Need $2000 build advice

[yourcurtainsareugly]

My dad is looking to build a computer up to $2000, including a monitor. I have built an $800 system, but I have no idea where to start with much more money. What should I focus spending on? I don't want a lopsided computer with a great processor but bad memory or something.
He wants something that will be smooth in normal apps as well as some light to moderate gaming. He's been having troubles with his current computer being horribly slow and on the way to hard drive death.
So, if anyone could at least suggest a good motherboard that could start as a base for the $2000 budget that I could work off of, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Horty]

How big of a monitor?

Samsung 22" $319

An Intel P5k mobo for under $140
An Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66 Conroe for around $210
2 gig RAM ~$100
eVGA 8800 GTS $374
DVD Burner $30
Case? However much you want to spend...
PSU ~$75-125

Plus software... another few hundred if needed. If not, I might get an 8800GTX

[LeftyAce]

You could get an intel quad core cpu for $266 (the Q6600 processor).

Seagate 7200.10 SATA harddrive. The 320GB model is $80.

[freakitchen]

For the kind of performance your dad is looking for, you really don't need to spend that much money. Building a balanced system, composed of components with the best price - performance ratio, is what you should be looking to do.

Agreeing with some of the recommendations made already, the Q6600 processor on the ASUS P5K motherboard, with 2GB of Corsair DDR2 should work out at around $500. Put these in the Antec Sonata III case - it comes with a quality 500w power supply. For light to moderate gaming, I'd recommend an ATI X1950Pro - no need to go to the expense of an 8800 series card. If you'd rather have a card with DX10 support, an nVidia 8600GT should work out at a similar price. Finally, add a Seagate SATA hard drive, a Lite-on SATA DVD-RW and the operating system of your choice! Simple eh?

The Samsung screen that Horty recommended looks like a good one to me. I'd guess that all these components together should come out at just over the $1000 mark.

[yourcurtainsareugly]

He'll also be wanting to do some video editing. What kind of hardware makes video editing easier? I assume a faster video card, or processor. And lots of storage.
He also wants "a kick-ass sound card". I don't know what that means. Also, He's looking for a 500 gig drive. I'll probably go with a Seagate as that is what everyone seems to recommend.

[freakitchen]

For Video Editing, the processor and the RAM are MUCH more important than the video card. RAM is cheap at the moment, but I hesitate to recommend more than 2GB because this would essentially require 64-bit Vista (32Bit Operating systems can't address 4GB of RAM, and x64 XP isn't recommended due to bad driver support). Keep in mind that the Asus P5K offers 4 DIMMs - your dad could easily add another 2GB of memory at any time, if he feels he needs it. If he wants a good sound card, I assume he's an audiophile? Virtually all desktop boards now have decent surround-sound built in.