My friend currently needs a new desktop:
Uses- Gaming, 3d Modeling, Programming, Lots of Photoshop
Budget- We are looking $1000, less would be nice but he also can go over.
Thoughts- I think that the i7 would be worth it for them. He currently likes the $1000 "Sweet Spot" Build by Fuzzykins.
He has a 2 TB external drive for data and old games+ pics n stuff.
$1000 Build
Case: CoolerMaster Haf 912 $59.99
Power Supply: Corsair TX650 $89.99
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68X UD-3 $169.99 changed to MSI P67A-C43 $114.99
Processor: Intel i5 2500k $219.99
CPU Cooler: CoolerMaster Hyper 212 $49.99
RAM: G.Skill Sniper Low Voltage 8GB $84.99
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 $64.99
Optical Disc Drive: Sony Optiarc SATA DVD/CD Burner $19.99
Graphics Card: MSI GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr $249.99
Total: 1009.91 USD
Feel free to mix and match parts from that list to better fit his needs.