Its funny. People say that linux is free (which technically it is).
I think to use Linux to its full potential you have to have an older computer where all your hardware is supported (thats not to say that Linux doesn't support A LOT).
You have to buy Windows to use on a computer; contrarily you have to buy a computer to use Linux with :-P

Okay anyway, I want to build or buy a machine with older hardware (i want to use it as my play machine) I want to be able to install Slackware, Debian, perhaps Gentoo, older Redhats (i found an old Redhat 5.0 CD lying around) (maybe even at the same tiem)

My question is, what type of hardware should I put into the machine, that is the most Linux user friendly (known to properly work w/ Linux - i.e. I know older distros hate SATA drives) and what are good brands to look for in the following categories? (please feel free to add if i missed any) (the more specific the better - please do include specific models if you can)

Motherboard - (i.e. Asus, but i dunno what linux likes or hates)
Video Card - (ATI, nvidia, other?)
Soundcard - ?
Harddrive - i'm assuming PATA
CDRW/DVD/CD
Processor Type (AMD, Celeron, Pentium)
Network Card

or if possible, an already built machine that is known to work rather well with linux. i have a brand new machine sitting here that i can't fully use because all of its hardware isn't supported yet. i'm hopefully looking to keep the price under 500 but i am flexible.

Any and all advice is welcome. Thanks in advance!

Just as a general comment, be sure to check out the LQ HCL, which contains ratings and review of a wide variety of hardware components, written by your fellow LQ'ers. -- J.W.