Budget PC build around $650?

I need a new build for work—mostly programming, rapid refreshing of heavy sites, Photoshop, and Lightroom (where the processing load hits hardest)—plus some background streaming via YouTube or Twitch.
Budget is around $1500 (I can stretch it a bit if the performance jump is significant, but I'd prefer to stay in that ballpark).

- A fast Intel processor
- Integrated graphics should be enough—provided it supports dual monitors without breaking the bank. It’s not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind if I decide to add a second screen later.
- A primary SSD larger than 200 GB (my current 110GB drive is basically at capacity).
- A secondary 1TB drive.

Last time I ordered from google.com, everything went smoothly, and they seem to offer discounts for certain payment methods. I’m looking for someone to assemble the PC—ideally, it should be a quiet build.

I’m currently juggling two machines. This one was an upgrade based on your previous recommendation (it’s still a solid machine today), but I’m trying to gauge what a modern equivalent looks like given my workflow:
- i5-4440 3.10GHz—Task Manager shows 100% utilization whenever I generate previews in Lightroom or perform basic edits like cropping. I have to wait a few seconds for the system to catch up. Since this rig is about four years old, I'm expecting a noticeable speed boost.
- 8GB DDR3—With my usual apps open, Task Manager shows I'm sitting at about 6GB usage.

Thanks. 🙂

View on imgur
You're blowing past your budget by about $133. You've already got enough integrity in the CPU (6 cores/12 threads)
. 16GB of RAM...

If stretching the budget is too much, just grab 8GB of RAM and call it a day

The i5 8xxx is basically a 6-core/6-thread processor 😉

You could probably pair it with an i7 8700 for just under $1833. That would likely give you a bit more breathing room for heavier workloads.

crimsonstag84 said:The i5 8xxx is just a 6-core/6-thread chip 😉

You could pair it with an i7 8700 for under $1833. It’d give you way more breathing room for heavy tasks.

My bad 😁
😵

Much appreciated—I'll take it 👍

Robert Rodriguez2 said:View on imgur
You're stretching your budget by about $133. You've already got the integrity built into the CPU—6 cores/12 threads.
16GB of RAM...

If going over budget is too much of a stretch, just grab 8GB of RAM and call it a day. That should do it.

A bit late on this due to some stuff coming up, but I finally picked up the PC and it arrived today. The issue is I can't get online—the computer isn't even seeing any available networks. I'm reading online that some motherboards might lack certain capabilities? What am I supposed to do to fix this?

What do you mean it isn't detecting any available networks? Are you talking about trying to connect via Wi-Fi? If so, yeah, obviously it won't work without the right setup. But if you're plugging in an Ethernet cable, then it shouldn't be a hardware issue...
To get on Wi-Fi, you actually need a Wi-Fi network adapter...

Yeah, connecting via WiFi.
If I’m reading this right, there's an internal card you install inside the rig versus a simple USB dongle you just plug in?
What’s the actual catch? For instance, is there a noticeable difference in signal stability or raw speed? My router is just in the next room.

I'd rather not crack the case open myself—if I mess with the internals, I risk voiding the warranty, and since I'm not based in Washington, D.C., getting service sorted isn't exactly convenient. But if one option is clearly superior for the long haul, I guess I'll have to make it happen...