GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Look, buying one makes sense if you're backed into a corner by a tiny case or a weak power supply and just need a new card.
You could probably find some other low-profile options on eBay. Is a GT 730 actually better than a GT 710?

Actually, something like an HD7750 for around $250$100 would be a much better pick since it doesn't require a dedicated PCIe power connector either.

P.S.

Just because a card can output 4K doesn't mean it can handle 4K video playback. Fermi definitely won't support H.265, whereas newer Intel integrated graphics will.

mellowtiger83 said:I've seen people arguing about this, so does it actually make sense to pick up a GT 710 if you already have modern Intel HD graphics? I actually got two of them to test out, and the answer is: absolutely not. Specifically, when testing with an Intel Pentium G4400, the integrated graphics were actually slightly faster than the GT 710 equipped with DDR3 memory!

But there is one massive caveat!!! A GT 710 with GDDR5 memory completely crushes any setup using Intel HD graphics; that card is twice as fast as the DDR3 version.

What’s interesting is that you can't find a single GT 710 GDDR5 benchmark anywhere on the internet.

So, it might be worth it to $100 buy a GT 710 GDDR5

Even if it were 50% more powerful, it's still not worth the headache. IMO, your options are simple: either stick with integrated graphics, grab a used card for $30-$$133 minimum, or go for something new like at least a GTX 1050 or an RX 560. Once you hit the $60-$$233 range, you start seeing solid GPUs like the GTX 760, GTX 770, or HD 7950. Everything else is just nonsense.

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!

Like I said before—it’s either this or that. In my opinion, you're better off just sticking with Intel HD than wasting money on something like a GT 710. God, why even bother with discrete GPUs that struggle to outperform integrated graphics? If you're looking at Low Profile options, aiming for a Low Profile GTX 750 Ti or one of those newer GTX 1050 cards is what constitutes a real upgrade.

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're stuck buying something cheap just to fit into an SFF build, fine.

But don't waste a single cent on some ancient Fermi card that’s basically worthless $33. The price tag is mostly just markup and sales tax—it's a joke.

Driver support for Fermi is garbage. I'm not saying you need it for retro gaming, but I expect a PC like this to at least handle modern video codecs and stuff.

Look, the GT 710 is only worth it if you already own an SFF machine, you're buying it on a corporate expense account, or Intel's integrated graphics aren't enough to run those seven specific games that work on the GT 710 but fail on the integrated chip.

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.

mellowtiger83 said:That linked GT 730 uses DDR3 memory, which actually makes it slower in practice than a GT 710 with GDDR5!
Doesn't matter.
What am I supposed to do with the Center? There aren't any low-profile brackets in the ASUS box. The packaging literally says "low profile ideal for HTPC users," so it makes zero sense for ASUS to ship a card without them. Now I can't even install it at my friend's place.

I wasn't looking for benchmarks, but I'm pretty sure the GT 730 is faster.

If you bought it online, you should be able to return it within 14 days for any reason at all.

wiredotter14 said:I wasn't looking for a benchmark, but I suspect the GT 730 actually performs better.

If you bought it online, you can return it within 14 days for any reason at all.

That is precisely what I intend to do tomorrow. I will head down to the store in person and demand my money back, seeing as the card was paid directly to GLS upon delivery.

By the way, for those interested, Center is now working with GLS; they ditched Overseas. Good news.

mellowtiger83 said:That’s exactly what I’m doing tomorrow. I'm heading down to the store in person to demand my money back. The card was charged directly to GLS during pickup!

Btw, for anyone wondering, Center is working with GLS now. They ditched Overseas. Good news.

Great news about Overseas. GLS is more or less fine.

If you paid GLS, then you ordered online or over the phone.
Anything that isn't an in-store purchase from start to finish counts as a remote sale. That means it falls under the rule where you can return it within 14 days for any reason. This applies to individuals, and you just have to notify them via email or mail within those 14 days to cancel the order—you don't physically have to return the item within that window.

I’m definitely returning this GT 710 to the Center. Not only did it arrive without any LP limiters, but it’s also overheating like crazy. Under Windows, the card sits at 73°C, and after just 10 minutes of benchmarking in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, it spikes all the way up to 95°C.
Besides that, it is blatantly obvious that someone else already returned this card to the Center before us; the driver CD had clearly been opened.

I'll head over to Best Buy and pick up the Gigabyte version with the actual fan instead.

Honestly, I have no clue what kind of temps you were actually expecting from a passive card that isn't even built for gaming in the first place...

+1

The max temp for this card is 95°C. Since Fermi is pretty inefficient, you really can't expect much more from a passive cooler.

wiredotter14 said:The max temperature for this card is 95C anyway. Fermi architecture is pretty inefficient, so you can't really expect much more from a passive cooler.

For you, hitting 95C after a 10-minute benchmark in an open case—in a room that's 59F with a window halfway open—is totally fine. Great!!!

But sitting at the Windows desktop under those exact same conditions, it’s at 73C.??

What am I supposed to expect this summer with a closed case? 150C?? Just constant PC shutdowns, I guess.

ASUS simply botched this product, plain and simple. I've used plenty of passive cards in my life, but this thing is a heating miracle considering it only draws 15W.

Claiming this card isn't meant for gaming is just a cheap excuse; it's clearly not even fit for basic Windows tasks or watching a 4K movie.

Though, I have to admit, its performance is surprisingly decent compared to the Intel Pentium G4400 integrated graphics.

Even if we're talking about Fermi architecture, there's clearly something wrong here, but...

GeForce GT 710 - Should you buy this card? - $35 Video Card Review

My GPU is acting up here in the States👎 Which shop in the US would you guys recommend?

Think about the European Amazons (like the UK, French, German, or Spanish versions), or those major German retailers that ship straight to the US (like Computeruniverse, or maybe one of those big guys—Caseking or Mindfactory).

Timothy Kim60 said:Check out the European Amazons (like the UK, French, German, or Spanish versions), or those big German shops that ship to the US (like Computeruniverse, or maybe one of those two—Caseking or Mindfactory).

Caseking ships internationally, but Mindfactory only ships within Germany.

Looks like they actually have some decent casing in stock. Quick question though—how does the warranty situation work? If something goes south, am I gonna have to ship this whole thing back to them?

Yes, absolutely. When it comes to handling returns, the importer is the key player, and you won't have any say in how our local guys handle things.