Posts by mellowtiger83

wiredotter14 said:It’s better to grab something like this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/graphics-card-listing

It has twice as many CUDA cores as the GT 710.

If you absolutely have to pick something that cheap just to fit inside an SFF case.

But wasting any amount of money on a crumbling Fermi card that isn't actually worth much $33, combined with the fact that it's "new" and includes sales tax—it's just nonsensical.

Driver support for Fermi is poor. It’s not that I need high performance for old games, but from a machine like this, I expect it to handle modern video formats and such.

So, the GT 710 is only useful if I already own an SFF setup and have to buy a new card on the company dime or something similar, and Intel's integrated graphics aren't enough to run those seven specific games that work on a GT 710 but fail on integrated graphics.

That linked GT 730 uses DDR3 memory, which means in practice it's actually slower than a GT 710 equipped with GDDR5!
Not that it matters.
What am I supposed to do with the Center? There aren't any low-profile brackets in the ASUS box? The packaging explicitly states "low profile ideal for HTPC users," so there is zero logic in ASUS selling a card without those brackets, yet now I can't even install it at my friend's place.

Timothy Kim60 said:Even if it were 50% more powerful, it’s just not worth messing around with. In my opinion, there are really only three paths: integrated graphics, used cards starting at $300-$133, or new ones like a GTX 1050 or an RX 560. Once you hit the $600-$233 range, you can get decent GPUs like a GTX 760, a GTX 770, or an HD7950. Everything else is just nonsense.

God, man, how on earth are you supposed to fit any of those used cards into a Small Form Factor build with a 180W power supply?

Separately from that, it turns out even a GT 710 won't fit in a Small Form Factor case🙂. Specifically, a local business owner just had an ASUS GT 710 delivered via GLS from CNN.com—get this—the packaging didn't include a low profile bracket!🙂
Now I have to deal with the hassle of going back to the center for a refund, while they argue with ASUS about why the low profile bracket is missing. It's absolutely ridiculous.
They should just hand her the cash back right then and there!

wiredotter14 said:There are very few things a GT 710—even one with GDDR5—can handle that an integrated chip can't.
For certain tasks, like 4K playback, newer generations of Intel's integrated graphics actually outperform old dedicated cards that lack modern codec support.

For $300, $133you can already pick up a decent used card.

You get significantly faster gaming at 720p, it supports 4K video, and unlike used cards that demand high-quality power supplies, the 710 requires almost nothing.
Besides that, the 710 was specifically designed as an upgrade for Small Form Factor builds rather than standard desktops.
Furthermore, Intel HD consumes system memory, and Intel's HD performs reasonably well only when using a dual-channel memory configuration; it's noticeably faster than single-channel setups.

The GDDR5 version of the 710 series wipes the floor with Intel HD 630 in a dual-channel setup. Plus, you can run it without issue with a +300MHz core overclock and a +500MHz memory overclock, meaning theoretically you have a GPU with 1200/5700 speeds, whereas you can't overclock Intel.

I think it's perfectly fine for SFF builds using 150-200W power supplies.

Naturally, the GT 1030 is the better value regardless, but it's $$100 more expensive.

You'll have two fans in the case, which is plenty. Honestly, even if you didn't have a single one, it would still be enough, if you catch my drift.

wiredotter14 said:The Quadro 4000 2GB is ancient hardware. I highly doubt it offers any meaningful advantage over an NVIDIA RTX 3060.

In reality, the Quadro 4000 is just a rebranded 550ti. Comparing it to a 1060 is essentially pointless.

The only real benefit of the Quadro 4000 is that you can find them for next to nothing on Craigslist!

It’s an old saying that people fight battles that aren't worth winning, and honestly, I think that applies here. Is there any point in picking up a GT710 if you're already running modern Intel HD graphics? Well, I actually ended up with two of them to test out, and my conclusion is pretty straightforward: it’s a waste of money. Specifically, I ran tests using an Intel g4400 processor, and the integrated Intel HD graphics actually outperformed the GT710 equipped with DDR3 memory by a small margin.

However, there is one massive caveat. A GT710 equipped with GDDR5 memory absolutely destroys the Intel HD setup; that specific card is twice as fast as the DDR3 version.

The strange thing is, I couldn't find a single decent benchmark for the GT710 GDDR5 version anywhere on the internet.

So, the verdict is: it might actually be worth it to buy a $100 GT710 GDDR5

quietridge92 said:Oh, and I forgot to mention—the battery is completely dead. The computer has to stay plugged into the wall, otherwise it just shuts off immediately. Is it reasonable to look for a fixed $500? That would be enough for me
.

It’s fine. Based on my assessment, you should be able to get that easily enough.

By the way, list it for 1600 so you have some breathing room to drop the price $33
.
You didn't mention the make or model of the laptop, which is actually quite vital. It might belong to a high-end series that raises the value on its own.

Timothy Kim60 said:Maybe two thousand bucks at most.

Provided it's been well-maintained and the battery actually holds a decent charge!

Somewhere in the $1,500 to $2,000 range, likely somewhere in that ballpark.

stormybadger8 said:http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns37989.html

According to this, here’s the horsepower breakdown for 2017:
Mercedes - 949 hp
Ferrari - 934 hp ( -15 hp)
Renault - 907 hp ( -41 hp behind the Mecca and - 27 hp behind Ferrari)
Honda - 860 hp (in a massive hole...)

Could actually be spot on...

Why don't I see any clear dominance from the Mercedes engine here?

Are these rough estimates including or excluding oil burning?

The data doesn't seem quite right to me either; both Ferrari and Mercedes were blathering about figures near 1000 hp last year, weren't they?

