GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

Timothy Kim60 said:From what I can tell, his GPU finally kicked the bucket.

Dammit, I totally missed that.🙂

I'm looking for some solid advice on which graphics card might actually handle driving a single 4K monitor via DisplayPort without breaking a sweat.
Budget: whatever the cheapest option is that won't break the bank.
Performance requirements: I just need it to be smooth enough so there isn't any stuttering or lag during basic tasks in Windows, and more importantly, it needs to be whisper-quiet—dead silent, if we're being ambitious about it.
Gaming: Not a priority at all; I don't plan on playing anything.

Well, any of them will work just fine if you aren't planning on gaming. 🤷
If you don't have a click

Timothy Kim60 said:I mean, any card will suffice if we aren't talking about gaming, right?🤷
If you don't have integrated graphics, you just click
.

Well, look at that. I was scouring the market for those cheaper fanless models and couldn't find a single one equipped with a DisplayPort. 🤔 😁
There's no integrated graphics here. 😉

To's actually the cheapest option that can still pull off 60Hz. Those even older, bottom-of-the-barrel cards—like a GT 710—usually cap out at a measly 30Hz.

Timothy Kim60 said:To being the cheapest option that actually supports 60Hz is a point, isn't it? Those even older, bottom-of-the-barrel cards—like the Nvidia GT 720—often struggle to push anything beyond a mere 30Hz.

Oh, absolutely, it’s non-negotiable. I once tried to force myself to stare at a 30Hz refresh rate, and let me tell you, it was an utterly unbearable experience.

Bradley Lewis59 said:Yeah, you need it. I once tried staring at a 30Hz screen and it was pure torture.

I was dead inside for the first month after swapping from a 75Hz CRT to a 60Hz LCD... eventually got used to it.😁

Greetings everyone! I find myself in need of some guidance from the younger, more seasoned 😛
veterans here...
Back in the day, I had a PS3, and I’d spend nearly every waking hour glued to it for a solid month straight.
Eventually, life caught up with me. Career, kids, the usual responsibilities...
Over time, I realized that setup just wasn't quiet enough or fast enough to satisfy someone used to that console experience, so I ended up selling it—it basically funded a new grill for the backyard.
Fast forward about nine years, and now my daughter is asking for a PS4. My immediate reaction was, "What do you even need a PS4 for when we have a PC right here?"
Since my background is in music production—specifically running a home studio—I took the old computer I used for work and repurposed it into an HTPC, which currently sits in the living room hooked up to the TV.
I picked up a controller (trust GTX 545) and thought, "Well, there you go, I've got a console."

However... in the world of audio production, the graphics card is essentially irrelevant...
Now I'm faced with the task of dropping money I don't really have on a GPU, and quite frankly, I know absolutely nothing about them anymore.
One complicating factor is that I built this entire rig inside a sleek, hi-fi style case, the Jonsbo G3, which means I'm severely limited on physical space for a card. Furthermore, I eventually intend to move toward a passive cooling solution for the GPU down the road...

My current specs are: Windows 7 SP1 running on an SSD, a Gigabyte H55M-UD2H paired with an Intel i5 760 at 2.80GHz, and 12GB of RAM (is that DDR3?)
(Does that DDR3 have any bearing on the graphics card, like if it needs DDR5 or something? I feel completely out of the loop...)

Right now, I'm using a passive Nvidia GT 720.
It’s perfectly fine for multimedia tasks...
It even handles Fortnite, though only on the absolute lowest automatic settings.

I need to hit a resolution of 1920x1080, so my question is: what can I get for the least amount of cash that would actually fit into this "gaming" machine of mine?

THANKS.

System RAM and video VRAM are two completely different things; they operate independently of one another.

From what I can see, you don't actually need a low-profile GPU for your setup—those are usually reserved for small-form-factor HTPCs—which is a huge plus because it keeps your options wide open. If you're looking to buy something new, your best bet would probably be this. It’s nothing groundbreaking by modern standards, given how much tech has evolved, but it’s a solid, reliable card. Honestly, if you went any higher, your current processor would just end up bottlenecking the whole system. Compared to what you're running now, this thing is practically a spaceship from another dimension. That said, if you have plans to upgrade your entire platform (CPU, motherboard, RAM) anytime soon, you could definitely aim higher—just make sure to double-check your power supply wattage first.

If you're shopping the used market, the GTX 1060 3GB is currently the sweet spot for value. You can find them hovering around $110-$433, and I even read about someone snagging one for $300 with two years of warranty left. Your CPU might hold it back slightly depending on what game you're playing, but again, if an upgrade to your main rig is on the horizon, the sky's the limit...

It’d be pretty sweet if it could hit a GPU with a zero RPM fan mode—you know, where the fans stay dead while it's idling, then kick in once you actually start doing something heavy. Probably a lot easier than messing around with passive cooling later on.

