GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

On $333 drops...

Hey, I'm a total computer novice here. I'm more of a "plug and play" type of weekend gamer—not really one of those people who does their own maintenance, builds, or part swaps 😁 At least, I haven't tried it before...

Current specs:
ASUS GA-B75M-D3H,1155,iB75,D3,S3,U3,DVI,HDMI

INTEL CPU Desktop Core i5-3350P (3.10GHz,6MB,S1155) Box

Spire CoolBox 500 Case, 420W 12cm fan

2 x Transcend JetRAM 4GB DDR3 1600 DIMM 9-9-9

LITE ON DVDRW 24x SATA, black, bulk

PowerColor Radeon HD 6570, 1GB DDR3, HDMI, DVI-D, VGA

SEAGATE HDD Desktop Barracuda 7200 (3.5",1.5TB,64MB,SATA
III-600)

I've mostly played MMORPGs and MOBAs, and those ran okay on medium settings... but lately, the performance lag is getting hard to ignore. I decided to branch out a bit and installed The Witcher 2, and—well—it was a nightmare. I know it's a demanding game, but I could barely talk my GPU into running it at even the lowest settings with decent FPS.

Can I find a significantly better graphics card for under $600-$233? I’d be willing to go up to $1,000, but only if it actually makes sense. Is an upgrade even worth it given the rest of the build? I'd prefer to look at stores I can find in Indianapolis, like Best Buy or Micro Center.

Also—should I try to install it myself despite being clueless, or should I just let someone else handle it? Can I get it installed at the store where I buy it, and how much would they charge?

Anything you say helps. I'm not lazy—I'll do my own research too, and I don't expect everything to be handed to me on a silver platter 😁 But if anyone knows their stuff and doesn't mind helping out, I'd really appreciate it. 🙂

Look, you can definitely find a GPU, but you're gonna have to swap out your power supply too. 🙂

You’ve got a great processor there, but like Robert Rodriguez2 mentioned—you're probably going to need to swap out your power supply too...

http://www.newegg.com/p/graphics-cards/500.000.054

With that GPU, your current power supply might just scrape by, but I’d definitely start planning for a new one soon. You're pretty lucky that your CPU is one of the most efficient non-low-power i5 chips out there, I guess. 😉

Oh, okay... thanks everyone for the quick replies 🙏

What should I actually look out for with power supplies? Does any random one work? Is the brand actually a big deal, or should I just grab the cheapest 500+W unit I can find? Basically, how many watts am I even looking at?

Is this GTX 750 really much of an upgrade, or should I just hold off and save up for both a new PSU and maybe something better for roughly the same price? And what kind of realistic frame rates could I expect if I go with that second option?

I noticed there’s a dedicated thread for power supplies—since I'm asking about both, I wasn't sure if this was too off-topic 🤔

It looks like you fell into the trap of buying a pre-built configuration (I can tell just by looking at that bottom-tier power supply and junk GPU). Those cheap units claiming to be "500W" usually just have a sticker slapped on them to look better than they actually are. 😬
Basically, just grab a GTX 750. You won't even need to swap out your power supply because both the card and your processor are incredibly low on power draw. The performance jump compared to what you have right now is massive. To give you an idea of the scale—even though these aren't the exact cards—this is roughly the kind of difference you're looking at: click.

If you're shopping for power supplies locally, maybe check Best Buy:
this one or this one would probably be your best value for the money.

ruggedeagle40 said:Oh, I see... thanks so much to everyone for the quick replies! 🙏

What should I actually look out for when picking a power supply? Do they all just work? Is the brand really a big deal, or should I just grab the cheapest 500+W unit I can find? Basically, how many watts am I actually looking at needing?

Is this GTX 750 going to be a massive upgrade, or should I hold off a bit so I can buy both a new PSU and a potentially better GPU for roughly the same amount of cash? And what kind of realistic wattage consumption could I expect if I go with that second option?

I noticed there's a dedicated thread for power supplies, but since I'm mixing things up here, I wasn't sure if this question was too far off-topic. 🤔

If you're looking to really push things to the limit and run everything on Ultra settings, this would be an awesome setup:
1 x Gigabyte R9 270X OC, 2GB GDDR5, HDMI, DVI
1 x Fortron Raider S 550W, 80+ SILVER

Total: $667 Free shipping via Future IT

THG, you've got a point, but given the circumstances, this build was basically the only one that could be "partially sponsored"—plus it cost me less than $350, so I'm not complaining 🙂

Thanks for the suggestions—I'll probably just grab the GTX 750 🙂 $350 is a bit much for me right now anyway; I'm not sure I could stretch past $250 for both the PSU and the GPU 😢 But I'll think about it—that budget isn't totally off the table 👍

Look, if you want to upgrade, you should grab a more powerful GPU from a local shop, one of those two power supplies, and maybe this graphics card:

Honestly, even if you ordered it from a big retailer in NYC, it wouldn't end up being any cheaper.

