Non-gaming, first build

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital VelociRaptor 1TB 3.5" 10000RPM Internal Hard Drive ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition (2-Pack) 39.9 CFM 120mm Fans ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-B9-1600 37.8 CFM 92mm Fan ($21.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Logitech K120 Wired Standard Keyboard ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Logitech M100 Wired Optical Mouse ($9.99 @ Newegg)
Speakers: Cyber Acoustics CA-3090 10W 2.1ch Speakers ($34.81 @ Newegg)
Total: $943.67
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

This is all wrong to be honest.
-drop all the unneeded case fans
-get an i5
-10000rpm drives are a hoax. Get a 7200rpm drive
-add a light GPU. (7770)
-Get a 500w PSU for upgrade ability like OP stated.

Hi,
"SPEED" comes with different components:
1) SSD
2) RAM
3) CPU

Unless you do very large editing of RAW pictures files with multiple layers, 8GB should be plenty. I would advise a good quad-core CPU like the i5-3570K. Since you don't game, you may even wish to consider the FX-8350 CPU but you should investigate REVIEW BENCHMARKS between CPU's for photo-editing. Factor in the added heat/noise with the AMD CPU's and decide if you want a CPU with integrated graphics. I recommend using a CPU's iGPU to start with and add a graphics card later at your leisure.

Laptop:
This is another option, which partially depends on how often you use Photoshop. There are some really great laptops for about $600 which have several advantages over a regular desktop but disadvantages as well (can't upgrade graphics, mobile CPU isn't as powerful as an i5-3570K).

*Some people buy laptops and use the HDMI output to a monitor that has HDMI input and AUDIO output. You can:
a) use the monitor only (not laptop screen)
b) use BOTH screens
c) send AUDIO to desktop speakers via HDMI (through compatible monitor) or use monitor speakers (or use headphone jack output which is slightly messier with cables)

Graphics:
If building a desktop, I'd probably recommend the i5-3570K and use its iGPU and avoid an addon graphics card since you don't game. You can LATER add a graphics card for GPU-hardware acclerating Photoshop but ONLY if it's a benefit. Photoshop is slowly rewriting its code to support OPENCL so the next version of Photoshop may benefit much more from a graphics card than the scenarios currently offered. (i.e. a $200 HD8000 series but ONLY if benchmarks prove the benefit.)

SYSTEM DESIGN?
- concentrate on the CPU you want first (i5-3570K, FX-8350 ? etc. See BENCHMARKS. Also consider the Intel CPU's run cooler)
- then choose the MOTHERBOARD (micro-ATX ?)
- then the rest->
- CPU cooler (don't use stock; see NCIX Canadian site to research; get one with a PWM fan; install fan control software and enable control in BIOS etc.)
- Windows 8 64-bit OEM
- Start8
- SSD (Samsung 840/840 Pro, latest Intel 520/525 or similar. Read reviews. Intel has most reliable SSD's)
- Hard Drive (2TB WD Green or similar)
- *investigate BACKUP SOFTWARE (backup Windows SSD Image to the Hard Drive; ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE Free version if you get a WD drive).
- Power Supply: Antec Basiq VP450 450W (I did a lot of research after the Corsair CX430 blew up on me after two days).
- BD/DVD burner
*I got my dad the LG WH14NS40 for a couple reasons:
a) BluRay writer
b) M-Disc support (archival DVD discs)
c) recent FIRMWARE update

My dad has lots of pictures, so I bought this drive and some M-Discs (10x4700MB for $30). He's archiving his pictures and putting the discs in a box.

Haswell:
Haswell is coming soon. While there's little advantage in raw processing power, there are some incredible power consumption advantages in idle usage though it's uncertain how much advantage there will be for the desktop. The Haswell design allows it to quickly turn off and on to save lots of power.

Windows 8:
Windows 8 is superior to Windows 7 in many ways. You can add START8 from Stardock for $5 to make it feel like Windows 7. Windows 8 is more secure, reliable, boots faster etc. There's really no good reason to stick with Windows 7.