Upgrading my HP e9280t worth it?

[haza12d]

I was gifted an HP e9280t desktop PC last week and was wondering if it was worth upgrading.

Here are the specs now:

CPU: Intel i7 920
Mobo: Pegatron Truckee (Intel X58)
RAM: 12GB (6x2GB)
HDD: 2 TB
GPU: ATI Radeon HD 4850 (1GB)
OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
PSU: 500w

I was thinking about upgrading by
maxing out the RAM to 24GB, and getting an SSD and a new Graphics card, possibly the GTX 1050ti and maybe even getting a faster processor, the i7 950.

I mostly play LoL but I'm hoping to be able to run a few FPS games like BF1 and Fallout 4.

The upgrade would set me back about $400. Would this be even worth it on an old system like this?

Love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks!

 

[DSzymborski]

RAM won't actually improve your performance. Don't see the point at upgrading to 24 GB unless you're doing specific workstation tasks that are leaving you short of RAM.

Also don't see much marginal benefit to goint from 920 to a 950.

A 1050ti is a reasonable upgrade, but don't expect to run games like BF1 anywhere near maxed; there was a relatively large jump between Nehalem CPUs and Sandy Bridge, Intel's last really significant generational jump.

If you go with a more powerful GPU than a 1050ti, you'll need to replace the OEM PSUs, which tend to be rather poor quality.

 

[haza12d]

I've been doing some research and found out that the Xeon X5670 is the same socket type. Do you have any idea if it will be compatible with my system? I'm thinking that the X5670 is a better upgrade than the 950?

 

[DSzymborski]

I've been doing some research and found out that the Xeon X5670 is the same socket type. Do you have any idea if it will be compatible with my system? I'm thinking that the X5670 is a better upgrade than the 950?

For workstation-type programs, yes. For gaming, the single-core speed is barely any better. And I wouldn't 100% trust your OEM motherboard to support it (they don't list anything but the i7s and while it might as a Nephalem, it might not). For gaming, you're really at your effective maximum on this platform, not the tip top, but past the point where you'll get much marginal benefit. If you need more CPU power than you have now, it's going to have to be a larger change.

 

[haza12d]

I ended up getting an i7 975 for dirt cheap along with 120GB SSD and the EVGA 1050ti. Picked up everything for $250. I haven't gotten a chance to put it together yet though.