GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

ASUS Prime Z790 Motherboard, Intel B85 chipset, DDR3, Audio, Gigabit LAN, SATA, PCI-E, USB 3.0, FireWire, ATX, Socket AM3 / AM3+
$248
PALIT GTX 1650 2GB JETSTREAM Graphics Card + Borderlands 2
$849
COOLER MASTER HYPER 412S Cooler, compatible with 775/1155/1156/1366/AM3/AM2+/AM2
$92

TOTAL: $1189 ...CNET

http://www.cnet.com/product_info.php?c...d369fb7996f0e2
This board actually supports Crossfire properly.
Grab another RTX 3080, and if you've got a solid power supply and a decent CPU cooler, go ahead and overclock it.
An NVIDIA GTX 1060 isn't going to make much of a difference for you.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/graphics-card-listing-6070414
AMD Radeon RX 580 $267 plus it still has a year of warranty left.

Alexander Moore67 said:I think this link leads to a product page on CNET. I guess it might be worth checking out if you're looking for specific specs.
I guess this board actually supports real Crossfire.
Maybe grab another AMD Radeon RX 580? If you've got a solid power supply and a decent CPU cooler, you could probably try overclocking it.
An NVIDIA GTX 1060 probably won't make much of a difference for you.

Sorry, but... 🤦

That Asrock board only has 4+1 phase regulation compared to the 8+2 on the ASUS Prime Z790, and honestly, it’s more expensive too... I guess.
The GTX 660Ti is nearly twice as powerful, so I guess it shouldn't give you any trouble with the CompactFlash.

Hey, I’ve got a question about GPUs. I’m trying to put together a budget rig specifically for gaming, mostly stuff like Madden NFL 12, iRacing, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. I just need it to hit 1024x768, though anything better would be a nice little bonus.

CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 2.4GHz dual core .. $100 protis
MB: Haven't picked a specific model yet, just looking for an LGA 1150 socket with DDR3 at 1333MHz or higher, nothing crazy ..$113 protis
GPU: Radeon R7 250 or GeForce GT 1030, both 128bit with DDR3 memory ... $143 protis
RAM: 4GB DDR3 1333MHz (I know it'll run at 1066 because of the CPU, but the 1333 is cheaper anyway) ... $47 protis
HDD: Cheapest 7200rpm drive I can find, Western Digital 250GB .. $140 protis
PSU: 480W from an old PC

The main thing is the GPU; I realize neither of these is anything special, but this is strictly a budget build and I can't go over my limit, so which one of these two is actually better for gaming?

Alright everyone,

I recently picked up some free parts and put together a PC that doesn't have a dedicated GPU (just integrated graphics), so I'm looking to grab a card so I can actually play a few games.
Apacer 2x1 GB 800 MHz RAM
Gigabyte GA M61SME-S2 Motherboard
Intel Pentium Dual-Core 2.1GHz Processor
Western Digital 160 GB Hard Drive
400W MS Power Supply (it’s nothing special, but you don't look a gift horse in the mouth)

I'm wondering what might work if I want to play things like Age of Empires II, Baldur's Gate 3, or some other strategy games from about 4 or 5 years ago. The catch is that my power supply lacks an extra 6-pin or 8-pin connector, so I'm limited to cards that don't require external power. I do have a 12-pin to 2x6-pin adapter I got from a card in another build, but I'm not sure if that's a safe move, especially since this power supply is pretty bottom-of-the-barrel.🙂
Please drop some suggestions for new cards, though I'm mostly interested in used models from 2, 3, or 4 years ago in the $200 range down to $133. I was looking at things like the HD 3850 or 3870, but I suspect they'll need that extra power connection...
Thanks

Jose Martin96 said:Hi, I have a question regarding graphics cards. I'm trying to put together a budget system for gaming, specifically for titles like Madden NFL 12, iRacing, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. My absolute minimum requirement is a resolution of 1024x768, though anything higher would be a bonus.

CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 2.4GHz dual core.. $100 I suppose I should get started.
Motherboard: I haven't settled on a specific model yet. As long as it's an LGA 1150 socket with at least 1333MHz DDR3, I suppose I don't have any other particular requirements.$113 I suppose there isn't much more to be said on this matter.
Between the Radeon R7 250 and the GeForce GT 1030—assuming both have 128-bit memory buses and DDR3—it’s a toss-up, I suppose. One might be slightly better depending on the specific driver support, though I doubt there's much of a difference in actual performance. Maybe just pick whichever one is cheaper at the time.$143 I suppose there isn't much left to say regarding this matter.
RAM: 4GB DDR3 1333MHz. I realize that because of the processor, it’ll likely end up running at 1066MHz anyway, but the 1333MHz sticks seem to be cheaper right now.$47 I suppose there isn't much left to say here.
Hard drives: looking for the cheapest 7200rpm option, maybe a Western Digital 250GB... $140 I suppose there isn't much left to say about this.
Power supply: It’s an old 480W unit from a previous build.

