Trying to build a comp for $1700

At that budget you'd have room to core X58 route as well but I would recommend something along the lines of Core i5 750, P55 MOBO with USB3/SATA6, Aftermarket cooler, GPU 5870. Consider also if you want an SSD or not. Won't help with in gaming speeds but will make load times faster.

With a 28 monitor though, definitely don't skimp on the GPU.

Well I was considering either a single 5850 or 5870, unless someone can figure out a way to get a better GPU setup in there for this budget.

What resolution is the monitor? You'll get the most helpful advice the more info you are able to provide. Check out this sticky about how to request system advice: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advic...

thank you for the tip, updated original post. 1920 x 1200

Case / PSU

$230 Antec 1200 w/ CP-850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
Why - The Antec 1200 and HAF 932 are the de facto THG favorites. Both trade pluses and minuses and it usually comes down to a styling choice. If going w/ twin GFX cards, grab the two optional case fans. The CP-850 simply has no competition in it's price range. Of the four 850 watters that get a 10.0 performance rating on jonnyguru.com, the Antec SG-850 and the CP-850 also get Editors Choice selections on jonnyguru.com

MoBo / CPU

$520 ASUS P6X58D-E w/ Intel i7-930 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
Why - Great board, $90 cheaper than it's dual LAN big brother. See alternate OC monster below.

RAM

$200 3 x 2GB Corsair DDR3-1600 CAS 7 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Why - it's low profile so wo't interfere w/ heat sinks and has slightly faster timings the the $190 GSkill.

Hard Drive

$85 Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Why - given your usage the 7200 is the pick of choice oiver the F3 ... the 72000 excels in gaming, pictures and multimedia whereas the F3 is the better choice for movies and music. The 7200 is also much quieter (1/4th as load as the F3) and runs a lot cooler.

Heat Sink

$65 Megahalmes Rev B http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8807/cpu-pro-01/Proli...
$7 IC Diamond 7 Karat http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7038/thr-41/Innovatio...
Scyth PWM Fans $11 x 2 http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10026/fan-639/Scythe_...
$7 PWM Y Cable Splitter http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8418/cab-150/FrozenCP...

Why - I used to post a series of test sites saying to pick from the top 5.....now it's just do you spend $50 for a very good cooler or spend $100 for the best. For performance and ease of installation, the Prolimatech Megahalems IS tops both criteria.
If ya find $100 too much, the Scyth Mugen 2 SCMG-2000 is the way to go.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_conten...

Optical Drive

If that's not in your future, $25 Any DVD writer will do

GFX Cards

$350 Asus ENGTX470/2DI/1280MD5 GTX 470 (Fermi) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
.....or
$320 ASUS EAH5850 DIRECTCU/2DIS/1GD5 HD 5850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Why - If ya have the case for adequate cooling and the PSU to push it, the 470 offers a very attractive "dollars per frame" . Here's a tabulation of cards to consider based upon 9 DX11 benchmark by THG and HardwareCanucks at 1920 x 1200 and high settings:

ATI 5970 11.93
nVidi 480 10.01
nVidia 470 9.08
ATI 5870 10.59
ATI 5850 9.04

The dollars per frame is expected to increase with performance due to the law of diminishing returns....but the 470 is so close to the 5850 in price / performance ratio, the extra $30-50 make sense. It also finished on top in 8 outta 9 of those benchmarks. However if your primary usage is older DX9/10 games, then the 5850has a much stronger showing. To my mind, it's hard to find fault w/ either choice.

PSU can handle twin cards if ya want SLI / XFire

$1481-1511 w/ single GFX card

If you want a board with every possible overclocking feature, the new Rampage III Extreme is amazing. Then again, at $380 it should be expected to be. I'd drop the extra money ($170) in a heartbeat.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Personally, I'd go with the R3E and one 470 and add another 470 for XMas.

Thank you very much! How does the motherboard you suggested compare with the ASUS P6T or P6T deluxe? Also I didn't mention originally but MP3's are also very very high on my priority list, probably moreso than gaming, listening and collecting music is my life. What would the Spinpoint F3 do better for this purpose than the one you suggested?

JackNaylorPE's rec is pretty much what I would recommend to you for a X58 rig as well. The P6X58D-E MOBO has SATA6gb and USB3 to help "futureproof" your system a bit. Definitely go with the Core i7 930 over the 920 unless you already have the 920.

With his suggestions it leaves you with some budget room to either go with an SSD as a boot and program drive, or a better GPU.

If music is actually your high priority, you could also invest in a soundcard. My recommendation for best value would be ASUS Xonar DX. That being said, it really depends on what kind of speakers you have though. If you don't have high quality speakers, you are unlikely to notice a difference between onboard sound and dedicated sound card.

Music is highest priority, next is games. I have Logitech Z 5500's.

Well, if music is priority and you can tell between sound then I would recommend getting a dedicated sound card. I've seen the ASUS Xonar DX deals $80 new.

There are better cards out there in like the $200 dollar range but then I think you need audiophile level speakers...

that card and most of them didn't seem to have an optical input? (Tos-link) Even the motherboard on board soundcards have those?

Hmm... I you are right. If you are demanding optical, that's not a bad way to go but then you are getting beyond what I know about sound and I don't want to lead you astray.

You don't need an optical input if your just outputting sound to your speakers. If your trying to do recording, thats different.