Wow Thanks for all the replies
I live in Calgary, AB, and I assume TO means Toronto, ON, so I can't really do that computer show you mentioned (although my roommate could, as he's a flight attendant for WestJet).
I have never made a PC before...heck before my current system (bought ~3 years ago) I was running off a 75MHz 486, and before that, a 10MHz 386 (both donated by a friend because I used to be quite poor lol)
Thank you for the great links and clearing up my misunderstandings on those topics. I really appreciate the form you answered in