New Dedicated Build

[blazure]

Approximate Purchase Date: Sometime in the next couple weeks

Budget Range: 750-900

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Specialized software (ArcGIS, MATLAB, etc.), browsing the web/word processing

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Parts to Upgrade: All new parts

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Location: USA

Parts Preferences: N/A

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Your Monitor Resolution: Not picky

Parts list:
Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 Quad-Core (includes fan+heatsink)
ASUS P8Z77-V LK LGA 1155 Intel Z77
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600
Antec EarthWatts Series EA-750 Green 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Continuous Power Supply
2 x ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 (1000:1) W/Speakers
ZXT Source 210 S210-001 Black “Aluminum Brush / Plastic” ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (PSU bottom mounted?)
ASUS CD/DVD burner
Edit: Forgot the hard drive
Western Digital WD Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Does this build seem about right?

 

[COLGeek]

Are you going to use the integrated video or would you prefer a dedicated video card (for better performance)?

Also, for this rig, you could save a few $$$ by getting a 500w PSU. Unless you plan to install multiple GPUs (or other additional devices), the chosen 750w is a bit of overkill.

 

[boulbox]

you don't really need a GPU for the work he is doing. using onboard is just fine but i think going with an AMD build is also an option if you want to take that route

you will be using 2xmonitors and you should have a dedicated card for those two, even something along the lines of a 7770 will do the job if you are not gaming.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-DGS Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($61.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 311 (Blue) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer G236HLBbd 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer G236HLBbd 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $757.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-31 19:52 EST-0500)

if you want to spend a bit more, i would upgrade the GPU to something that has 2GB vram