I have a question regarding GPUs. I realize neither of these options is anything particularly special, but since they're both strictly budget picks and my current finances won't allow for anything higher, I need to know: which one would be better for gaming between these two?

You tend to ask these kinds of questions on desktop forums.
At that price point, you could probably find a better deal on an AMD Radeon R7 250 with DDR3.
I see you're looking for... $27 You'll likely end up with a much better gaming card for your money. This Radeon HD 5770 features 1GB of DDR5, an HDMI port, and a 256-bit bus. $172
2. Regarding the motherboard: It's an MSI H81M-P33. $148
3. Refurbished 500 GB Western Digital Caviar Hard Drive, 2.5", SATA II, 7200rpm, 16MB cache (Model: ST9500420AS) $140Maybe it's because of the larger cache size that would allow the 500 GB Western Digital Caviar SATA III HDD (3.5", IntelliPower, 64MB, WD5000AZRX) to operate a bit faster. I guess. $157
Here is how much I think you can shave off while still keeping things decent. Ideally, you’d want to set aside a bit more for the processor to get some actual performance out of it, but if the budget is tight right now, what I’ve laid out will suffice for the time being. You can always upgrade later. Otherwise, just stick to what I wrote above.
And what kind of dog is running a 480W power supply? I guess someone might actually try that. $33 Do you have a specific power supply, or are you using a brand you actually trust?

frozenridge2 said:Alright everyone,

I recently picked up some free parts and put together a rig that lacks a dedicated GPU (it just uses integrated graphics), so I’m looking to pick something up to play a few games.
Apacer 2x1 GB 800 MHz RAM
Gigabyte GA M61SME-S2 Motherboard
Intel Pentium Dual-Core 2.1GHz
Western Digital 160 GB Hard Drive
400W MS Power Supply (not great, but you don't look a gift horse in the mouth)

I'm wondering what might work if I want to play things like Age of Empires II, Baldur's Gate 3, or older strategy games from 4 or 5 years ago. The issue is my power supply doesn't have an extra 6-pin or 8-pin connector, so I'm limited to cards that don't require external power. I have a 12-pin to 2x6-pin adapter I got from a card in another PC, but I'm not sure if that's a safe solution, especially since this power supply is junk.🙂
Please throw out some suggestions for new ones, though I'm mostly interested in used models from 2, 3, or 4 years ago within the $200 range.$133 I was looking at the HD 3850 and 3870, but I suspect they require extra power...
Thanks

I don't know what kind of power supply that is—probably some no-name brand—so you really need to hunt for a low-power card. Looking at the prices, maybe aim for a GeForce GT 1030 for about $83, or a slightly better Radeon R7 250 for around $133.
Honestly, it's hard to find much for that kind of money, and I'm not sure where you'd even find a 3850 or 3870 for those prices.

Jose Martin96 said:Hey, I have a question about GPUs. I'm trying to put together an on-the-budget system for gaming, specifically stuff like Madden NFL 12, iRacing, or Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. I just need it to run at 1024x768; anything higher would be a nice bonus.

CPU: Intel Pentium Gold .. $100 tentative
MB: haven't picked a model yet, LGA 1150 DDR3 at least 1333mhz, no other requirements ..$113 tentative
GPU: Radeon R7 250 or GeForce GT 1030, both 128bit with DDR3 memory ...$143 tentative
RAM: 4GB DDR3 1333mhz (I know it'll run at 1066 because of the CPU, but the 1333 is cheaper) ...$47 tentative
HDD: cheapest 7200rpm available, Western Digital 250GB .. $140 tentative
PSU: 480W from an old rig

The question is about the GPU. I know neither of them is anything special, but this is strictly on-the-budget, and I can't go over these prices right now, so which one is better for gaming between the two?

MB: MSI H81M-P33 $114
CPU: AMD A6-Series X4 3670K $211
RAM: Transcend DDR3 1600MHz 4GB, JM1600KLN-4G $45
HDD: HDD SATA III 500 GB Western Digital Caviar Blue, 3.5", 7200 rpm, 16 MB, WD5000AAKX $153

This option here is way better for you and actually cheaper. Why? The processor is stronger and has decent integrated graphics that are much better than the R7 250 or the GT 1030. Try to get faster RAM since those integrated graphics use the system memory as video memory, so faster speeds help. Also, the difference between a 250GB and 500GB drive is $13, so it's probably worth spending the price of two packs of cigarettes for double the storage; you never know when you'll need it.

