Agree with Maynard on a few points...
For one, $2k will get you a smokin machine. Not elite top end stuff, but good enough to play anything on max settings. As long as you don't splurge on something ridiculous, like an $800 case or an expensive liquid cooling kit, you can do it for less even.
Targeting a build similar to Maynard's is not a bad idea at all. Its not too far from what I did. Built mine about 18 months ago. Exact same case. Lesser Intel chip (I have the i5-2500K) and even a step down from the 2700, it does everything I need and more. I don't have an SSD, which is a pretty worthwhile investment. I spent about $2k but splurged on two monitors, extra fans, a decent trackball, and a mechanical keyboard. Unnecessary stuff but I like it.
There is one downside to buying it in pieces and then building it later, which is the possibility of faulty pieces. Most pieces of PC hardware can only be returned for refund or exchange within a certain period. Some you can test for functionality and some you really can't. So if you buy parts and sit on them for six months, you can end up having a no option if something is DOA. Not a massive risk, but still a risk.
