Best Computer Under 1000

[SG44]

I'm looking to build the best possible computer for under $1000. It will be used for Photoshop mainly. I'm looking for suggestions on what would be the best components. The less it costs the better, just as long as it runs photoshop well.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

What's included in the $1000 budget? Is that for just the tower, or does it also include the monitor, OS, keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc...? Will it be used for any gaming at all?

 

[SG44]

Just the OS. It won't be used for gaming at all.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041 $294.99

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359&Tpk=ga-ep45-ud3r $119.99 - $15.00 MIR

ASUS EAH4350 SILENT/DI/512MD2 Radeon HD 4350 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121287 $39.99 - $10.00 MIR

Antec Three Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20300 $49.99

Corsair CMPSU-400CX ATX12V Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008&Tpk=400cx $59.99 - $20.00 MIR + 15% promo code "Jansave15", ends 1/20

(2) Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319&Tpk=wd6401aals $79.99 (x2)

These drives are very fast, I'd pick up two of them. Photoshop loves having the source and destination files on separate drives.

(2) G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 $49.99 (x2)

I'd pick up two kits for a total of 8GB since you'll be working with Photoshop and RAM prices are awesome right now.

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136153 25.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 $99.99


Total - $950.89 - $45.00 MIR's with two hard drives and 8GB of RAM

 

[npeep]

All items listed are available on Newegg.com.
The machine build listed here is more than apt enough to handle the latest games with ease.
Not listed are an OS, Monitor/Mouse/Keyboard/Speakers. It is assumed someone already has a copy of a popular OS they can place on here (legally!) using their old key, and that they already own mundane peripherals.
This beast is good looking, unique, cheap(!), and can slaughter most games out today.
-------------------
Mobo and Processor - $259.99 (Combo)
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor
Item #: N82E16819103674

ASUS M4A78-E ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131368
-------------------
Cheap, Sturdy, Stylish Case - $49.99
Sunbeam ACIII-T Transparent Computer Case With Side Panel Window
Item #:N82E16811166006
-------------------
Reliable, fast, big HDD - $59.99
Western Digital Caviar Blue 640GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive
Item #:N82E16822136218
-------------------
FAST Ram (Good timings), from a reliable vendor. Come with Heatsinks. - $50.99
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Item #:N82E16820231166
-------------------
Front access to Audio/USB/Cards. - $21.99
nMEDIAPC ZE-C98 All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader with USB/IEEE 1394/e-SATA Port/HD Audio Ports
Item #:N82E16820132020
-------------------
POWERFUL, cheap, stylish PSU - $72.49
OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700W Power Supply
Item #:N82E16817341019
-------------------
2xPowerful, low cost, MODERN video cards in Crossfire configuration - $199.98
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4850 100245L Video Card
Item #:N82E16814102770

Grand Total: 751.41 Before shipping.

 

[npeep]

In my post I mentioned it would be bomb for gaming, but you could just as easily run Photoshop without breaking a sweat on that machine.