Hello all, its been a while, but its good to be back!
I recently put all my best parts out of a couple computers I've been using for different purposes, into one system which I would like to upgrade the GPU on in order to have a decent gaming and multimedia PC for my 4K tv.
I'm not asking for top performance 4k gaming out of this GPU/system, but I wouldn't mind solid 1080p and 1440p gaming with nice 4k desktop and 4k video capabilty.
One thing to note. My TV/monitor is limited to HDMI 2.0. So 4096x2160 @ 60Hz is my max viewable output. So if we are talking about 1080p or 1440p gaming at extremely high frame rates will be counter productive, as I will only see 60 of those frames per second on my display.
Here is my current system specs as of today: If anyone has any suggestions that could open up performance bottlenecks for not too much money, speak up!
$300 is my absolute max budget for GPU and anything else. Hopefully around $200 or less. But don't want to compromise performance to save only a few bucks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 3340 @3.1 GHz
RAM: 16GB ddr3 1600 ram 2 sets of 4gb sticks. One set is limited to ddr3 1333 so I am aware that the 1600 might be underclocked. Seems worth it for double the ram though I figured. Comments?
GPU: To be replaced
Nvidia 8400 GS GT128 takes up 2 slots so I have at least that much space, could probably come up with 3 slots if neccesary.
PSU: Current Thermaltake 430w. Also have a Corsair 500w or maybe 550w in one of the cannibalized computers I use less often. I can add this to the gaming computer if neccesary, but I hate overkilling it in the PSU watts dept if not neccesary. (I do pay for my electricity, and half a KW is nothing to sneer at)
Storage: Sata 7200 rpm hard drives, several.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I have considered in my budget, a small/inexpensive ~$50 250gb SSD for OS/games but GPU comes first, and I am pretty sure I will need an additional Sata III 6gb/s interface card right?
Is this really all that's necessary to take advantage of SSD speed?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-PCI-E...owGO&LH_BIN=1&frcectupt=true&autorefresh=true
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My Sata interface is described as:
7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Famil 6-port SATA controller [AHCI mode]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My Pci Bridge is described as follows: (not sure this matters)
7 series/C215 Chipset Family Pci Expresss Root Port 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
GPUs I am considering:
Budget $100-$260+ or so if neccesary for GPU
Toms Hardware GPU hierarchy is where I have gotten most of my comparisons.
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Option 1: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
$260 - Ebay/amazon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Option 2: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660
$215 new Dont see much savings with open box/refurb on nvidia cards
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Option 3: AMD Radeon RX 590 8GB
$229 brand new. Could save $30-50 by going with open box/refurb, or slightly more pre-owned
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Option 4: AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB
$139 according to THG amazon link, no longer available it seems
I would jump on this in a second but it doesn't seem to be available at that link. Looks like I can get an open box/refurb for around this price or cheaper, and new for $180 still not bad, but enough that the higher end options take some more careful consideration, for only a few $$ more.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
These are the best performing cards I saw in my price range. I am not made of money, but I am willing to spend the full budget if they money is well spent, I will see significant improvements and my system can handle it. If i'm not going to see much or any peformance difference on MY system between spending $140 on an open box RX580 8GB, and $260 GTX 1660Ti, I would likely spring for the cheaper RX580.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
One thing to note however, Open box/Refurb options seem to be widely available for ATI cards whereas the Nvidia cards I saw there, had no savings for this option if you were to even find one. Refurb/open box(returns) appear extremely unavailable from NVIDIA cards/makers, at least the ones I am familiar with. Certainly the ones I listed.
This tells me that the NVIDIA cards are significantly more reliable, as their return rate has to be very low or they would be offering savings for such refurbished/open box options. Unless its just a marketing gimmick to make them look better.
Please help me decide which card to buy, and what kind of performance I can expect from my system once installed. If there are other things I should upgrade with part of the budget rather than spending it all on the most expensive GPU in my budget, please say something. I am open to, and appreciate all suggestions/information.
