Maximum PC

I'm a little overwhelmed browsing Newegg.com for parts so naturally I came here for some help!

I'm looking to spend anywhere from 800-1000$ on parts for a computer, so far I've decided that I want an Intel CPU and that's about it.

I want to be able to run Battlefield 3 on full settings and resolution if that's possible with this budget and I need a computer that can work with my FireWire recording interface (it's a Presonus FireStudio Project). I'm hoping that using Battlefield 3 as a benchmark for my gaming needs will work out well with Diablo 3 and Guild Wars 2.

Any help would be great and much appreciated - also I just remembered that I do not have a monitor yet but if that compromises the budget then I would go ahead and just add the cost of one to the 800-1000 budget and keep that amount strictly for the tower.

Thanks!

Considering the bare minimum (I think) to run BF3 at Ultra @ 1080p is a GeForce GTX670/HD7950 is about $400 and a decent processor and motherboard would be another $350. This leaves you about $250 for the rest.

You might be able to pull it off. RAM can be found for under $50, a decent power supply would be about $50, you could get away with a $30-$50 case, and $100 for the hard drive.

If I buy a CPU with integrated graphics could I get by using that to record at a bare minimum while focusing on other parts? And how much would I need to spend in order to run BF3 on slightly lower settings? Could I compromise and still render the game at fairly high settings with a significant drop in price?

Battlefield 3 on anything above Low is considered better than consoles. So you could skirt by with say a GTX 560 Ti which costs $250. But if you're doing video recording of game footage, that needs a beefy processor.

I have no desire to do recordings of gaming just music, is it possible that an Intel i5 2500K would meet my needs for audio recording and gaming?

I just went to my local Micro Center and got a Corsair 500R for my case (spent $136.68 before the $15 mail in rebate which is too much) and got quoted for a Sabertooth Z77 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131821 along with an Intel i5 2500k - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115072 at $189.99 and $ 169.99 before tax respectively. It seems like this is a pretty decent deal price wise and performance wise for starters on this build but could I still make a computer that is gaming-worthy at or beneath a $1000 budget still?

P.S. - sorry moderators, it's late, I'm drunk, and figuring out the html for remask my hyperlinks for the products is too much right now.

Bleh, Sabertooth (you'll hear me say this a lot )

Also don't get a Z77 chipset on a Sandy Bridge processor, there's no real benefit other than the potential to upgrade to an Ivy Bridge (which... you should just buy an Ivy Bridge). A Z68 does just fine, and you can get a decent $120 motherboard. I have a Gigabyte GAZ68XP-UD3, works like a champ.