I'd suggest getting a copy of my book. I go through all the information you're asking in great detail. The 2008 version is more applicable for your 2005 instance, but the 2012 version has more accurate information (there were some mistakes in the first version).
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt
Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning