mac mini vs diy

[mega]

I've been thinking about building a mac mini for my desk to play around with, not really sure if I want to switch to a mac os yet, I really love ubuntu linux

 

anybody built a box lately? I dont have a sse3 machine, most of my old amd's just dotn cut it anymore

 

a dual core 2.8ghz is 180 $ 80 $ for a single core

ram/drive another 120 $

slick case, mini atx is best, havent looked hard 50 $

945 chip board 100 $

 

 

by the time I add all this up I'm at the price of a mini no?

 

there was a parts list, anyone done up a new one based on 10.4.5 supported hardware?

 

 

600 $ for the mac mini, 800 for the dual core, and support does not seem like it's that far off