AMD FX-8320 or intel i5 3470 for MY usage

[robbiecee2]

I am not going to be gaming but I am going to be heavily multitasking, encrypting/decrypting, compressing/decompressing, watching loads of movies and videos, browsing the Internet, listening to lots of audio, Uni work and powering 2-3 displays, therefore I was leaning more to the 8 core AMD processor with 2 low end discrete graphics cards (1 XFX Radeon 5450 1GB at £20 and I will use one from my previous computer).
Do you agree?

The system will also have 8GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM, 120Gb ssd, 500gb Sata 6gb/s,

 

[sam_p_lay]

Yep, FX.

 

[C00lIT]

At this point I think both will do a very satisfying job.
I would say go with the one that gives you the better motherboard features for the price.
Be sure that the motherboard chipset used supports 6gb/s sata ports.

As for 2-3 displays, I recommend spending a tiny bit extra on the videocard and make it an eyefinity card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121442

This card should support 3 displays easy. I read that eyefinity can support 6 displays but I don't know how and what is required to do so.

As I am suggesting this, I have to add required information (I struggled when I wanted to set it up for a client)

Requirements:

1- Windows Vista or 7. Eyefinity will not work on XP.
2- Displayport input on monitor, or ACTIVE display port adaptor (20$)
(Most new monitors have displayport adaptors now)


Lets say you do decide to run a game for whatever reason, you wont have embarrassing results due to 2 ultra low end cards

 

[robbiecee2]

At this point I think both will do a very satisfying job.
I would say go with the one that gives you the better motherboard features for the price.
Be sure that the motherboard chipset used supports 6gb/s sata ports.

As for 2-3 displays, I recommend spending a tiny bit extra on the videocard and make it an eyefinity card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121442

This card should support 3 displays easy. I read that eyefinity can support 6 displays but I don't know how and what is required to do so.

As I am suggesting this, I have to add required information (I struggled when I wanted to set it up for a client)

Requirements:

1- Windows Vista or 7. Eyefinity will not work on XP.
2- Displayport input on monitor, or ACTIVE display port adaptor (20$)
(Most new monitors have displayport adaptors now)


Lets say you do decide to run a game for whatever reason, you wont have embarrassing results due to 2 ultra low end cards

I'm actually only spending £20 on the card and taking the same one from my old pc to have 2 then I can plug 1 monitor into its own graphics card (assuming I only have 2 displays) would this be sufficient for my usage?
Why can't I use HDMI?

 

[witcherx]

Since you are building a good system
instead of 2 low end cards why not go for 1 card..
I know the cost would double for the gpu.. just thinking...

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/362249-33-question-regrading-7750-multiple-monitors

I think you could use the GCN architecture of 7750/7770 for your other tasks as well.. though an expert would advice you better on the GCN part then me..

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5541/amd-radeon-hd-7750-radeon-hd-7770-ghz-edition-review/21

 

[robbiecee2]

Since you are building a good system
instead of 2 low end cards why not go for 1 card..
I know the cost would double for the gpu.. just thinking...

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/362249-33-question-regrading-7750-multiple-monitors

I think you could use the GCN architecture of 7750/7770 for your other tasks as well.. though an expert would advice you better on the GCN part then me..

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5541/amd-radeon-hd-7750-radeon-hd-7770-ghz-edition-review/21

I'm buying ONE low end card and using an old one I have (the same model).

 

[witcherx]

oh. sry dint see you next response.. it wasnt there when i replied

 

[robbiecee2]

oh. sry dint see you next response.. it wasnt there when i replied

Okay, does that seem sufficient for my use?

 

[witcherx]

which is your current 5450?
Is it already an eyefinity capable card?

 

[twelve25]

eyefinity is more for gaming across multiple monitors. Windows can already spread across as many monitors as you have without need for anything special in the video card or driver.

And I agree both CPUs should be just fine. Ivy Bridge uses a little less power, if that matters. ANd if you use any video programs that can use QuickSync, then the Intel will be much faster.

 

[bjaminnyc]

Unless;
1. the 5450 has a display port output
2. its a FleX edition

The 5450 will not support 3 monitors.

 

[witcherx]

no was wondering why he needs two cards for multi display if he could do the same with one?

 

[witcherx]

you can read stuff here.. multi display with single 5450

http://superuser.com/questions/110328/does-the-radeon-hd-5450-support-three-displays

 

[bjaminnyc]

The SAPPHIRE FleX HD 6450 is a very inexpensive solution for a 3 monitor setup, and it works with HDMI + DVI x2. Only the FleX series are capable of 3x eyefinty without displayport. Not bad for $60.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102960

 

[vitornob]

In this particular usage the FX-8320 shall be better than Intel offering.

 

[robbiecee2]

which is your current 5450?
Is it already an eyefinity capable card?

I'm not sure

 

[robbiecee2]

The SAPPHIRE FleX HD 6450 is a very inexpensive solution for a 3 monitor setup, and it works with HDMI + DVI x2. Only the FleX series are capable of 3x eyefinty without displayport. Not bad for $60.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102960

I am only buying one graphics card to power one display, but I have ANOTHER from my old computer which I can use to power the second display.

 

[robbiecee2]

Unless;
1. the 5450 has a display port output
2. its a FleX edition

The 5450 will not support 3 monitors.

I am only buying one 5450 however, I already have another one which I could use to power a second display.

 

[FinneousPJ]

For productivity use the FX is superior. I'm actually really impressed with it it's at times right at the heels of the i7s for a very attractive price.

 

[robbiecee2]

To be clear.. I CAN buy ONE card and use ANOTHER card I ALREADY HAVE, put them both in and run one display on each (ie, 2 displays each with their own video card) via HDMI, cant I ?

 

[CaptainTom]

Fx

 

[robbiecee2]

Thanks, Can I do what I said in my last post?

 

[noob2222]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5450,2549-3.html

unless your video card only has one video out, you can do it from the one card. there isn't much on crossfire setups with the 5450. just get a dvi-hdmi adapter, assuming the card you have has the hdmi and dvi ports. that will give you 2 hdmi ports on one card.

 

[robbiecee2]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5450,2549-3.html

unless your video card only has one video out, you can do it from the one card. there isn't much on crossfire setups with the 5450. just get a dvi-hdmi adapter, assuming the card you have has the hdmi and dvi ports. that will give you 2 hdmi ports on one card.

Yea the card I have just now has HDMI and DVI I'm sure.
I didn't mean on crossfire or SLI. Would I be able to purchase the 5450 and run a monitor at 1080p on that and put my old card in to power another display at 1080p

 

[griptwister]

Dude, just go with a FX 8320 and a HD 6770. You'll be much better off.