Do I really need a GTX 1050?

1313

Honorable
Aug 6, 2013
21
0
10,510
TL;DR - My current build runs GTA V well enough with all the graphics near low (which is 100% okay with me, I just wanna play the game not cream over how pretty it is). Not really looking to future proof anything. I just want a new PC with at least an i5 in it. Ideally I'd get a 1050 2GB, but I'm thinking about a refurb office PC and tossing in an SSD and a cheaper 2GB GPU. Thoughts?

Story time:

My i3 build runs GTA V well enough all around. The lowest FPS was (obviously) in the town section and dipped into 40-50. Everywhere else it hardly ever got lower than 70 FPS. The only issue I really have is slow loading times, especially booting the game and loading back in after heists..

I care much more about FPS over fidelity. Like everyone spending less is better, but it's less about penny pinching and more about my time commitment to gaming since growing the family. If I honestly can't do without the 1050 I'll get it, but if I can do with a lesser 2GB GPU then fantastic.

EDIT: Priorities when gaming

Current Build:

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard
Memory: Team Dark Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Suppl

Potential Build:

CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 2GB Mini Video Card
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-02-21 10:50 EST-0500
 
I agree if you are planning on upgrading to a i5 in the future then I would save up and pair it with a 1060 or 480. A 1050 will work of course.

Yes buying an office refurb and just slapping a GPU in it is a potentially good way to save money. The only real downside is those office builds usually have pretty ho-hum power supplies.

Side note since the new Ryzen chips are almost here it would be best to wait and see for the CPU. You might be able to save a little bit or get more performance for the same price point.
 

1313

Honorable
Aug 6, 2013
21
0
10,510


That's not helpful at all. I'm not looking to trick my rig. I'm clearly gaming on a budget and I'm just looking for the next step upgrade. Again, I don't care about the graphics, I don't need Ultra graphics, all the filters, lens flares, and 100% Micheal Bay explosions. I just want the game to play without chopping. GTA is the most technical thing I'm playing and it works on my 1GB 7770,
 

1313

Honorable
Aug 6, 2013
21
0
10,510


Yeah, I did consider the under stellar PSU as a problem. The GPU is basically the tipping point of which way I go, If I have to go a little bigger then I might as well build new after I do some saving up. I was also banking on Vulcan stepping up there game as well to help in using a lesser GPU.

I did just have a conversation about the new AMD CPUs and probably won't have saved enough by then anyways and the whole build could change.