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Also in the US is American Computech, who will let you pick and choose the exact components to include or not to include, then build the machine for you. (You can even order a computer without a hard drive, as I did a few years back. No connection, etc.)

Hmm... lets see... you're comparing a processor to a full system. Apples vs. Oranges.
Lets do some real analysis... top server vs. top server:

• A fullly specced dual G5 2.0Ghz ... $2770
  vs.
• a similarly specced dual Opteron 244 1.8Ghz.... $3013
  And this isn't even from big boys like Dell (who wouldn't be caught dead using AMD)... just a bottomfeeder from pricewatch.

Now, the G5 has all sorts of desktop/workstation goodies built in (Radeon 96/9800 Pro, awesome sound, good looks), and the with AMD server, you can cut corners with things you don't want in a server, like soundcard, highend video card, etc.

My point? im sure we're still comparing apples to oranges. People who want a mainstream kickass workstation will love to buy the G5. People who want beowulf node clusters or inexpensive uberservers will love the Opteron. I just wish I had either :-)

Take that opteron "server" and add components that are comparable to the G5 boxes (2 x 1.8 GHZ CPU, 2 x 256 MB RAM, 160GB ATA 133, PIONERE DVR-A)5, CREATIVE LABS Sound Blaster Audigy, USR PCI 56k Modem, 2x Case Fans, Keyborad, and Mouse), and the prices jump to $3348.61 -- hardly a price savings. This doesn't include a high end video card, serial ATA, or a 1GHZ system bus, so it is not really comparable.

I followed that link, which leads here and I configured a *really* barebones system... (sorry if this is long winded) Parts : Motherboards : AMD Dual CPU Boards
ÂMSI K8D Master-F Dual Opteron DDR Retail Box
Parts : Processors : AMD Opteronâ
Dual (2x) AMD Opteronâ 240 1.40GHz 1024K Retail Box
Parts : Memory : DDR Memory
2x 512Mb DDR266 PC2100 Reg ECC (1Gb Total)
Parts : Floppy Drives : Internal Floppy Drives
NONE
Parts : Hard Drives : IDE/SATA Hard Drives
160Gb ATA133 Maxtor 8Mb 7200rpm
Parts : Video Cards
Built-in ATI 8Mb RAGE XL Graphics Controller
Parts : Networking : Network Adapters
Built-in Broadcom® BCM5704C Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Parts : CD / DVD / RW Drives : CD/DVD-ROM Drives
NONE
Parts : Sound Cards
NONE
Parts : Modems : Internal Modems
NONE
Parts : Cases : Server Cases
WQ2000 Server ATX FullTower 400W PS
Parts : Keyboards
NONE
Parts : Mice
NONE
Parts : Speakers
NONE
Software : Operating Systems
No Operating System
SOftware : Office Suites
NONE
Software : Utilities
NONE
Software : Home/Office Bundles
NONE
----------- OK, now that is as base bones as it gets.
Currently priced at: $1691.76
Again no wireless ethernet, no bluetooth, no USB (unless it is integrated), no Firewire (again unless it is integrated), no keyboard, no mouse, no OS, very basic sound and video.
Not as inexpensive as one would be lead to believe. -pH!nk

If I'd known this magic numbered processor was coming out, I would have waited before buying this DeskNote with an Ath XP 1800. But at least it runs linux, and there's no Microsoft tax for it, unless you want to pay one.

www.americancomputech.com sells a wide variety of systems, your choice of AMD or Intel, single or dual processor, etc - with or without an OS. They have a nifty online configurator, too...you can put together a system component by component if you so desire. No, I don't work for them.