Question Best minimal GPU upgrade ?

[JDinFlorida]

My GPU has died, and while I need to upgrade my rig substantially, economics currently forbids it. If I understand correctly, PCI express is (somewhat) backwards compatible, so I want to purchase a "more current" GPU for now that will work with my mobo, knowing that I'll maybe need to get a higher end unit when I upgrade the mobo and/or system. I currently only need a GPU for occasional graphics-intensive apps, and mostly for older games that I enjoy(ed) (The Division 2, RDR2 for examples), although I'd like to play the new Starfield game if that is possible also. If anybody can advise on reconditioned GPUs, I'd love to hear if they are an option, or something to avoid. Either way, I'm looking to stay under maybe $300, unless there's a really good reason to invest in a high(er) end GPU that can be migrated to a new mobo/system when that time comes. Please can folks recommend specific GPUs that will work in my mobo, whether comparable to my 980ti or better?

Original build at PCPartPicker:
https://pcpartpicker.com/b/kBXH99
Upgrades have been made to RAM and SSD's since the original build, but all else is the same base rig (exception for the 980ti 🤣).

Thanks in advance to everyone for offering feedback/suggestions!!!

-JD

 

[John Chesterfield]

Get an RX6600.

 

[JDinFlorida]

Noted and thanks. Hopefully get quite a few more suggestions/ideas. Best...

 

[SkyNetRising]

Please can folks recommend specific GPUs that will work in my mobo, whether comparable to my 980ti or better?

RTX 3060 Ti.

 

[JDinFlorida]

RTX 3060 Ti.

Thanks - any names to avoid? I can read between lines...

 

[Unolocogringo]

To be honest your processor is holding back your current card.
A GPU upgrade would be almost wasted. you could turn up a little eye candy but overall performance would be similar.
a platform upgrade would increase your existing GPU performance.

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, ASUS TUF Gaming B550 Plus WiFi II DDR4, G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB DDR4-3200 Kit, Computer Build Bundle - Micro Center

Get it now! Find over 30,000 products at your local Micro Center, including the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, ASUS TUF Gaming B550 Plus WiFi II DDR4, G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB DDR4-3200 Kit, Computer Build Bundle

www.microcenter.com

 

[JDinFlorida]

To be honest your processor is holding back your current card.
A GPU upgrade would be almost wasted. you could turn up a little eye candy but overall performance would be similar.
a platform upgrade would increase your existing GPU performance.

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, ASUS TUF Gaming B550 Plus WiFi II DDR4, G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB DDR4-3200 Kit, Computer Build Bundle - Micro Center

Get it now! Find over 30,000 products at your local Micro Center, including the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, ASUS TUF Gaming B550 Plus WiFi II DDR4, G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB DDR4-3200 Kit, Computer Build Bundle

www.microcenter.com

Thanks yes its kind of a different path I'm on, especially w gpu prices poised to increase. A platform upgrade is definitely in my future, but it will have to wait. I wasn't clear earlier, but my current graphics card no longer functions, so I'm basically looking for a "cheap" card that will work with my current mobo - just to play my old games again, and hopfully play Starfield. OR, (and less-preferable, economically) a higher-end GPU that can be transferred over to a future mobo/cpu build and last me for the foreseeable future, as a secondary option. The 3060 ti recommended above is close to my price range and sounds about what I'm looking for - I'll look into the various brands/manufacturers for reliability/popularity (opinions, anyone?). I do not want to waste an upgrade, and I'm kind of in the middle of "buy a temporary graphics card for now" and "buy a decent graphics card that will last for a few years". Keeping the same platform for now ($), what GPU cards would work in my current system based on previously defined constraints? Again, thanks for helping!

 

[geofelt]

Since you are now running nvidia, I suggest that you stay with nvidia for simplicity.
You know how the drivers work.
With 850w you can buy a very strong unit.
I do not much like "interim" purchases.
You always lose money on the deal.
At any price point, amd and nvidia are not very different in performance,
Do you have a budget?

 

[JDinFlorida]

Since you are now running nvidia, I suggest that you stay with nvidia for simplicity.
You know how the drivers work.
With 850w you can buy a very strong unit.
I do not much like "interim" purchases.
You always lose money on the deal.
At any price point, amd and nvidia are not very different in performance,
Do you have a budget?

