For a while, Compaq quality was in the dumps, but more recent reports say better of them.

Last time I went for a computer, I made sure I got one that had an easily accessible motherboard/innards; I got a PowerSpec which has one of those great cases with the slide-out side panel rather than a "hood" case that requires you to take the entire dang case off. Problem with video, solved shortly after I got it. No problems since and I can add drives/memory/swap video out the wazoo.