My prediction for engine power in 2018—specifically the Mercedes vs Ferrari ratio—is that it will mirror last year's table perfectly. In other words: equal!

Kate Ruiz said:Hey everyone... just wondering if I got a decent deal here:

CPU: i7-6700K 4 GHz
GPU: GTX 1060 6GB
SSD: WD 250 GB
RAM: Kingston DDR4 2132 MHz 1x16 GB
Motherboard: MSI Z170A
Monitor: LG 29 UM57 Monitor
Mouse: Logitech G402
Headset: Logitech G930

I already had the rest of the gear, so that doesn't count... :P

Everything was bought used on eBay for about $2333, give or take $17...

It's a solid purchase. It’s essentially a top-tier machine capable of running modern titles on high settings. You have an overclockable processor, 6GB of VRAM, and from what I can see, some excellent Peripherals. There is also a good chance the system still carries a warranty.

Regarding future upgrades, you could eventually drop in a next-gen graphics card. That processor will remain relevant for quite a while, especially since it's the K-series version.
You have plenty of memory for the future as well.

Good luck!

crimsonstag84 said:The i3 4360 is roughly on par with a G4560... and honestly, the GTX 950 feels a bit slower than an RX 560. You might want to look into a bottleneck.
They'd probably see more benefit from a better GPU, but the game itself is stuttering just because that's how it is right now. Even an 8700K struggles with it, just slightly less so. As for the PC slowing down for a few minutes after closing the game, I guess that’s a separate issue entirely.

It's hitting the virtual memory. The RAM is being maxed out. They really need to optimize their memory management!

Bryan Taylor6 said:Man, this thing is an absolute beast. An A8 9600... but the price tag is just ridiculous.$167

It is. But let’s be honest, an AMD APU isn't even in the same league as a GT 1030. It doesn't come close to what you actually need, which is exactly what that video demonstrates.

The processor isn't an issue at all. As my colleague pointed out, you either dial back the settings or upgrade your graphics card; that i3 still has plenty of muscle for gaming.

Just wanted to drop a quick note to say I've swapped in a new SSD paired with a G4400, a Procom GeForce GT 1030 low profile, and some cheap RAM. It runs just as fast—maybe even slightly faster during gaming sessions—than my previous setup with the X4 860K and an R7 360.🙂 It's honestly unreal; that GT 1030 is quite the little miracle given $183 its price point and how little power it actually draws.🙂

Andrew Peterson2 said:Who handles the Adm? Overseas is having issues lately; they don't deliver promptly, they just toss packages onto a pile

Oversras is in trouble🙂, just one thing—I bought a Lego Jurassic Park set for my kid for Christmas, and naturally, he didn't find it under the tree because Oveseas lost the package!

Don't gamble with fate. It's better to just pay them to deliver via HP- or just walk it over themselves.🙂

redcanyon12 As stated by:
Yeah, I’d probably end up dropping about 6. $167The processor you mentioned will be more than sufficient for my needs. As for the graphics card, I am considering something with 6 GB of VRAM, though I wonder if that specific capacity actually matters much in practice. Regarding the rest of the components—would a 550W power supply be adequate to handle the load?

A 300W 80+ power supply is perfectly sufficient. It will remain adequate well into the future, given that component power consumption is steadily trending downward.

wiredotter14 said:Thanks for the advice, everyone.

Amy Vaughn12,
The i3 7100U isn't hard to find, but it's not cheap since we're talking laptop hardware here.

Currently hanging out at this guy's place, and turns out his shelf space is limited—only 33x33x33cm.
So, that Intel kit would fit, but none of the actual cases will work.

He's considering that kit, paired with 8GB RAM and an SSD (needs to be m.2, which is a bummer because he's got a spare 2.5" HDD lying around).

The alternative is grabbing a 13" Acer laptop from a buddy, though the screen is basically bent into a banana shape.

What do you guys think that's actually worth?

Acer S3-391
450GB SSHD
i5 3317U
4GB RAM.
It's a 2012-era ultrabook.
Screen is pretty much trashed.

In that case, a NUC is perfect. As Amy Vaughn12 mentioned, there are cheaper versions available, and any of them will be more than sufficient for your needs.

Specifically, I built a mini setup for Puncu using an Intel Q1900 processor; YouTube, HD movies, and similar tasks run perfectly on it.

As for the value of that ultrabook, I honestly have no clue!

Amy Vaughn12 said:Something along these lines...

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/laptops/inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-5510-laptop

I agree, it’s an excellent option. However, one must account for the fact that it arrives without memory, so that cost needs to be factored in. It also lacks any kind of drive, so that must be included as well. Essentially, you have to calculate the RAM plus the SSD$333 roughly

Jesse Jones15 said:We'll just have to wait and see about those drivers... anyway, here's the power supply

G6-Tapatalk

There is absolutely no way you're going to be able to run a Radeon 4890 on that power supply. No chance.

Jesse Jones15 said:I need to check the power supply; I know it's some 500W unit. Is that the same as a Radeon 4890?

G6-Tapatalk

I’m running a Radeon 4890 myself. How can you ask if it's the same thing as a 4890? By the way, I should probably warn you—finding drivers for those cards on Windows 10 is going to be a massive headache. It's difficult. It might be possible, but... well, good luck.

Just because the label on your power supply says 500W doesn't mean anything at all. It's likely one of those cheap, off-brand units from overseas that can't actually hit that rating.🙂

Oh, I see now. So the 4890 is also a Radeon, just lightyears ahead of the 4650.🙂 Actually, it's ten times faster, and it uses DDR5 instead of that old DDR2 memory.