I was hoping for the "interim" purchase of a gpu under/around $300 USD. The 3060ti mentioned above by @SkyNetRising sounds about my ballpark for now. I agree with the nVidia observation. In another couple months-ish, I could probably target a better GPU, say $600+ depending but no crystal ball. So I'm torn between a higher-end GPU purchase (that may/may not work with my current rig and be way above my budget), or the "interim" which will be a write-off in the future. Guess I could take the interim and repurpose somehow (is mining still a thing?). Again, thanks for all comments/suggestions as I push through this - keep sending me advice!

 

[geofelt]

Look at tom's gpu hierarchy chart.

GPU Benchmarks and Hierarchy 2023: Graphics Cards Ranked

We've run hundreds of GPU benchmarks on Nvidia, AMD, and Intel graphics cards and ranked them in our comprehensive hierarchy.

www.tomshardware.com

A GTX3060ti is quite a few tiers higher than your GTX980ti.
I suspect that you would be pleased.

Try this simple test:
Run YOUR games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
This makes the graphics card loaf a bit.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited and should plan on the cpu upgrade first.

 

[SyCoREAPER]

Thanks - any names to avoid? I can read between lines...

Zotac

But as mentioned above, your CPU will hold you back making it a waste of money IMO as well.

Save up a bit for a different MB and CPU and then consider a 3060ti.

 

[ilukey77]

6700xt 6800xt buy new now and starfield is free !!
Via redemption ..
premium edition for buying a new AMD gpu 6700xt to 7900xtx
standard edition 6600 to 7600 ..
most likely very low settings with the 6600 to 7600x and being all 8gb ..

if budget permits go a 6700xt or a 6800xt new !!

 

[Avro Arrow]

The best card that you can get for under $300 that will fit in your case is the Sapphire RX 6700 Pulse:
Sapphire Radeon RX 6700 Pulse 10GB - $280

The 10GB of VRAM will make it a worthy 1440p card for a couple of years and a worthy 1080p card for close to a decade. As ilukey77 pointed out, it also comes with a free copy of Starfield.

 

[ilukey77]

The best card that you can get for under $300 that will fit in your case is the Sapphire RX 6700 Pulse:
Sapphire Radeon RX 6700 Pulse 10GB - $280

The 10GB of VRAM will make it a worthy 1440p card for a couple of years and a worthy 1080p card for close to a decade. As ilukey77 pointed out, it also comes with a free copy of Starfield.

the reason i havent stated the RX 6700 is in Australia i can seem to find any of the normal 6700's for sale only the xt's
at some point i must of forgotten they were a thing i know the 6700xt and 6750xt which the 6750xt is kinda like a 6800 with out the 16gb or so ive read ..
and in some pc stores in aus the 6750xt is still around where as the 6800xt either not or nearly gone !!

LOL i think i brought the last 6800xt pc case gear was selling the MSI 6800xt gaming z trio now showing discontinued ..
even more funny i was watching the 6800xt red dragon go in an out of of stock till it was shown as discontinued as soon as i brought the MSI out of stock now discontinued !!

Or wait a few days for the 7800xt and 7700xt gpus they are officially getting announced in the next few days well 100% on the 7800xt dont know about the 7700xt !!

 

[Avro Arrow]

the reason i havent stated the RX 6700 is in Australia i can seem to find any of the normal 6700's for sale only the xt's
at some point i must of forgotten they were a thing i know the 6700xt and 6750xt which the 6750xt is kinda like a 6800 with out the 16gb or so ive read ..
and in some pc stores in aus the 6750xt is still around where as the 6800xt either not or nearly gone !!

LOL i think i brought the last 6800xt pc case gear was selling the MSI 6800xt gaming z trio now showing discontinued ..
even more funny i was watching the 6800xt red dragon go in an out of of stock till it was shown as discontinued as soon as i brought the MSI out of stock now discontinued !!

Or wait a few days for the 7800xt and 7700xt gpus they are officially getting announced in the next few days well 100% on the 7800xt dont know about the 7700xt !!

Well, honestly, now that I've gone all-in on an RX 7900 XTX (like you have), I find that I can't be arsed thinking about the impending disasters named RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT. As your countryman Steve Walton would say "I think that they're gonna be kinda gahbage!" 😉 👍

 

[Deepwaterlife48]

i have a less than 3 year old asus rog strix 1660 super that wasnt overclocked or used for mining or anything like that. was in a smoke free, pet free home. it was used for a a desktop for less than 2 years.

i'd probably sell it for i dunno, $100 plus shipping.