Looking for an optimum GPU for my outdated Rig

[jimmulvaney]

Hello, I mostly use it for home and work, but am really into Elder Scrolls Online (manual install) and would ultimately like to play Subnautica with a decent frame rate too. I can easily live with 30 fps but I am lucky if I get that in ESO on a good day. The biggest problem is that my current GPU is starting to have fan problems. Here are my specs...

Gateway DX4300
Windows 10 Home x64
AMD Phenom II x4 820 - 2800 Mhz - Quad Core
8 GB Ram
AMD Radeon HD 6670 GPU
ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics
ACPI x64
Dual Acer GN246HL monitors (1 HDMI, 1 DVI)

Any insight, would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[hang-the-9]

What is the power supply wattage, total and what is listed on the 12V rail? Does the power supply have any PCIe power plugs for the video card? your motherboard probably won't work with newer video cards, but the newer video cards also run on less power for the performance they give. You may need something like a Radeon R7 250, last few generations without a dedicated power need.

 

[RememberThe5th]

If you are getting radeon Just make sure that you are getting GDDR5 not DDR3 GDDR3, and perferably 2GB version.

 

[jimmulvaney]

Alright, so I found some more information and I wanted an opinion on what I am currently planning to purchase. Again, thank you all for your help, it is very useful.

First thing first.. my Power Supply is this one.. http://www.barebonekit.net/liteon-300-watt-power-supply-ps-6301-08a_i_csplonps630108a.aspx

and my MOBO is a Gateway RS780.

I was looking at some great GPUs but realized I lack the power supply for them so I am first planning on getting the following but need to know if it will work with my Mobo and peripherals. https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817170033 I tried to figure it out for myself, but this is all a bit greek to me. If it will work then great! If not then can you possibly recommend one for no more than $50?

Next, I am looking at the Radeon RX 500 series but will go RX 400 if necessary. Would love the 580 but it is a bit out of my price range so I am looking more at like $200 more or less. Again, need to know if it is compatible or not.

My budget is about $250, for both the PSU and GPU combined. I could just as easily replace my GPU with the same exact one, but I figured if given a chance, why not see if you can improve it a bit? Thanks again for all the help! It is very much appreciated.

 

[natx808]

I'd recommend a Geforce 1050TI or RX570. Should give you acceptable performance with 1080p gaming.

If you get one of those with a single PCI-E 6-pin power connector you might not need to upgrade power supply, btw.

 

[hang-the-9]

Alright, so I found some more information and I wanted an opinion on what I am currently planning to purchase. Again, thank you all for your help, it is very useful.

First thing first.. my Power Supply is this one.. http://www.barebonekit.net/liteon-300-watt-power-supply-ps-6301-08a_i_csplonps630108a.aspx

and my MOBO is a Gateway RS780.

I was looking at some great GPUs but realized I lack the power supply for them so I am first planning on getting the following but need to know if it will work with my Mobo and peripherals. https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817170033 I tried to figure it out for myself, but this is all a bit greek to me. If it will work then great! If not then can you possibly recommend one for no more than $50?

Next, I am looking at the Radeon RX 500 series but will go RX 400 if necessary. Would love the 580 but it is a bit out of my price range so I am looking more at like $200 more or less. Again, need to know if it is compatible or not.

My budget is about $250, for both the PSU and GPU combined. I could just as easily replace my GPU with the same exact one, but I figured if given a chance, why not see if you can improve it a bit? Thanks again for all the help! It is very much appreciated.

For your budget I suggest you find a used tower PC with an i5 CPU and stick the video card in that. There are plenty of used business systems in the $150-200 range that have decent quality power supplies.

As a very quick search, here is one for $180 https://www.pcliquidations.com/p59070-dell-optiplex-990-mini?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=59070&r160164167166161&gclid=Cj0KCQiAieTUBRCaARIsAHeLDCS4kwDFlWYYaoEi6sQ-Ur_hBZzP72a1Abqse1qa8VWBWniQvzTMMX4aAnQTEALw_wcB

You will end up with a better overall system. Only catch is that you will need to re-install your programs.

For your system, with the prices now, you are not likely to get anything better than a GTX 1050Ti card along with a new power supply, and your CPU will be holding you back in newer games. if you don't care much about being CPU limited, and your motherboard has standard ATX power connections, this is a great PSU for the price https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151093&cm_re=seasonic_M12ii-_-17-151-093-_-Product

You may want to wait a bit and get together $500 or so for a full system swap.

 

[jimmulvaney]

Appreciate all the help. Decided on the MSI GTX 1050 Ti Aero 4GB GDDR5 https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137091

Not to concerned with anything other than performance, my non-descript PC case has no need for RGB. Probably going to upgrad emy PC piece by piece through out the year. Next I am looking at CPU and userbenchmark.com has been a lot of fun, playing around with different build ideas.

 

[hang-the-9]

Appreciate all the help. Decided on the MSI GTX 1050 Ti Aero 4GB GDDR5 https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137091

Not to concerned with anything other than performance, my non-descript PC case has no need for RGB. Probably going to upgrad emy PC piece by piece through out the year. Next I am looking at CPU and userbenchmark.com has been a lot of fun, playing around with different build ideas.

If you are upgrading the CPU, you are upgrading the whole system, you need a new motherboard and possibly different RAM. You can't put any newer CPU worth getting into your motherboard. You will have a new system soon as you start upgrading the CPU. May as well just sell yours and start clean. Only thing left will be the case anyway.

Just looked at the link you had for the power supply, aside from being out of stock in the link, you don't really want to get that. Get a known good brand and model. I like the older Seasonic units, they are good, and come with rebates to bring them down to prices of cheap generic PSUs. For a mid power system this would be great, cheap, modular https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151093&cm_re=seasonic_m12ii-_-17-151-093-_-Product sale ends soon though.

 

[jimmulvaney]

If you are upgrading the CPU, you are upgrading the whole system, you need a new motherboard and possibly different RAM. You can't put any newer CPU worth getting into your motherboard. You will have a new system soon as you start upgrading the CPU. May as well just sell yours and start clean. Only thing left will be the case anyway.

Just looked at the link you had for the power supply, aside from being out of stock in the link, you don't really want to get that. Get a known good brand and model. I like the older Seasonic units, they are good, and come with rebates to bring them down to prices of cheap generic PSUs. For a mid power system this would be great, cheap, modular https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151093&cm_re=seasonic_m12ii-_-17-151-093-_-Product sale ends soon though.

Ugh, I really don't want to do that right now. I am in the middle of a big project so not a practical option at the moment. PLus, really not looking forward to reinstalling everything.

On the power supply link, that is the stock one that my PC came with.

 

[jimmulvaney]

Just wanted to give an update.
I got my 1050 TI installed and now I average 60fps with Vsync, 90 fps without, but again my system is a bit outdated so I don't want to OC it or anything. Which is buttery smooth enough for me! I did bottom out at 32 fps last night durring a chaotic dungeon raid (which left only my tank and a PUG healer standing... victoriously I might add!) which is much more favorable than bottoming out at 8 fps and averaging 28 fps, like before. I can also play at 4k resolution now; texture quality, not screen resolution. Screen res is still 1920 x 1080. I will definitely be upgrading my entire system, but for now am really enjoying the GPU upgrade.