Graphics Card (Low Budget)

[TheAnimeNerd1299]

Hello,

I have a decent PC with a crappy graphics card which is the only thing holding my gaming back
I have 4 gigs of RAM and an Intel Core 2 duo E6400 of 2.13 Ghz
Its a Dell Optiplex 745 MiniTower and it has a Power Supply of 305w or so

I need a Graphics card within 20-50$ (Without having to upgrade the entire thing)
Yep, I know I'm cheap, but I'm pretty desperate since my PC can't run even most games such as League of Legends and DOTA 2
(Dota 2 ftw)

But for some weird reason I can run Elder Scrolls Oblivion perfectly yet games like "Skullgirlz" won't despite being a linear game

And after researchin' my sh*t, I came across these Graphics cards





NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 = $50

NVIDIA GeForce GT 720 = $50

GeForce 210 = $27.50

NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 = $50

NVIDIA GeForce GT 610 = $38

AMD Radeon HD 6450 = $35





Tell me the "best choice" since my budget is pretty much limited, and if the cards that I chose
"will even" work or fit inside the case

Also does it being Single-Width or Dual-Width matter?
And if it does which of the graphics cards that I listed will actually work?

Answer with minimum detail please :3
Just kidding write as much as you want


~Cheers

 

[tech-wreck]

look at the picture i posted earlier. that is a HD6670 in an identical computer. and it does work.

 

[cthunder067]

I agree with you it would work. But since he is uncomfortable or unsure. I suggested he save his money at get both at the same time.

 

[Sensei Gamer]

Let me give you some Options...

1) Sapphire Radeon R7 250 2GB DDR3 - $77 after rebate - http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11215-01-20G/dp/B00FLMKIHC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1435953439&sr=1-1&keywords=AMD+R7+250
Brief Description: consumes only around 65W when gaming and will need the very least a 300W PSU. I asked an R7 250 user running on 300W and they say it's flawless and nothing has gone wrong. small in size

2) Nvidia EVGA GeForce GT 730 2GB GDDR5 - $74 - http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Profile-Graphics-02G-P3-3733-KR/dp/B00L5GZG5C/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1435954142&sr=1-1&keywords=GT+730
Brief Description: Consumes around 55W or less will need minimum 300W PSU. will work, small in size

3) Sapphire Radeon R7 240 1GB GDDR5 - $70 - http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11216-01-20G/dp/B00FLMKHLO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1435954421&sr=1-1&keywords=r7+240+gddr5
Brief Description: Will need less than the R7 250 works with a 300W PSU, small in size

4) XFX HD 6570 1GB DDR3 - $70 - http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PCI-E-Graphics-Cards-HD657XZDF2/dp/B005UH9GI0/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1435954877&sr=1-3&keywords=Radeon+HD+6570
Brief Description: Will consume 44W and will work fine with a 300W PSU, small in size

- I have asked people that were using a 300W PSU and have similar or same graphics card. They say that they hadn't had any problems and it works fine. The form factor of the cards that I have picked are small, which in my opinion would fit in your case. It is free shipping stated by the website. I considered on giving an option on a used HD 7770 for around $30-60 but will need a bigger power supply of 400W. That's all I could do. Cheers m8!

 

[TheAnimeNerd1299]

Let me give you some Options...

1) Sapphire Radeon R7 250 2GB DDR3 - $77 after rebate - http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11215-01-20G/dp/B00FLMKIHC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1435953439&sr=1-1&keywords=AMD+R7+250
Brief Description: consumes only around 65W when gaming and will need the very least a 300W PSU. I asked an R7 250 user running on 300W and they say it's flawless and nothing has gone wrong. small in size

2) Nvidia EVGA GeForce GT 730 2GB GDDR5 - $74 - http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Profile-Graphics-02G-P3-3733-KR/dp/B00L5GZG5C/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1435954142&sr=1-1&keywords=GT+730
Brief Description: Consumes around 55W or less will need minimum 300W PSU. will work, small in size

3) Sapphire Radeon R7 240 1GB GDDR5 - $70 - http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11216-01-20G/dp/B00FLMKHLO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1435954421&sr=1-1&keywords=r7+240+gddr5
Brief Description: Will need less than the R7 250 works with a 300W PSU, small in size

4) XFX HD 6570 1GB DDR3 - $70 - http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PCI-E-Graphics-Cards-HD657XZDF2/dp/B005UH9GI0/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1435954877&sr=1-3&keywords=Radeon+HD+6570
Brief Description: Will consume 44W and will work fine with a 300W PSU, small in size

- I have asked people that were using a 300W PSU and have similar or same graphics card. They say that they hadn't had any problems and it works fine. The form factor of the cards that I have picked are small, which in my opinion would fit in your case. It is free shipping stated by the website. I considered on giving an option on a used HD 7770 for around $30-60 but will need a bigger power supply of 400W. That's all I could do. Cheers m8!

