Noob needs help with first bookshelf setup

If u sticking to 2.0/2.1 all the way and are on a budget i would really scan the used audio hardware forums where u at and look to hit some stereo/power amps cos an AVR is unneeded and a good recent one is gonna cost ya anyway. If the used hardware scene sucks consider T-Amps which could turn out to be exactly what u need in the 1st place 

edit: use the line out off your sound card and connect to amp using a 3.5mm/RCA cable

$200 is a good deal on the mordaunt short carnival 2; they're owned by the same company, I believe, as cambridge audio and they get very good reviews.  You could pair them with this refurbished Onkyo stereo receiver for $100 and have a heck of a nice entry level system:  http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTX8255/Onkyo-TX-8255-50-watts-2-channel-Stereo-Receiver/1.html   Who is selling the mordaunt short carnival 2 for $200?

Edit: the hyper links aren't work.  Google accessories4less and check out their refurbished gear; the Onkyo 8255 is a nice entry level stereo receiver and it's 4 ohm stable which is a plus.  Although if you have the money for the Onkyo 8050 ($229 refurbished with a full manufacturer's warranty), I'd go for that.  It is more powerful and can be networked.  Plus it has multiple digital inputs plus a usb input for an ipod or hard disc playback

That's an easy choice, IMHO, buy the Onkyo.  The dayton really isn't 50 watts; if you look at the specs, it's really rated at 30 watts.  Plus the Onkyo has a lot more inputs, it's 4 ohm stable (it will handle a wider ranger of speakers), and it has a tuner.  That still leaves you $250 for speakers.  You could get the Cambridge s30 at $219.  If you like the Mordaunt Short Carnival 2, you can get them from audio advisor with pangea stands for $250; stands are nice with bookshelf speakers: http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MOKCAR2LS%20PBLK

Edit: Saturday Audio Exchange sells refurbished PSB speakers; you can pick up the Alpha B1 for $240:  http://www.saturdayaudio.com/picturepages/psb_bstock.htm    I really like PSB speakers.

If you are looking to get some very good sounding speakers for listening while you are in front of your computer, you can do quite well with not lot of money.  This is because you are close to the speakers, assuming you have them on either side of your monitor, so you don't need speakers that put out a lot of sound without straining, and you don't need a lot of power, which are both expensive.  But most speakers that are small are made to a low price point and aren't very good, but there are a few that are made that are excellent as long as you don't need loud music; they are cheaper because they use small cabinets and woofers but still high quality parts.  For one setup I have I use NHT Super Zero speakers  (the latest version is $99 each new from the factory, used ones are cheaper) with a small NHT powered subwoofer which you can get used for around $150 or less, and a Lepai T-amp for $30 which sounds great below its modest power limits...but is fine for computer monitors.  Info here on the Super Zeros: http://www.nhthifi.com/Bookshelf-speaker-SuperZero-2-0?sc=12&category=3772.  The whole thing also doesn't take up much space on your desk top, and the sub goes under the desk.  However if you are trying to fill a medium to larger size room with sound, then this would not be the way to go.  Conversely, if you don't need to fill a room, why pay extra for speakers and amps that can do this?  If you are 1 foot away from the speaker instead of 10 feet, the sound pressure level is 10X that of 10 feet away. 

Agree with KurtW : near field listening is all about finesse and efficiency with the right hardware and there is no reason to go hot, pricey and overkill for this purpose 

What about passive monitors, http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-B2030P-Ultra-Linear-Reference-Monitor/dp/B000N94S7O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320590728&sr=8-2 , http://www.amazon.com/Alesis-Monitor-MKII-Passive-Monitors/dp/B0002A2RTU/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1320590851&sr=1-2 , These speakers will do near field or fill a room with sound give these speakers there max power there top 110db at 1metre, the behringers are 89db 1watt @ 1metre 8ohm , the alesis are 88db 1watt @ 1metre 4ohm , both will pair well with a high power or low power amp.

Agree with Kurt that the NHT superzeros are well super and if they work with a cheap T amp, then that would make for a good desktop set up (if that is where you want to place your speakers).  Small speakers do a better job of providing a stereo image in a nearfield set up.  But the NHTs will need a sub (they're designed to work with a sub).  The super 8 sub and NHT monitors run $500 and that is a great set up.  You could go with the NHTs (@200) and a cheaper sub; you can find them on amazon and probably still hit your $350 budget.

Your reading the frequency responce wrong, the super zeros go down to 85hz but you would cross the sub over around 95-100hz, the super zero's are acoustic suspension speakers, acoustic suspension speakers are said to be hard to drive so your need something more powerful than a little t-amp.

I don't know what amps are suitable for driving acoustic suspension speakers owners of acoustic suspension speakers normally use 100watts+ per channel amps, it's not volume underdriven speakers can sound thin and bass will suffer.

The NHTs should be crossed over at around 100hz; that's how NHT crosses over its sub with the superzeros.  Insofar as the amp is concerned, read the manual and talk to NHT.  They will let you know what the minimum is for those speakers.  You don't need much to drive them loudly in a nearfield.  I have a 20 watt amp and it drives my audioengine P4 speakers much louder than I am comfortable with.  The specs on the superzeros state that they are 8 ohm speakers and can handle 75 watts RMS but does not provide a bottom end which is why you need to contact the company directly to find out.  Also the amps you are looking at lack a subout so you will have to use a speaker level

connection; just make sure that the sub has them.  If you want to put more money in electronics and less in the sub, check out this sub from monoprice: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10906&cs_id=1090602&p_id=8248&seq=1&format=2.  It runs $57 which is a heck of a deal.  If you are worried about a no-name sub, you can pick up this Polk from Amazon for $100: http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-10-Inch-Monitor-Subwoofer/dp/B0002KVQBA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320634138&sr=8-2.  In any case you do not need 100 watts per channel amp for the superzeros (in fact that is more than the manufacturer recommends).  If you go with the monoprice sub and the NHTs, you have more than enough money left in your budget for the refurbished Onkyo 8255 from accessories4less. 

Edit: Personally, given your budget, I'd skip the sub and focus on a good amp and a good pair of bookshelf speakers.  You can always add a sub later if you think you need one (and funds permitting). I'd get that Onkyo 8255 reciever for $100 from accessories4less and the PSB Alpha B1 refurbished speakers from Saturday Audio Exchange for $240.  Google the PSB Alpha B1; they're fine speakers.  They have a sensitivity of 91 dB and they're 6 ohm speakers; the suggested power is from 10 to 90 watts.  The Onkyo will drive it plenty of loud easily in your room.