For card, I could also recommend M-Audio Delta 44. I believe it uses the same sound chip as the 24/96, but it has a nice breakout box too. Doesn’t cost very much more either.
Notice that m-audio cards dont work propperly on 64-bit OS’s.
Ive got an EMU Tracker now. I tried a few cards including the m-audio one and the 1010 from emu, but I got all kinds of problems with the internal cards.
The one I got now just always works and is ridiculously easy in use.
For monitors I’d recommend you burn a CD with music you know well and just go to a good store to listen to a bunch of them very closely. Thats the advice I got everywhere and Im glad I did that. Got myself 2 KRK Rokit 8’s now