Good CPU and no GPU?

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Speedstang

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Feb 14, 2015
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Okay, so I recently got a new computer which I intend to use for gaming, but I have an issue. It is a mini desktop with a small power supply (220 watts), meaning there's no way I can get a GPU into it. The processor, however, is very powerful (Intel i3 3220 @ 3.3 ghz) and it has 6gb of RAM. Now, many of you say that's not a good set up for gaming, but I have good evidence against that. For example, many so called "experts" on this and otehr websites like this say you need a high end i5 or an i7, a GeForce GT or GTX, and like 8gb of RAM to run something like Minnecraft at full settings. Well, I can run Minecraft at max settings with what I have, I've even been able to run it along with otehr 3D games at the same time at max settings....
So the question is, could I play games like Call of Duty World at War, Black Ops 2, 7 Days 2 Die, and DayZ without a GPU?

Full Specs:
Windows 8.1
Intel i3 3220 @ 3.3 ghz Ivy-Bridge
6 gb RAM
Intel HD Graphics
220 Watt Power Supply
Computer is a Dell Inspiron 660s
 
Solution
iam2thecrowe


the card itself has a TDP of 55w. They make a recommendation of 400w to account for people with many other components, and psu manufacturers that overrate their psu's. Dell do not overrate their psu's in fact they rate them conservatively. Either way i have shown actual power consumption on a reviewers test system that consumes more power than yours, with a 120w 6 core i7, and the full system including the gpu pulling well below 200w from the wall socket.
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The games I listed have completely different requirements.... World at War needs a minimum of a Pentium 4 and not even a gb of RAM.... I just wanna know which games I can run, and if they will lag/ need to be at minimum settings.
 
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if your system meets the minimum requirements of the game (they are on the developers website, or steam, or back of the box), then you can play it, but it may not run particularly well, or at very high resolution and may stutter. Generally if you not only meet the minimum, but then meet the recommended requirements you can play on medium at 1080p with reasonable FPS. If you far exceed the recommended system requirements for the game you can then likely get into high/ultra settings while still maintaining fps in the 60's. Many gamers, like myself, feel that a game feels smooth if you can get 60fps most of the time, others want more, while sometimes, with particular games they can still feel smooth down to about 30-40fps. Your i3 is likely to run these games at low settings at 720p resolution and possibly be playable if it meets the minimum requirements. If the requirement of the game is to have a graphics card, then it will not likley run well if at all.

http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri?gameName=dayz&itemId=11929&p=r
this website is an ok guide for system requirements.
 
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also, it may be possible to put a graphics card in your pc, something liw power and low end and slim like a gtx 750
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/gigabyte-low-profile-gtx-750,27310.html
61475.png

system power consumption at the wall is less than 180w, taking efficiency into acount this system is pulling 150w from the psu.
 
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The other parts of my pc still need power, I don't have enough. Also, my problem is that some games, like world at war, need only a little RAM and a cheap processor but need a GPU. I have a great processor, a lot of RAM, but no GPU. Will it run at 40-60 fps like that?
 
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go visit that systemrequirementslab link i posted, it will tell you more than I can.
Put it this way, most of us dont go buy $200+ gpu's for no reason if we could get away with an i3 with integrated graphics. yes i know the other parts need power, the power consumption figures i posted were for a full system, with a 130w 6 core i7. Since your cpu is only about 50w, you can expect lower power consumption than those figures. It would be fine with a low powered gpu.
 
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You can get away, if you don't mind the lesser prefomance of intel integrated graphics, then thats fine, but if you want to run more intensive games, you will need a new PSU, and GPU and if you have a mini case, you will most likely need a case and if your motherboard is too small or not the right kind then you will need a new one of those, but thats something to worry about for another time. And 6 GB of ram is OK, its not great but it will do the job in most cases with games that don't need much ram, but overall, for what you want to play, you will be fine. Just don't expect games like BF4 and COD Ghosts off of it, because thats not going to happen.
 
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to get an r9 280 he would have to buy a new case and power supply. so an r9 280 does not come at the same price for the OP.
 
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If my psu can take it, will it fit in my computer? I have an inspiron 660 slim. ( I hate AMD, I wouldn't ever buy the R9 )
 
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I don't have that kind of cash, idk if i'll even be able to afford the GTX 750 everyone's talking about. I got my machine for $220...
 
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Are you paying atention? Someone already posted the power consumption of that card with a more power hungry system, if you ask for help the least that you can do is to show a little of respect for anyone that is trying to help you.
 
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the card itself has a TDP of 55w. They make a recommendation of 400w to account for people with many other components, and psu manufacturers that overrate their psu's. Dell do not overrate their psu's in fact they rate them conservatively. Either way i have shown actual power consumption on a reviewers test system that consumes more power than yours, with a 120w 6 core i7, and the full system including the gpu pulling well below 200w from the wall socket.
 
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Solution


Oh, I thought that that was the minimum power required, or it wouldn't work. Oops.
 
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Sorry, I thought that 400 watts was required for the card to function even if doesn't use that much power. Oops :/
 
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What?
 
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Thanks everyone for the help, it looks like I will actually be able to play some true games on my PC when i get that GTX 😀 Thanks so much all of you!

( P.S. Sorry about the 400 watt thing..... I wasn't paying attention to the fact that it was the recommended ammount.)
 
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just make sure you measure inside your case that there is enough room for the card, and ensure the motherboard has a spare pcie slot. I would go for a gtx750 slim version, not the ti version, as it uses slightly less power but should be ok with the system and have good performance. And watch out for factory overclocked models as the power consumption will be higher than standard.
 
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It does have a spare pcie slot, and I'm pretty sure It'll fit, but I will measure nevertheless. Thanks for your help 😀
 
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