Help needed to choose a machine.

[DustySixString]

Right this is where I'm up to. I'm thinking about having a go at my own build!
From all the researching I've done and information I've took on board it keeps coming back to " you can get a much better machine for the money".

Now a few questions:

1 where do I start?
2 where can I find good guides and quality builds I can work from?
3 lists of good suppliers of parts?
4 your preferred software?
5......and probably a million more questions to be continued.

Sean