Desktop within a $400-$600 price range, and need help making it as good as possible.

Needs to be able to
A) Run Ubuntu Happily (No NVIDIA graphics card)
B) Play and record games fairly well.
I don't expect epicness, after all im only spending 600 dollars max, but I from what I've heard it should be possible to produce an acceptable PC

I don't know alot about PC Hardware which is why I need to ask you smart people XD

P.S I'm not trying to ask you guys to list a complete build, just any advice or links you can offer up :)

[Yellow Pasque]

If you're a gamer, why no nvidia? A GTX650Ti is probably the best gaming card out there for that budget: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133473

[josh17]

Because from what I've been told, Ubuntu doesn't like NVIDIA and it causes a lot of problems.

[Yellow Pasque]

You'll find just as many (and probably more) people who will tell you that AMD cards are problematic on Linux, at least with the binary driver.

[oldfred]

And while Intel only have open source drivers it may need settings on a new install.

These are gaming centric and therefore use a higher end video card than what I use. But I do no gaming, but like to add a $100 nVidia card to my build. All tests are with Windows but give an idea of hardware. Every quarter they do this and one or two of the older ones may still be relative as different parts are used.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/build-your-own-pc-overclocking,3621.html