decent GPU upgrade from Intel APU graphics

[Exlord]

Hi, my friend does not have an add-on [strike]VGA[/strike] GPU and he is using the GPU from his [strike]CPU[/strike] Intel G3220 APU. I think its got the Intel 4000 series [strike]VGA[/strike] GPU but i am not sure.
http://ark.intel.com/products/77773/Intel-Pentium-Processor-G3220-3M-Cache-3_00-GHz

I found 2 used [strike]VGA's[/strike] graphics cards in my local market in our price range.
Would these be a noticeable upgrade when playing games?
And witch one is better

ASUS GTX 550TI (this one is cheaper)
XFX GT 640 2GB

mostly we have been playing Heroes and Generals
http://store.steampowered.com/app/227940/

currently he is getting 10 to 15 FPS 😀

Or should we invest a little bit more to get a better new one?

 

[ThomasKK]

According to game-debate.com, Gt 640 is 53% potentially worse in performance than 550 Ti, also 550Ti has a rating of 5/10, unlike GT 640 with only 3 out of 10. From this webpage i can say that 550Ti is a way better choice.
http://www.game-debate.com/gpu/index.php?gid=855&gid2=2850&compare=Nvidia%20GeForce%20GTX%20550%20Ti%20Asus%20Edition-vs-Nvidia%20GeForce%20GT%20640%20Asus%202GB%20Edition

Also, here is how Tom ranks them:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html
GTX 550Ti is by 3 lines upper than GT 640

By the way, this also could be a deciding factor, how Nvidia names their cards: GT is a low-end product, for simple tasks and very light gaming. But those computers that have a GTX card inside can be used for gaming mainly.

You will notice a huge improvement when going from Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics to GTX 550Ti.

You can also read this topic on this forum: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/341552-28-geforce-geforce

I don't think it's worth spending more on the gpu since the cpu may become a bottleneck - it's a bit old and dual core, your game requires a quad core for recommended settings. I think 550Ti is an optimal choice.

 

[jaslion]

Hi, my friend does not have a VGA and he is using the on board VGA from his CPU Intel G3220 , I think its a Intel 4000 series VGA but i am not sure.
http://ark.intel.com/products/77773/Intel-Pentium-Processor-G3220-3M-Cache-3_00-GHz

I found 2 used VGA's in my local market in our price range.
Would these be a noticeable upgrade when playing games?
And witch one is better

ASUS GTX 550TI (this one is cheaper)
XFX GT 640 2GB

mostly we have been playing Heroes and Generals
http://store.steampowered.com/app/227940/

currently he is getting 10 to 15 FPS 😀

Or should we invest a little bit more to get a better new one?

I advice a 750/950/1050 but if you don't have the budget a gtx 550ti will do. It isn't really that great of a card but for that game it would be enough.

 

[ThomasKK]

Yes, for more graphically intense games a newer gpu would be more beneficial. I see that 550Ti costs ~100$ on amazon. If you decide to go for a better gpu, i would recommend skipping 750 and 950 since 1050 offers much better performance for lower or the same price. I can find a 1050 for 110$. 550Ti has a 5/10 rating and 1050 has an 8 out of 10 and that is a huge step forward. 550Ti would be a simplier choice, but a 1050 would be a much more beneficial choice. As i understand, the author meant that his friend's monitor has a VGA connector, which 1050 does not, so additional adapter would be necessary.

 

[Exlord]

Yes, for more graphically intense games a newer gpu would be more beneficial. I see that 550Ti costs ~100$ on amazon. If you decide to go for a better gpu, i would recommend skipping 750 and 950 since 1050 offers much better performance for lower or the same price. I can find a 1050 for 110$. 550Ti has a 5/10 rating and 1050 has an 8 out of 10 and that is a huge step forward. 550Ti would be a simplier choice, but a 1050 would be a much more beneficial choice. As i understand, the author meant that his friend's monitor has a VGA connector, which 1050 does not, so additional adapter would be necessary.

I think he has a DVI connector

The 550 that I found is used not new. The cheapest 1050 in my local market is more than 450% more expensive than this 550 😀, He is good with this one for now.

Tnx everyone for the responses.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

There is some risk in buying used, you don't know how much punishment it's had (eg it may have had a hard life in a poorly-cooled system), and no manufacturer's warranty.

 

[Exlord]

There is some risk in buying used, you don't know how much punishment it's had (eg it may have had a hard life in a poorly-cooled system), and no manufacturer's warranty.

I know and usually I won't buy a used part, but this one is temporary and its cheap and I am buying it from someone that I know and he guaranties the parts quality.

I was thinking that I could get myself a 950(which is just slightly better than my HD7870) and give him my HD7870, but then he would have to get a new Power too and that's on extra cost too. He has a 430W power, which I'm hopping is enough for 550 ?

Hopefully in near future we both will be able to upgrade both our systems.

 

[ThomasKK]

If 110$ is 450% more expensive, that means 550ti is less than 25$. If it works, it will be a huge step forward from integrated graphics, if it does not work, well, on the other hand lost 25$ isnt the biggest problem in the lifetime 😀

 

[Exlord]

If 110$ is 450% more expensive, that means 550ti is less than 25$. If it works, it will be a huge step forward from integrated graphics, if it does not work, well, on the other hand lost 25$ isnt the biggest problem in the lifetime 😀

I am from a third world country and the cheapest 2GB 1050 is about 185$ and 4GB 206$ and the used 550 is about 54$ 😀

 

[ThomasKK]

Well, that should hurt.. prices are doubled :| 550Ti is a winner then.