On that kind of budget I'd wait a couple months for SB-E. It'll be the new enthusiast platform from Intel to replace the X58/LGA 1366. You'll be able to get a top of the line motherboard and a 3930k for less than $1000. If you want the best there is right now for gaming, I'd grab a 2500k and a Z68 motherboard, I don't know which mobo is the best.