Thanks in advance!
I recently put all my best parts out of a couple computers I've been using for different purposes, into one system which I would like to upgrade the GPU on in order to have a decent gaming and multimedia PC for my 4K tv.
I'm not asking for top performance 4k gaming out of this GPU/system, but I wouldn't mind solid 1080p and 1440p gaming with nice 4k desktop and 4k video capabilty.
One thing to note. My TV/monitor is limited to HDMI 2.0. So 4096x2160 @ 60Hz is my max viewable output. So if we are talking about 1080p or 1440p gaming at extremely high frame rates will be counter productive, as I will only see 60 of those frames per second on my display.
Here is my current system specs as of today: If anyone has any suggestions that could open up performance bottlenecks for not too much money, speak up!
$300 is my absolute max budget for GPU and anything else. Hopefully around $200 or less. But don't want to compromise performance to save only a few bucks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 3340 @3.1 GHz
RAM: 16GB ddr3 1600 ram 2 sets of 4gb sticks. One set is limited to ddr3 1333 so I am aware that the 1600 might be underclocked. Seems worth it for double the ram though I figured. Comments?
GPU: To be replaced
Nvidia 8400 GS GT128 takes up 2 slots so I have at least that much space, could probably come up with 3 slots if neccesary.
PSU: Current Thermaltake 430w. Also have a Corsair 500w or maybe 550w in one of the cannibalized computers I use less often. I can add this to the gaming computer if neccesary, but I hate overkilling it in the PSU watts dept if not neccesary. (I do pay for my electricity, and half a KW is nothing to sneer at)
Storage: Sata 7200 rpm hard drives, several.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I have considered in my budget, a small/inexpensive ~$50 250gb SSD for OS/games but GPU comes first, and I am pretty sure I will need an additional Sata III 6gb/s interface card right?
Is this really all that's necessary to take advantage of SSD speed?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-PCI-E...owGO&LH_BIN=1&frcectupt=true&autorefresh=true
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My Sata interface is described as:
7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Famil 6-port SATA controller [AHCI mode]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My Pci Bridge is described as follows: (not sure this matters)
7 series/C215 Chipset Family Pci Expresss Root Port 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
GPUs I am considering:
Budget $100-$260+ or so if neccesary for GPU
Toms Hardware GPU hierarchy is where I have gotten most of my comparisons.
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Option 1: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
$260 - Ebay/amazon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Option 2: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660
$215 new Dont see much savings with open box/refurb on nvidia cards
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Option 3: AMD Radeon RX 590 8GB
$229 brand new. Could save $30-50 by going with open box/refurb, or slightly more pre-owned
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Option 4: AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB
$139 according to THG amazon link, no longer available it seems
I would jump on this in a second but it doesn't seem to be available at that link. Looks like I can get an open box/refurb for around this price or cheaper, and new for $180 still not bad, but enough that the higher end options take some more careful consideration, for only a few $$ more.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
These are the best performing cards I saw in my price range. I am not made of money, but I am willing to spend the full budget if they money is well spent, I will see significant improvements and my system can handle it. If i'm not going to see much or any peformance difference on MY system between spending $140 on an open box RX580 8GB, and $260 GTX 1660Ti, I would likely spring for the cheaper RX580.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
One thing to note however, Open box/Refurb options seem to be widely available for ATI cards whereas the Nvidia cards I saw there, had no savings for this option if you were to even find one. Refurb/open box(returns) appear extremely unavailable from NVIDIA cards/makers, at least the ones I am familiar with. Certainly the ones I listed.
This tells me that the NVIDIA cards are significantly more reliable, as their return rate has to be very low or they would be offering savings for such refurbished/open box options. Unless its just a marketing gimmick to make them look better.
Please help me decide which card to buy, and what kind of performance I can expect from my system once installed. If there are other things I should upgrade with part of the budget rather than spending it all on the most expensive GPU in my budget, please say something. I am open to, and appreciate all suggestions/information.
Thanks in advance!
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram