Thinking about building a new rig. My current setup is an AMD Athlon 3000 with 2 GB ram that I built in 2003, and while it does the trick well enough I feel as though I'm falling a bit behind the times. This is in no way a condemnation of older equipment! I know first hand how capable Linux is at breathing new life into older machines; mine is a prime example. Nevertheless I would at least like to brainstorm starting a new box.
So my question: are there any stand out supporters of Linux when it comes to motherboards/VGA/hard drive manufacturers? On the flip side, any brands or configurations to stay away from? The latest ordeal Ubuntu faced with Intel graphics drivers is what motivates me to ask. I'd hate to commit the funds to some new equipment only to find out I picked the perfectly worst setup for a Linux user.

Thanks!
James