Here are some options to consider:
AMD Build:
[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/PeYk]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/PeYk/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/PeYk/benchmarks/]Benchmarks[/url]
[b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-fd6300wmhkbox]AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor[/url] ($132.49 @ Amazon)
[b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-m5a97ler20]Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard[/url] ($79.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-bls2kit4g3d1609ds1s00]Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($51.20 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex]Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($74.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7td250bw]Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk[/url] ($168.27 @ Amazon)
[b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-1003523l]Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card[/url] ($289.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Case:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-200r]Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case[/url] ($63.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9]XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply[/url] ($59.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Optical Drive:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-gh24ns95]LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer[/url] ($17.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Total:[/b] $931.89
[i](Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)[/i]
[i](Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-08 04:02 EDT-0400)[/i]
Intel Build:
[url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/PeZr]PCPartPicker part list[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/PeZr/by_merchant/]Price breakdown by merchant[/url] / [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/p/PeZr/benchmarks/]Benchmarks[/url]
[b]CPU:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i53350p]Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor[/url] ($179.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Motherboard:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z77pro3]ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard[/url] ($94.99 @ Amazon)
[b]Memory:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-bls2kit4g3d1609ds1s00]Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory[/url] ($51.20 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex]Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive[/url] ($74.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Storage:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7td250bw]Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk[/url] ($168.27 @ Amazon)
[b]Video Card:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-1003523l]Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card[/url] ($289.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Case:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-200r]Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case[/url] ($63.98 @ Newegg)
[b]Power Supply:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9]XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply[/url] ($59.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Optical Drive:[/b] [url=http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-gh24ns95]LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer[/url] ($17.99 @ Newegg)
[b]Total:[/b] $994.18
[i](Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)[/i]
[i](Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-08 04:04 EDT-0400)[/i]
* AMD build has OC'ing CPU (easily) and should be good for just about any game out there.
* Intel build has non-OC'ing CPU (and no integrated GPU), but the mobo has OC'ing available. The mobo also supports front USB 3.0 ports (for your case).
* Both builds have a 250 gb SSD for snappiness in boot time and also when you load apps and/or games. If this matters to you, then I would get at least this size of SSD. If it doesn't matter to you that much, I would just stick with a standard HD and upgrade the GPU to a 7970.
* AMD build is cheaper and probably has more room to grow, possibly (AM3+ Mobo's should support upcoming CPU's). The Mobo doesn't support front USB 3.0 ports (for the case), if that matters to you or not. The Mobo does have USB 3.0 ports on the back and you can always use an extender cable, if you want to have easy access to them.
It's up to you on what you would like to do, but that is what I'd consider.