New Server

[<duterium@blueyonder.co.uk>]

Hello,
 
I have been using linux for a long while now, but in all my time using it for server etc, I have never built a box specificically for linux.  All my boxes have been old PCs etc, old systems slapped together.
 
I am building a server for my buiness, I want to run apache/mail/firewall/router etc. I would to spilt it over 2 boxes but dont have a large bugdet at the moment.
 
I am looking for recommendations on chipsets/mobo etc that work well with debian.  Normally, I would use anything and just make it work, but if I am gonna spend money I may as well get the best performance I can.
 
I was thinking of an athlon based system, but could be tempeted over to intel.  I am not looking for a very expensive system, just a single processor will do fine.  For my needs I dont think I will go down the scsi route with IDE as fast as it is nowadays.
 
Any advice would be great.
 
Thanks
 
Pete Bainbridge