GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

@jadedrifter98

Regarding the GPU (eBay is honestly one of the best places for service), this specific model is on sale right now:

RAM:

You could even utilize 128GB if you have the space 😬 ...you just need to be running a 64-bit OS.

If 8GB felt way too small for you, I guess 16GB should be plenty for now.

Upgrading to a used i7 3770 probably won't give you much of a boost.

Maybe start thinking about swapping out your motherboard, CPU, and RAM once AMD Zen and Intel Kaby Lake hit the market. 😉

@neontinker5

It's pretty much ideal for your processor.

Hey everyone, I'm currently running a GTX 950 with 2GB of VRAM.

Any recommendations for a mid-range upgrade? Looking for at least 4GB.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/amd-ati-gpu/8...80-rs-8gb.html

What else are you running in that build?

Intel Core i5-4660, 12GB DDR3, Samsung Pro Evo SSD, and a 650W power supply (though I suspect it's an OEM unit, which might be part of the issue).

It shouldn't be an issue as long as you've got that 6+2-pin PCI-e connector available. Otherwise, the GTX 1060 pulls a bit more power than the GTX 950. You might want to double-check the label on the side to see exactly which PSU model you're working with.

I'm putting the GTX 950 into my girlfriend's rig (specs are nearly identical), so I’ll test it out on this power supply first. If it runs smoothly, great; if not, I'll have to hunt down a new PSU. 🙂

Any alternatives from the NVIDIA camp? Maybe a GTX 1060 6GB?

What exactly do you mean by "OEM"? Are you suggesting it's some freebie tossed in with a case? OEM just stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer—every single power supply has an OEM behind it. Regardless, you should really check the label on the unit for the actual model number.

Sure, a solid alternative would be the GTX 1060 6GB since it draws less power, but if your current power supply is a Shroteks, I wouldn't recommend sticking with it even for that card.

I misspoke—I'm at work right now so my head isn't fully in the game. I meant a generic, no-name power supply; yeah, it came bundled with the case.

What power supply are we talking about here? Most likely he'll need to swap that out too...

crimsonstag84 said:@neontinker5

https://www.amazon.com/msi-video-card...dmi-dvi-d.aspx

It's a perfect match for your processor.

THX, I actually picked up the exact same model but with 4GB; it was about $5 more.
Will those extra 2GB make any real difference in my life?

In general, you won't see much difference on that specific chip, but those $10 are absolutely worth the extra investment without a second thought.

GTX 1060 6GB vs. 2GB VRAM Benchmark - Does more actually mean better?

The variance is mostly just statistical noise—which is why you'll occasionally see the 2GB version labeled as "faster"—but you can see a clear gap in Shadow of Mordor, and a massive one in Doom among the titles tested. In my opinion, both games serve as excellent indicators of where VRAM consumption is headed in the future.

Is it plausible that an EVGA 500 W Bronze is simply insufficient to handle an ASUS R9 380? I have been running this specific setup for over a year without a single hiccup, but after picking up Battlefield 1 the other day, I can barely manage a few minutes of gameplay before the entire system undergoes a hard reset. It isn't even a matter of crashing back to the Windows 10 OS or freezing up; the machine just shuts down entirely, which leads me to suspect my power supply might be buckling under the pressure, especially since I know this game is an absolute beast when it comes to hardware demands.

I have already tested three different driver versions, but the results remain stubbornly identical across the board.

Run Furmark. If it stays stable there, you can stop blaming the power supply. Also, check your CPU and GPU temps.

I wouldn't count on it. It’s much more likely to be an issue with the game engine or some buggy drivers.

goldenpanther said:Here I am again. This graphics card is really starting to bother me. I picked up a few titles during the Steam sale and realized I'm in a bit of a bind. Even if I wouldn't call myself a hardcore gamer, we all appreciate decent performance when we actually sit down to play.
Should I go with the GTX 1050 Ti, or should I stretch my budget for the GTX 1060 to be a bit more future-proof? Most importantly, will my power supply handle it, or is an upgrade necessary? My PSU has a single 6-pin connector.

Intel Core i3-4130
LC-CC-95 cooler
MSI B450M with Corsair Vengeance RAM and NVIDIA GT 1030
2x4 GB RAM Kingston Hyper X 1600 Mhz
Radeon R7 250 1GB DDR5
500 GB HDD + 120 GB SSD
Chieftec GPS 450 AA

Just a quick update: I picked up the GTX 1050 Ti today. However, my PC shut itself down after about a minute or two of gaming. It looks like the power supply was indeed too weak. Fortunately, I had another unit on hand, so I swapped it in. I've been playing for two hours now without any issues.



The card itself is great, though GTA V is still struggling a bit; anything above 30 fps just isn't happening for me right now.

That’s definitely a step up in terms of power supply.

Your GTA V performance is hitting a wall because of that processor. Those Athlon chips aren't exactly top-tier performers, but they can still get the job done if you push them.

I actually wasn't aware about the power supply. I mean, this thing has the 4+4 pin, the 6-pin, and even the 6+2—it’s got a ridiculous amount of connectors, so I just figured more options meant better quality, right? haha.

Anyway, I'm pretty bummed about GTA V; I literally just picked it up on Steam while it was 50% off. Oh well, at least it's still a blast to play.

It doesn't matter; if the CPU is bottlenecking, it's going to cap out the performance for either a 460 or a 1050 anyway.

wiredotter14 said:Try running Furmark; if it stays stable during that test, you can be certain the power supply isn't the culprit. Also, keep an eye on your CPU and GPU temperatures.

In terms of timing, how much duration actually matters when letting Furmark "cook" the system?

edit; just to clarify—about 😁 3 minutes 🙂 is all it takes before the PC reboots on me, which suggests the power supply is undeniably insufficient.

My current graphics card - https://www.amazon.com/ATI-Radeon-.../dp/B006FXLNWU - appears to have finally given up the ghost and died on me, quite unexpectedly I might add.
I am currently hunting for something somewhat comparable, perhaps even a little more capable, provided I can find it for around $50.

Would anyone be so kind as to offer some recommendations for a suitable replacement?