Need guidance with cost effective PC upgrade

[cuzn8r]

My current system:

 

CPU: Intel core i7 860

Mainboard: Gigabyte P55-UD3

GPU: AMD Radeon 6450

RAM: 16 Gb

HDD: 500Gb (but I frequently use an external hard drive)

 

I'm interested in higher quality graphics for gaming.

I'm willing to commit a maximum of ~350AUD to improving this.

 

My real questions:

What should I upgrade? 

Should I consider dual graphics cards? 

If so what ones? 

Should I increase my budget to allow for the advantages of dual cards?

How do I implement dual cards?

 

What other pertinent information is required for you (or I) to make these decisions, besides what I included above?

 

[thekeemo]

gpu is number one and yes consider dual gpu if its sub $100

[Darkman]

I'd suggest a new gpu, and you should tell us your powersupply.

[Hman1250]

Pretty sure that motherboard doesn't support SLI, older ones are rare to support dual graphics, and if they do, they would be expensive. Most things in Australlia are expensive, you might find a 770 for that budget, if you do, stick to that.

As well, SLI won't improve gaming performance that much, it is useful for other things such as rendering. Stick to a 770 at hopes.

[dadasmithywinkle]

My current system:

 

CPU: Intel core i7 860

Mainboard: Gigabyte P55-UD3

GPU: AMD Radeon 6450

RAM: 16 Gb

HDD: 500Gb (but I frequently use an external hard drive)

 

I'm interested in higher quality graphics for gaming.

I'm willing to commit a maximum of ~350AUD to improving this.

 

My real questions:

What should I upgrade? 

Should I consider dual graphics cards? 

If so what ones? 

Should I increase my budget to allow for the advantages of dual cards?

How do I implement dual cards?

 

What other pertinent information is required for you (or I) to make these decisions, besides what I included above?

This is what I'd get:

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-video-card-r9280xtdfd

 

The GPU will be the only thing that you'll need to upgrade for now. Consider a full system upgrade in the future (with more money). 

 

Getting a single 280X will wreck two 6450's.

[Wirbelfeld]

Definitely GPU. If you choose to go sli you will have to upgrade your motherboard first which will be quite expensive to find one that supports sli and fits with your processor so invest the most you can in that GPU.

[kuhchuk]

This is what I'd get:

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-video-card-r9280xtdfd

 

The GPU will be the only thing that you'll need to upgrade for now. Consider a full system upgrade in the future (with more money). 

 

Getting a single 280X will wreck two 6450's.

I was also thinking of a 280(x) card.  Should be a MASSIVE improvement over that 6450.