Upgrade worthwhile?

[filterxg]

I'm looking to upgrade a 3-year old build and am trying to figure out what's worth while. Since I bought the machine I've started doing more programming, more photo/video editing, more complex spreadsheet work, and a whole lot less gaming (virtually zero now). So I really want to get 3 monitors; currently I've got a 23" in landscape and a 20" in portrait and I want to get a 27" in landscape and two 19" in portrait. To accomplish this I know I need another video card, but I figured I'd take a look at the entire build and see what's worthwhile. Max I'm willing to spend before monitors is $250 (I figure I can sell some of the stuff I'm getting rid of).

Currently the highlights of my build include

AMD Phenom II X3 720
Gigabyte GA-MA790XT Mainboard
4GB (2x2GB) PC3-10700 RAM
512MB Radeon 4850
1GB Western Digital Green HD (+300GB worth of old hard drives)

Minimum Upgrade:
double RAM to 8GB
Add a Radeon 5450 to drive one of the monitors.

What I'm considering:
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz
Radeon HD 7750 2GB
double RAM to 8GB
Maybe add a small SSD for the OS and Programs.

What do you guys think? Is it worth $250? Is there a better mix of components for $250?

 

[mnewsham]

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz
Radeon HD 7750 2GB
double RAM to 8GB
Maybe add a small SSD for the OS and Programs.

Seems like a decent upgrade, will be much snappier and easier to configure as the 7750 can drive all 3 displays. Assuming you have display port.

 

[mfenn]

Seems like a decent upgrade, will be much snappier and easier to configure as the 7750 can drive all 3 displays. Assuming you have display port.

Yep, without a DP-capable monitor, you will need an active DVI to DP converter.

 

[filterxg]

Thanks.

I'm second guessing whether that card (2GB 7750 or 1GB 7770) can handle the monitors even in limited gaming situations

1 U2713HM 2560 x 1440
2 P1913 900 x 1440

So works out to 4360x1440.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks.

I'm second guessing whether that card (2GB 7750 or 1GB 7770) can handle the monitors even in limited gaming situations

1 U2713HM 2560 x 1440
2 P1913 900 x 1440

So works out to 4360x1440.

Certainly not with all 3" monitors displaying the game. The 7770 might be able to do 2560x1440 if you don't mind turning the graphics all the way down.

 

[Montosaurous]

Sounds good to me, especially the video card. If you can though grad a 7770 or 7850.

 

[Dirk Kuyt]

yeah if it were me, i'd find myself wanting an upgrade from that 7750 pretty quickly. i think the bare minimum for playing games these days is a 7770, my opinion. the 7750 is just going to leave you wanting more i have a feeling.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I don't really see the point in upgrading from a triple core to quad core within the same family, but a six core, yes. Otherwise I would step up to a newer generation CPU. Have you tried unlocking the fourth core on that X3?

 

[Essence_of_War]

I think the CPU upgrade seems a bit lateral...I think I might focus the money on the video card and RAM since you have a specific need for additional displays and more RAM is great for photo/video editing.