System Usage from Most to Least Important: Surfing the Internet, Photographs, Watching movies
Parts Not Required: Monitor - I have an ASUS|LED 23.6" 2MS VE247H RT
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com & NCIX.com (I'm planning on getting an Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB at NCIX.com since they are only $200 right now and then everything else at Newegg.)
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=5 [...] omoid=1012
Country: USA
Parts Preferences: None
Overclocking: Maybe, Sure why not
SLI or Crossfire: Not planning on it, I'm not into games but the ability to expand is nice
Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080, ASUS VE247H (Already Own)
Additional Comments: I currently use a laptop for everything and desperately need another computer to anchor the family's virtual universe. I'm getting a new DSLR camera and am planning on doing a lot of photography with some video editing to go along with it.
SSD OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-60G 2.5" 60GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227737 $94.99 ($74.99 After Rebate)
(I'm planning on running Windows from the SSD)
If you're not gaming you don't need a 2500K. You also don't need the heat sink either. If those are your primary functions you could get by with an i3-2120 or even a Pentium Dual Core G640. You could even get by with an AMD A8-3850.
What software do you plan on editing with? If you are using Pro version of Photoshop (CS5 NOT Elements) and Premiere Pro keep the i5 2500K and consider the i7 2600K. I would also recommend 16GB of RAM as well, both programs will use as much RAM as you can through at them.
However if you are purchasing a entry level DSLR and just plan on shooting JPEG's instead of RAW files in auto mode then editing in Picasa I would downgrade to a i3 or AMD system.
@ the OP. You don't need a vid card, just use the HD 3000 graphics that comes with that 2500K...which is a steal btw for $200. Also skip that Asrock board you have up there seeing how it's meant for dual vid cards...so no need to spend that kind of money.
Thanks for everyone's input so far. I agree with a lot of what's been said. First off, I think I want to stay with the 2500k. I know its overkill for a non-gaming machine but I think since we're getting the debit card out in the first place, this is where I want to spend money, and $200 is a steal on it. Here's a revised build list.
Let me know what you think. I think I can rely on the graphics capabilities of the 2500k for the time being and upgrade to a dedicated GPU in the future if I need it. I've got some external memory so I scaled down the internal HDD for now with the thought that I'll add some memory down the road when drives are cheaper.