I need to tally up all my expenses from lately to see if this actually fits into my budget at all 🙂 I guess I was a bit daydreaming about how games would run with a setup like that—it'd definitely buy me some peace of mind for a while 😁

Thanks a lot for taking the time; you guys are great on this sub 🙂

In my view, the GTX 750 is more than enough and stands as your most straightforward option. Think of it as a solid mid-range card—right in that mainstream sweet spot. It isn't some extreme high-end beast, nor is it overpriced, making it a great choice for a casual gamer; you’ll be able to play just about anything decently with that GPU paired with your processor. Now, the R9 270 is also a fantastic best-buy in its class, but there's a catch: you're almost certainly going to need to swap out your power supply (which also means moving over to $500). Of course, it’s not a waste of money to upgrade the PSU even if you go with the GTX 750; you're essentially buying peace of mind and leaving room for future upgrades.

To put it in perspective, running The Witcher 2 on a GTX 750 would mean mostly just turning off things like ubersampling, AA, and VSync (assuming you aren't dealing with screen tearing). Aside from those tweaks, you should be able to crank everything else to max at 1920x1080 resolution. If you find yourself chasing an even higher FPS, you could always dial back a few extra details like SSAO or motion blur, but even as it stands, my math says you should see a pretty solid frame rate.

ruggedeagle40 said:I need to sit down and tally up every single expense from these past few days. Only then will I truly see if this actually fits within my budget. 🙂 I can't help but let my imagination run wild wondering what gaming would actually look like with a setup like that. Honestly, if I had that kind of power, I’d probably be a much more peaceful person for a lot longer. 😁

Thank you so much for taking the time to help out. You all are truly wonderful to have in this subforum! 🙂

Honestly, with an R9 270 x, I’d feel pretty secure for the long haul. I mean, the graphics card is actually quite powerful, and when you pair that with a solid processor, isn't that exactly what you need? It really is. $667 With a new power supply that comes with a five-year warranty, I truly believe it’s a worthwhile investment once you sit down and run the numbers. That GTX 750 is decent enough for now, but let's face it—next-gen titles are hitting the market at an alarming rate with absolutely massive hardware requirements. How much longer can you actually expect to stay comfortable with that card? I'm not sure if you're working right now, but if you are, wouldn't it be smarter to just hold off for a month and save up those extra funds? $667 Just buy what’s appropriate for your needs and play on Ultra settings without a second thought. Why bother settling for a budget card only to find yourself hunting for a new GPU in six months? It's just common sense! As for installing the graphics card and the power supply, there are countless videos on YouTube covering exactly that—just search for it and watch. There isn't really much complicated tinkering involved, but you can always come back here if you need some advice.

I believe there has been a misunder

Deckard does not have a 500w power supply, but rather a 420w one—specifically that Spira 420 w unit. It is a decent enough supply; it will run the computer even with an R9 270. The issue is simply that the power supply will be pushed to its absolute limit. One must consider that this particular unit is capable of pulling about 280w during those sweltering summer days, and that is assuming it is brand new. In my estimation, gaming with an R9 would draw roughly 180-220w, which would drastically shorten the lifespan of the unit. You could play, certainly, but the question remains: for how long?

For instance, Fortron has a 400w power supply that could easily handle an R9, despite being nominally weaker than that Spira unit.

You can go ahead and plug in a GTX 750 to your current setup. The jump in performance compared to your old ATI card will be so massive you might think you are dreaming. It is a top-tier card; the ratio of power consumption to performance is unmatched.

The guys are suggesting the R9 270 because you have a very fast processor, and they want to ensure that speed is actually utilized.🙂.

So, your current Spira 420 w isn't exactly a junker; it powers all sorts of garbage, but well, it lacks 80+ certification. There is a 550w version of that same Spira if you decide to go for a more powerful graphics card, which $57 might be worth looking into if you don't have the cash for brands like Corsair, Zalman, XFX, or Silverstone—those reputable names.

This entire discussion regarding power supplies is somewhat overblown.

I wouldn't doubt for a second that something like an MS Platinum 400 w is ready to take a beating. I ran one in a configuration for a long time involving a Q6600, two hard drives, and a 4850. That old 4850 actually demands more power than an R9 270.

A friend of mine has been running that exact same 4850 on a 300w power supply for two months now; it probably won't last much longer.🙂.

By the way, I am a Corsair owner, just so no one thinks I am out here promoting unknown brands or questionable power supplies. But, sorry guys, his Spira 420 w is a solid unit.

Honestly, that Spira 420 w unit is junk; it’s just one of those cheap things bundled for free with budget cases. Getting only 15A on the 12V rail is way too weak. This configuration needs at least 220W, maybe even up to 250W under full load. Besides, these low-quality power supplies are totally unpredictable. You hear people on forums claiming they can run miracles on an MSI build, but sure—if your rig isn't even pulling 100W, a bottom-tier unit like that might just pop (it happened to my cousin). And if you're unlucky, it might take another component down with it...

EDIT
The HD4850 doesn't pull more power than an R9 270; it's actually the opposite. The official TDP is 110W versus 150W (in actual gaming, the first stays under 100W while the latter hits around 130W).

