Best Single Slot Graphics Card Recommendation for 8.1

[jdkilmartin]

Hello – can anyone suggest a single slot Graphics Card?

I have a 460 W PSU with a 12v rail with 30A. The problem is I don’t have room in my case for a double slot card which limits my options.

I’m running Windows 8.1 so I want something 8.1 compliant with UEFI BIOS. This will disqualify the single slot GTX 600 series and AMD 7750’s and 7770’s which I know would otherwise be my best options.

I think my best options for my requirements are the single slot R7 250’s.

Assuming the R7 250 is my best option, is it that much of an upgrade over my Haswell integrated HD 4600? I haven’t seen any direct comparison benchmarks. I’m assuming the performance would be at least double.

The only gaming I do (currently) is Skyrim. Oblivion, and CIV 5.

Thanks!

 

[Kai Dowin]

Yes, the R7 250 will be a big step in performance terms. A titanic one, in fact.

May I ask your budget?

 

[jdkilmartin]

No budget limitations but I'd prefer to keep it under $300 as this is not really a gaming machine.

 

[Kai Dowin]

Well, there is a PowerColor HD7770 that is branded UEFI ready. I think that if you search, you shall find a much stronger single slot card than the R7 250, which is itself just rebranded GCN card. It won't differ much from the HD 7770 and the HD 7750. Is this two are really a no no for you, than I think the R7 250 will be the fastest, UEFI compliant single GPU card for you.

 

[jdkilmartin]

I had read that PowerColor was advertising UEFI complaint 7770's but all their current 7770's all appear to be double slot. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, could you point one out?

Regarding the R7's, would you suggest ASUS or HIS?

Thanks for your advice by the way. Much appreciated.

 

[Kai Dowin]

Well, the best I could find was this HD 7750 which is a bit faster.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814550016
Here's where they say that its UEFI ready: http://www.club-3d.com/index.php/products/reader.en/product/radeon-hd-7750-low-profile-eyefinity-4.html

 

[jdkilmartin]

Much appreciated. Thanks again!

 

[Jamie Mccormick]

Yes, the R7 250 will be a big step in performance terms. A titanic one, in fact.

May I ask your budget?

 

[Jamie Mccormick]

I was wondering if this graphics card your talking about would play games like watchdogs on decent settings?, im just new to pc gaming and dont realy know where to start, i have an imedia s2870 with intel core i5 3340, nvidia geforce gt620 1gb, 8gb ddr3 and dvd super multi, my pc is small aswell so i dont thin a bigger graphics card wpuld fit.