Just keep in mind that the LGA 1150 socket is coming out soon too, so it might not be bad to wait and see what's offered...

frozenridge2 said:So, hey everyone,

I recently scored some free parts and built a PC that doesn't have a dedicated card (just integrated), so I want to grab something so I can play a few games.
RAM 2x1 GB 800 MHz Apacer
Motherboard Gigabyte GA M61SME-S2
CPU Intel Pentium Dual-Core 2.1GHz
Hard Disk Western Digital 160 GB
PSU 400W MS (not great, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth)

What could work if I want to play things like Age of Empires II, Baldur's Gate 3, or older strategy games from 4 or 5 years ago? The problem is my PSU doesn't have an extra 6-pin or 8-pin connector, so I'm limited to cards that don't require them. I have a 12-pin to 2x6-pin adapter I got from a card in another PC, but I'm not sure if that's a good idea, especially since this power supply is junk.🙂
Give me some suggestions for new ones, or especially used models from 2, 3, or 4 years ago for around $133. I looked at the HD 3850 and 3870, but I think they need extra power...
Thanks

Just pick up a new R7 250, you can find them for about $133 new.

fadedorca66 said:Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 $114
CPU: Intel Pentium Gold $211
RAM: Transcend DDR3 1600MHz 4GB, JM1600KLN-4G $45
HDD: HDD SATA III 500 GB Western Digital Caviar Blue, 3.5", 7200 rpm, 16 MB, WD5000AAKX $153

This setup is way better for you and honestly cheaper too. Why? Because the CPU packs more punch and the integrated graphics actually hold their own compared to a Radeon R7 250 or a GeForce GT 1030. You should aim for faster RAM since that integrated chip treats your system memory like its own VRAM, so speed matters. The jump from a 250GB to a 500GB drive is $13, so why wouldn't you drop the price of two packs of cigarettes to double your storage? You never know when you'll need the extra space.

Just keep in mind the LGA 1151 socket is coming out soon, so it might be worth holding off to see what else hits the market...

This looks like a better move than the other one, especially since I can probably swap in better parts—like a better CPU, GPU, PSU, and RAM—in six months or a year, but I need something running right now and my budget is fixed at $533, so I'm gonna dig into what you suggested. I had no clue integrated graphics could even handle those games. Thanks.

Unfortunately, with the LGA 1150 platform, you're pretty much hitting a dead end for upgrades (you can only jump to an i5, I guess), but honestly, it shouldn't be a huge deal. This processor is solid enough with its 4 cores, and it’ll probably handle whatever GPU you throw at it without breaking a sweat. Once this card feels too slow, you just swap in something beefier, like an RTX 3080, and call it a day.

So basically, grab this, and once you've saved up enough cash, grab a decent PSU (assuming the one you have isn't total junk—what brand/model is it?), maybe toss in another 4GB of RAM, and upgrade the GPU if things start lagging. You probably won't even need a better CPU.

fadedorca66 said:Unfortunately, once you're on the LGA 1150 platform, you're pretty much hitting a dead end for upgrades unless you jump to an entirely different setup, but honestly, why sweat it? This processor is solid enough with its 4 cores, and it'll push whatever GPU you throw at it without breaking a sweat. When this card eventually starts lagging, you just grab something beefier like a Radeon HD 5770 and call it a day.

So basically, grab this, then once you save up some cash, swap out the power supply (assuming this one is junk—what's the actual brand and model?), toss in another 4GB of RAM, and you're golden since you don't even need a better CPU. If the GPU gets too weak, just upgrade that later.

I don't know much about this power supply other than what's printed on the sticker; I just know it's been sitting around for maybe 5 years, an EVGA 480W ATX 12V Model: 480X. Is that gonna cut it for now? Because if it isn't, then I'm totally stuck by the $533 limit.

It'll probably hold up for a while; this setup doesn't pull too much power.

But you should definitely swap it out once you've saved enough. Bill Gates isn't exactly known for making high-end gear, and honestly, it's already five years old...

Does anyone have any good recommendations for a gaming GPU that can actually handle today's titles? Thanks!

That’s not really how it works. You should probably tell us your current setup and what kind of power supply you're running (brand and model). We can throw out all sorts of suggestions, but I guess it wouldn't matter much if your processor is just too weak anyway.

Could you perhaps suggest a vehicle better suited for today's roads? Thanks in advance!

northernhawk29 said:Can you recommend a decent car for today's roads? Thanks in advance!

😂

Intel Core i7
1GB RAM
basically an old IBM ThinkPad setup
I'm trying to figure out which GPU won't totally choke this ancient hardware...
Maybe a Radeon 5450 so I can finally get some HDMI?

Looks like you aren't planning on getting serious about this, so just grab whatever cheap one fits your needs and call it a day.

fadedorca66 said:It sounds like you aren't really looking to sweat the details—just grab whatever looks best that fits your budget and call it a day.

The real thing is... how much of a beast can I throw in there without totally choking out my CPU?