i7 if your money cap isn't too crazy. i5-2500k is what I have, and I'm looking to upgrade after I get my RAM from 8gb to 16gb. i7 is more of an enthusiast build, where i5 is for if you want a fantastic PC. There's also the AMD chips, but I like intel so there.
My setup and rough estimates on cost at the time(some bought in Dec2011, some in 2013):
TOWER
MOBO: MSI P67A-C43 (~$80)
CPU: i5-2500k 3.3GHz (~$250)
RAM: G.SKILL 8GB DDR3 (~$100)
VIDCARD: started EVGA GTS 560ti 2gb (~$250), now have EVGA GTX 770 SC 2gb (~$420)
PSU: Corsair HX Pro Series 750w (~$130)
HDD: WD Caviar 750GB (~$80)
SSD: Crucial M4 128GB (~$130)
DVD-DRIVE DO PEOPLE USE THESE ANYMORE?: Normal one. (~$30)
CASE: NZXT Gamma (~$40)
PERIPHERIALS
MONITOR(s): 2x ASUS VW246H 24in LCD (2x~$200), 1x Emerson 39in LCD tv (~$320)
KEYBOARD: started Razer Lycosa (~$60), now have CM QuickFire TK (~$90)
MOUSE: started Razer Orochi (~$60), now have Logitech G9X (~$80)
HEADSET: started Turtle Beach x11 (~$50), then Siberia V2 (~$120), now Astro A40 (~$250)
WIRELESS ADAPTER: TP-Link TL-WN722N 150Mbps High Gain (~$20, awesome)
WIRELESS KEYBOARD: Logitech K400 (~$25, use for tv when not near desk)
All-in-all, mine probably cost...~$1700 at the start(~$1000 on tower), and right now it's ~2300(~$1200 on tower). This all probably seems expensive, but know that a lot of it is unnecessary fluff, and it was also bought over time...and I like shiny things. So don't judge.
EDIT: Might consider upgrading myself to the cpu you got persuader, the 4670k, along with this beast.
My setup and rough estimates on cost at the time(some bought in Dec2011, some in 2013):
TOWER
MOBO: MSI P67A-C43 (~$80)
CPU: i5-2500k 3.3GHz (~$250)
RAM: G.SKILL 8GB DDR3 (~$100)
VIDCARD: started EVGA GTS 560ti 2gb (~$250), now have EVGA GTX 770 SC 2gb (~$420)
PSU: Corsair HX Pro Series 750w (~$130)
HDD: WD Caviar 750GB (~$80)
SSD: Crucial M4 128GB (~$130)
DVD-DRIVE DO PEOPLE USE THESE ANYMORE?: Normal one. (~$30)
CASE: NZXT Gamma (~$40)
PERIPHERIALS
MONITOR(s): 2x ASUS VW246H 24in LCD (2x~$200), 1x Emerson 39in LCD tv (~$320)
KEYBOARD: started Razer Lycosa (~$60), now have CM QuickFire TK (~$90)
MOUSE: started Razer Orochi (~$60), now have Logitech G9X (~$80)
HEADSET: started Turtle Beach x11 (~$50), then Siberia V2 (~$120), now Astro A40 (~$250)
WIRELESS ADAPTER: TP-Link TL-WN722N 150Mbps High Gain (~$20, awesome)
WIRELESS KEYBOARD: Logitech K400 (~$25, use for tv when not near desk)
All-in-all, mine probably cost...~$1700 at the start(~$1000 on tower), and right now it's ~2300(~$1200 on tower). This all probably seems expensive, but know that a lot of it is unnecessary fluff, and it was also bought over time...and I like shiny things. So don't judge.
EDIT: Might consider upgrading myself to the cpu you got persuader, the 4670k, along with this beast.