Is this a good choice for a 730 GT
http://www.amazon.com/Zotac-NVIDIA-GeForce-PCI-Express-ZT-71107-10L/dp/B00LZKWVJW/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1435751263&sr=8-7&keywords=GeForce+Gt+730

Thanks


~Cheers

 

[Sensei Gamer]

Well it's up to you, depends on if you want to spend more on the 2GB GDDR5 version. But the one you picked has only 1GB of memory and it is DDR3. the performance would be worse than the 2GB GDDR5 that I picked. But the advantage that you picked is that it has passive cooling which means no noise at all.

 

[TheAnimeNerd1299]

Well it's up to you, depends on if you want to spend more on the 2GB GDDR5 version. But the one you picked has only 1GB of memory and it is DDR3. the performance would be worse than the 2GB GDDR5 that I picked. But the advantage that you picked is that it has passive cooling which means no noise at all.

Are the differences really noticeable?
Also, is this a good choice as well for a 730 GT?
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Profile-Graphics-01G-P3-1731-KR/dp/B00LJZQHPC/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1436040866&sr=1-2&keywords=GT+730+1GB+DDR3&refinements=p_n_condition-type%3A2224373011%2Cp_n_shipping_option-bin%3A3242350011


Should I pick this over the earlier one?


~Cheers

 

[tech-wreck]

well that's up to you, but this one is silent and will work well in a btx like yours.

 

[Sensei Gamer]

well that's up to you, but this one is silent and will work well in a btx like yours.

like what tech-wreck said,everything is up to you. we can only suggest what is best for you and you choose yourself what brand you want. Zotac and EVGA are both good brands and both are silent and perform the same. you decide yourself which you think is best by price, looks, etc. Cheers m8!

 

[TheAnimeNerd1299]

well that's up to you, but this one is silent and will work well in a btx like yours.

like what tech-wreck said,everything is up to you. we can only suggest what is best for you and you choose yourself what brand you want. Zotac and EVGA are both good brands and both are silent and perform the same. you decide yourself which you think is best by price, looks, etc. Cheers m8!

Last question though 😀
Does a Graphics card being "passive" affect the performance in any way?
What does "passive" mean?
Does it have any disadvantages compared to a regular card, since its cheaper?


~Cheers

 

[RobCrezz]

well that's up to you, but this one is silent and will work well in a btx like yours.

like what tech-wreck said,everything is up to you. we can only suggest what is best for you and you choose yourself what brand you want. Zotac and EVGA are both good brands and both are silent and perform the same. you decide yourself which you think is best by price, looks, etc. Cheers m8!

Last question though 😀
Does a Graphics card being "passive" affect the performance in any way?
What does "passive" mean?
Does it have any disadvantages compared to a regular card, since its cheaper?


~Cheers

It basically means it has no fan to cool it - so its being cooled passively by any airflow around it.

pros:
silent

cons:
could throttle performance due to heat (not that likely though considering the low power and performance of the card anyway though).

 

[tech-wreck]

the fins on that passive heatsink will line up nicely with the airflow from the CPU fan. better if the air wasn't pre-warmed, but it should be okay.

 

[beyondlogic]

well that's up to you, but this one is silent and will work well in a btx like yours.

like what tech-wreck said,everything is up to you. we can only suggest what is best for you and you choose yourself what brand you want. Zotac and EVGA are both good brands and both are silent and perform the same. you decide yourself which you think is best by price, looks, etc. Cheers m8!

Last question though 😀
Does a Graphics card being "passive" affect the performance in any way?
What does "passive" mean?
Does it have any disadvantages compared to a regular card, since its cheaper?


~Cheers

the major diffrences between ddr5 and ddr3 is speed ddr5 is much faster video memory

to put it in laymans terms ddr3 is a snail in comparision to ddr5

passive heatsinks are all dependant on your cooling of your pc in your case id avoid them as your case has only 1 exaust fan

 

[tech-wreck]

well, I'm going the opposite way. passive cards work well in BTX form factor cases.