To would require at least this version "3d active fan". In my opinion, this model should theoretically include it too, but there's absolutely nothing on the official website stating it actually features that 0db mode
.

@Timothy Kim60/">@@Timothy Kim60
Thanks. If I can manage the price point, I might just be able to work my way up toward that recommendation...
I'm not entirely certain what qualifies as "low profile" in this context, though the maximum length is listed at 315mm.
It’s hard to say whether they factored in things like capacitors, resistors, or any other little electronic protrusions on the motherboard when calculating those clearances...
I don't have any plans to perform a full PC upgrade anytime soon.
I feel a bit hesitant about opening the case right now just to inspect the power supply, though I know I didn't cut corners on the PSU a few years back—which, perhaps, is irrelevant now...
I saw a GTX 780 listed in an ad earlier, and the price seemed pretty close to what the shop is asking for this one...

If you’re seriously considering picking up a GTX 780, honestly, you'd be much better off just grabbing a GTX 1060 instead; they're way more efficient, you'll actually get meaningful driver support for a longer period, and most importantly, you'll actually have a valid warranty behind you.

https://www.alzashop.com/msi-geforce...c-d4530478.htm

Plus, you get an SSD bundled with this one.

Hey everyone. So, I handed over my old rig to my kid—he's 13 now—and honestly, it’s still a step up from what I grabbed for myself since all I ever do is surf the web and binge Netflix. Now he's starting to bug me about a new graphics card because his games have started stuttering (it was only a matter of time, really). We actually cracked the case open two weeks ago and vacuumed out all the dust, so things are running a bit smoother, but... I've actually got two other GPUs sitting around here. Since I stepped away from this stuff ages ago (like, 15 years), I'm totally clueless on which one is better or why. Looking for some experts here to point me in the right direction. Here's the current setup:
ASRock FM2A55M-DGS
AMD Athlon x4 740, 3500MHz (35x100)
AMD Radeon HD 7750 (Cape Verde)
RAM 4GB DDR3
450w PSU

I also have a GYGABYTE GV-NX76G256D-RH and some VX5670 that seems to have an extra connector on it—I'm guessing that's some kind of bridge between the GPU and the motherboard that needs a specific cable or something? Which of these three should I slap into the build? Even though this gear is pretty ancient, is there any smart way to upgrade it so it lasts a little longer? Thanks!

Also, what's the going rate for this stuff if I wanted to sell it?

In terms of raw power, that HD 7750 he’s running is the top dog here, followed by the HD 5670, and then that 7600GS comes in last.

If you were looking to buy something new, there’s honestly no point in trying to push anything much stronger than this setup

electricbadger9 said:https://www.microcenter.com/msi-geforce...c-d4530478.htm

It comes bundled with an SSD.

To be honest, it’s not exactly a massive steal since the total ends up being over $500, and you can grab a similar SSD for just north of $67 these days. Still, it’s a decent option if you just need a small SSD.

George Taylor28 said:@Timothy Kim60/">@@Timothy Kim60
Thanks. Based on the price, I might actually be able to swing that recommendation.
I'm not entirely sure what "low profile" entails, though the max length is listed at 315mm.
I'm also unsure if they accounted for any potential chips, resistors, or other electronic protrusions on the motherboard..
I don't have any plans to upgrade my PC anytime soon.
It’s a bit of a hassle to open the case right now to check the power supply, but I know I didn't skimp on it a few years back. (Though that might not mean much now).
I saw a GTX 780 in a listing earlier, which was priced similarly to this one in the store?

"Low profile" refers to the height—length isn't the issue click, but you don't need that.

As for the GTX 780, that's older tech and pulls a lot of power. Stick to what I suggested—the GTX 1060 3GB with a year or two of warranty left (if not more).

Timothy Kim60 said:That Radeon HD 7750 in there is the beast of the bunch, then you've got the Radeon HD 5670 right behind it, followed by that old 7600GS.

If I were buying something new, honestly, looking at that PC, there’s zero point trying to push anything harder than this

Price is solid and the card probably is too. Is buying used even worth it? Probably not. Most of those gaming cards have been overclocked to death and who knows what kind of abuse they've seen.

You're likely thinking of something more budget-friendly? Regardless, your CPU is going to bottleneck any high-end GPU anyway.

click - the price-to-performance ratio here is actually excellent, though the cooler feels like cheap plastic, so it might get a bit noisy.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX

NVIDIA GeForce GTX

Alright, just wanted to pick your brain before I pull the trigger... How long do you think this build is actually gonna last?? If it’s got enough juice to stay relevant for another two or three years, then grabbing a new GPU is definitely worth the cash. But if it's just gonna be a total letdown that can't handle anything soon, I might be better off hunting for something used instead.