Lots of info here, thanks guys 😁

Since I'm here, I might as well chime in and ask for some advice if you guys are willing to help 🙂.

Lately, my AMD HD4650 has been overheating, so I've been thinking about picking up a beefier graphics card. Honestly, after scouring the web, I’m starting to feel lost—the sheer number of options is overwhelming 😲.

My biggest hurdle is my current setup. It's seven years old, and I seriously doubt an upgrade is actually worth it, but since I can't afford a total system overhaul for probably the next year or eighteen months (perks of being an intern here in the States), I've decided on this incremental approach
.

My current specs:
Motherboard: P5QPL-AM with PCI-E v1.x
RAM: Only 2GB right now, but I plan to add another 2GB of DDR2
CPU: Intel Pentium dual-core 2.8 GHz (I'm worried this might bottleneck a new GPU)
PSU: AOpen 350W (400W peak)

I'm looking to drop about $100-$$400, $500 max. That budget should ideally cover 2GB of RAM (I found some for $50, which I'll likely grab), a new graphics card, and most likely a new power supply too. I have zero interest in upgrading the processor.

I use this PC for pretty much everything, but my main goal is to get Skyrim running in full screen. I have a 1920x1080 monitor, though I realize playing at that resolution might be a stretch (right?), so I'm open to compromises. To keep it simple: the GPU is primarily for Skyrim. I'm not counting on playing any major new releases, so it doesn't strictly need DirectX 11.

As for where to buy, I haven't really dealt with online shopping before, but if that's the best way to go, I'll pick it up as I go.

EDIT: Any idea what I could get for my 4650 if I can get it fixed? (It's currently with a buddy who knows more about this stuff than I do)

wearymason2 said:I figured I’d throw my two cents in here if anyone’s looking for advice 🙂.

My AMD HD4650 started overheating recently, so I was thinking about grabbing a beefier card. Honestly, searching online has been a total rabbit hole—there are just way too many options out there 😲.

The real headache is my setup is seven years old. I doubt upgrading it even makes sense, but since I can't afford a whole new rig for at least a year or so (perks of being an intern here in the States), I'm trying this workaround.

Current specs:

Motherboard: P5QPL-AM with PCI-E v1.x
RAM: Only 2GB right now, but I plan to add another 2GB, DDR2
CPU: Intel Pentium dual-core 2.8 GHz (worried this might bottleneck a new GPU)
PSU: AOpen 350W (400W peak).

I'm willing to drop up to $100-$$400, $500 max. That should cover 2GB of RAM (found some for $50, probably going with those), a new graphics card, and likely a new PSU too. I really don't want to touch the processor.

I use this PC for everything, but the main goal is running Skyrim full screen. My monitor is 1920x1080, though I know playing at that resolution will be a struggle, so I'm open to compromises. Basically, the GPU is all for Skyrim. I'm not worried about newer titles, so it doesn't even need DirectX 11.

I haven't bought much online before, but if that's the best way to go, I'll figure it out.

EDIT: Any idea what I could get for my 4650 if I get it fixed? (It's currently with a friend who knows his way around hardware)

For that kind of money, you could get a motherboard, new RAM, and a CPU with integrated graphics that would outperform your current card. For now, your current power supply can handle it.

Sell what you have, toss another hundred bucks on top, and then buy a new GPU and a new PSU later. 🙂

Something like this:

1 x Asrock FM2+ FM2A78M-HD+, Socket FM2+ 95W / FM2 100W processors
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Corsair, 1600MHz, CL11, Value, CMV4GX3M1A160C11
1 x AMD Trinity A10-Series x4 5800K 3.80GHz 4cores, FM2

$499
americantech.com

Or you could just grab everything right now and just swap out the power supply later once you've saved up a few bucks for a Chicony Hipro 400 w or a Fortron Hex 400 W.

MSI H81M-P33, Socket 1150, D3, S3, U3, DVI, VGA, mATX
Intel Celeron G1820, BX80646G1820 Celeron G1820, Socket 1150, 2700 MHz clock speed, 2x 256KB L2 cache, 2 MB L3 cache, Haswell core, includes cooler, integrated graphics included
MSI Radeon R7 250 x GDDR5 1GB/128bit, 1000MHz/4500MHz, PCI-E 3.0 x16, HDMI, DVI, DP, VGA Cooler (Double Slot), Retail price
Apacer DIMM 4GB DDR3 1600MHz 240-pin, Retail price

Total: $498plus a little extra for shipping - diskont24.com

The processor is a bit on the weaker side, but you're getting a GPU that's maybe 2 or 3 times more powerful.😉

AOpen used to make solid power supplies—I believe they were the Delta models—so there is really no reason to hunt for a new one unless this unit starts buzzing or develops some other issue. It's a perfectly fine setup paired with an Intel Celeron G1820 and an R7 265, which is exactly what I would go for if I were in wearymason2's shoes.

If he ends up having some extra cash left over or once he sells off his old parts, he should definitely pick up an SSD.