Question Looking to upgrade card

fuzmaster

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Feb 26, 2011
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Looking for recommendations on upgrading my video card to play Red Dead Redemption 2 and other modern titles at ultra settings with 60 FPS, primarily at 1080p. My current setup includes:

  • CPU: Intel Core i5-10400F
  • Motherboard: MSI B460M PRO-VDH WIFI
  • Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200
  • GPU: (Currently upgrading)
  • Storage: Samsung 850 Evo 250GB SSD, Kingston A400 480GB SSD, Seagate 1TB HDD
  • PSU: EVGA 500 B1 500W 80+ Bronze
  • Monitor Setup: 3x 1080p monitors (planning to upgrade to a 32-inch 4K monitor in the future).
My budget is $400-$500, and I live near a Micro Center, so I’m open to local deals if there are any solid options there. I want a GPU that can handle 1080p ultra settings with ease and have some headroom for the future 4K monitor to run games at 60 FPS at medium-high settings.

Key concerns:
  1. Can my current 500W PSU handle mid-range GPUs like the RTX 3060 Ti, RX 6700 XT, or RTX 4060?
  2. Are there any GPUs in this price range that perform well at 1080p ultra now but are also somewhat futureproof for 4K?
I’m open to both NVIDIA and AMD options and would appreciate any advice or recommendations. Thanks!
 
Hi all,

I'm looking to upgrade the video card in because her current GPU, an Asus DUAL OC GeForce RTX 3050 8GB, is starting to lag a bit in some of her games, especially Red Dead Redemption 2 on higher settings. The goal is to get her to play RDR2 at ultra settings with 60FPS.

Here are the specs for the current build:

  • OS: Windows 10 (not upgrading to Windows 11)
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-10400F 2.9 GHz 6-Core
  • CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
  • Motherboard: MSI B460M PRO-VDH WIFI Micro ATX LGA1200
  • RAM: 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16
  • Storage:
    • Samsung 850 Evo 250 GB SSD
    • Kingston A400 480 GB SSD
    • Seagate BarraCuda 1 TB 7200 RPM HDD
  • GPU: Asus DUAL OC GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
  • PSU: EVGA 500 B1 500W 80+ Bronze
  • Case: Thermaltake Versa N21
  • Monitors:
    • Center: Samsung 32” 1080p TV
    • Side Monitors: 24” 1080p x 2
She’s also planning to upgrade to a 32-inch 4K monitor as her primary display in the near future, so a GPU capable of 4K gaming would be ideal.

Budget

Looking for a budget-friendly GPU under $500 (cheaper is always better, but I understand the performance requirements).

Goals

  • Eliminate lag in demanding games like RDR2.
  • Ultra settings in RDR2 with 60FPS at 1080p, and later scaling to 4K gaming at high settings when she upgrades her monitor.
  • Support for multi-monitor setups (three screens total).

Additional Notes

  • The PSU is 500W, so if a GPU upgrade requires more power, recommendations for a compatible PSU would also be appreciated.
  • The system is primarily for gaming (RDR2 is the most demanding title).
What are your suggestions for a GPU that fits these needs? Is a 500W PSU sufficient, or will we need to upgrade it for the recommended card?

Thanks in advance for the help!
 
Ultra settings in RDR2 with 60FPS at 1080p
RTX 4060 can do 60 FPS average on RDR2 at 1080p.

BGJ6Y4t9gzQsqfHracuoj-970-80.png.webp

Source: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4060-review-asus-dual/5

GPU itself starts from 300 bucks,
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/video-card/#c=552&sort=price&page=1

But RTX 4060 will not do 4K 60 FPS in RDR2.

9u8BTW8w4Fv3RM6UYQ7t9h-970-80.png.webp


To get 60+ FPS in 4K RDR2, bare minimum would be RTX 4070 Super.

fSKWBpRveB2sKkquzmJ4dZ-970-80.png.webp

Source: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4080-super-review/2

RTX 4070 Super starts out at 600 bucks,
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/video-card/#c=565&sort=price&page=1

And PSU upgrade would be done regardless since EVGA B1 is low quality PSU.
RTX 4070 Super needs at least 650W unit. One of the better ones, ATX 3.0 units, would be Adata XPG Core Reactor II at ~100 bucks,
egg: https://www.newegg.com/xpg-corereactorii1000g-bkcus-1000-w/p/N82E16817478007

For other PSU options, further reading: https://hwbusters.com/best_picks/best-atxv3-pcie5-ready-psus-picks-hardware-busters/2/

So, your call; if to get RTX 4060 + new PSU and make it within the 500 bucks budget, but no 4K gaming.
OR
RTX 4070 Super + new PSU to get 4K gaming, but not within 500 bucks range. More like 700 bucks.