$1200-$1500 Help me build a gaming computer

Hello hello, I've been browsing forums and trying to educate myself a little bit before I posted, so here goes   I beg you to tolerate what ignorance I may convey - I'm a learner!

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Early to Mid August

BUDGET RANGE: $1200 - $1500

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (FFXIV, Starcraft 2... etc...), Graphic Design (Adobe Suite)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: mouse, keyboard, I have a monitor but suggestions for compatibility with this new build would be nice

PREFFERED WEBSITES FOR PARTS: Newegg.com (I might be able to get a few parts at wholesale $ once I figure out what I need)

PARTS PREFFRENCES: None in particular

OVERCLOCKING: Never done it. Wouldn't know how  

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Generally know very little about these. That's something I'm still reading up on and trying to understand.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I have some tech savy people that I can go to for help and they have given me suggestions but I'm trying to be open to ideas.

IDEAS I HAVE SO FAR:

CPU: I was really leaning towards AMD Phenom II X4 965/955 but I read alot of varying opinoins about 955 being cheaper for an unoticable difference and that i5/i7 might be better. I also hear alot of AMD is better for price/performance which is why I landed on AMD. Feel free to explain why not to go that route if you so feel it.

GPU: also hear good and bad about the Sapphire 100281SR Radeon HD 5870 GPU so I'm again *really* unsure of how to go in the GPU direction.

MOBO: No idea - still trying to settle and get a good opinoin about Processor and GPU (ASUS seems to be the brand to get though)

Everything else is generally up in the air. I have a few builds that I've set aside to compare with what you smarty-harty's can come up with   I'm open to ideas and suggestions and discussion.

Thank you in advance for everyone's help!