$1,200 modelling, photoshopping pc

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: within the week

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: AutoCAD, adobe illustrator and photoshop, rhino and 3dsmax modelling and rendering programs. gaming not "important," but i would like to be able to.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: i have a mouse and speakers.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg

PARTS PREFERENCES: intel to use RAID

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe in the future SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe in the future

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
this is my first computer build, so i am not an expert by any means.

i want a windowed case to view my handiwork.

i will pay a little extra for parts from reputable companies.

i don't play a lot of games, but i would if i had the power for it.

i am settling on intel chips, because i would like to use the Intel RAID matrix system on my two hard drives.

i have posted before when i was whittling down my computer choices. this is what i think i will get, due to budget restrictions. after a lot of thought and many helpful posting, i decided against an i7 to put more money into the video card and the RAID drives, so please don't try and convince me to go that route.

a previous person suggested a workstation gpu, specifically the $150 ATI 100-505507 FireGL V3600 256MB. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814195048
i do a lot of 3d modelling and rendering, which requires real-time panning and zooming and the whole deal. but - i'm also a student, not a professional, and currently i have friends with normal gaming cards that seem more than adequate. plus, i would like to play a game or two, probably an fps. any advice on the gaming vs. workstation card would be helpful.

i'm buying soon, so any help is much appreciated.

here's then build:

Antec 900
$109.00 - free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129021

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V
$100.00 - free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139005

Intel Q9400 Quad
EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB
$380.00 - free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.190528

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX
Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 1066
$168.00 - free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.192127

2x Western Digital Cavair Black 640mb 7200 RPM 32MB cache
$75.00 x2 - $150.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136319

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW
$25.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151175

ENCORE ENLWI-N IEEE 802.11b/g, IEEE 802.11n
$25.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6833180052

Vista 64-bit
$100.00

Asus VW224U 22" black
$160.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824236050

standard microsoft keyboard
$13.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823109164
"Microsoft's keyboards and mice have long been a crowning jewel in their crown." thats pretty good!

total: $1,207
(does not include rebates, which i hear can be difficult to redeem)

note: i had a different build with an intel Q9550. downgrading to the Q9400 and using a few combos saved me enough to get to my pre-tax goal of $1,200. i am essentially trading a Q9550 and a Geforce 250 for a Q9400 and a Gefore 260.

thanks for the help!

BTW, you can save $40 with an Antec 300 instead of Antec 900.

thanks for the advice.

i think i'm going to go with the:

$175.00
SAPPHIRE 100259L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102810

and the g-skill RAM you recommended.

however, i still think i am going to go with the Q9400. it combos with the ASUS P5Q Turbo mobo and comes out about $50 less than the Q9550.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.190254

i also generally leave out the prices of the rebates when figuring in cause sometimes they are hard to get from the manufacturer. that's just a personal thing.

if upgrading to the 9550 from the 9400 is a significant boost for $50 i might be able to afford it, but as is i am at the top of my budget now. i looked at some performance charts and it looked like the 9400 is in a great spot as far as speed/money goes.