Under $500, media, No Gaming

[hlpnd]

Ok, so in order to make things easier I want to follow the rules: here I go.

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: in the next month or two

Budget Range: hopefully no more than $500

System Usage from Most to Least Important: downloading and streaming movies, running photoshop, and other similar programs for my design and photography work

Are you buying a monitor: I may buy a larger one in the future so I would like to be able to run dual monitors, one being my TV to watch movies while I work

Do you need to buy OS: No

Location: New York City

Parts Preferences: I like the Prodigy Mini-ITX

Overclocking: Maybe but I dont think I need this for what I will be using it for will I?

SLI or Crossfire: Yes / No / Maybe

Additional Comments: The quieter the better

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Tired of working off of my laptop all the time, want something new and powerful.

 

[newcdn]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xqus

Monitor not included.

 

[hlpnd]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xqus

Monitor not included.

Is there a reason that I shouldnt use the Prodigy case? I'm very partial to it for its size and it looks pretty nice

 

[properbuilds]

Hi, if this is not for gaming, you don't need the discrete card, the i3-3225 has the intel hd 4000 graphics, it suits you, it has a good mini tower case.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($127.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $394.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)



If you must include the bitfenix case, you have to spend more on the mobo :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($127.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (White) Mini ITX Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $459.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)