[SOLVED] Need help deciding video card for a small form factor pc

[Helpmeplease345]

Hey guys, I bought an offer off craigslist for a 1080p monitor and an hp compaq 8200 elite SFF for $100. The desktop is an i7-2600, and it has a 240w power supply with no connector for pci express. The video card that came with is before was a radeon hd 6450, which is about 17cm long. So I want to sell this to some kid that wants to play fortnite on this setup, but I need to replace video card. Searching around, the only recommendations were a gt 1030 and a gt 710. Does anyone have a suggestion for something as powerful as a gt 1030 but much cheaper when used?

 

[Aeacus]

Only GPU that outperforms GT 1030 and can be cheaper would be GTX 750 Ti,
comparison: https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-750-Ti-vs-Nvidia-GT-1030/2187vsm283726

Also, many GTX 750 Ti GPUs come in a small (about 170mm long) package and given that it's old 700-series GPU, you can find one relatively cheap. Though, pick the model that doesn't have 6-pin PCI-E power connector on it (some can have it though).

 

[Helpmeplease345]

Only GPU that outperforms GT 1030 and can be cheaper would be GTX 750 Ti,
comparison: https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-750-Ti-vs-Nvidia-GT-1030/2187vsm283726

Also, many GTX 750 Ti GPUs come in a small (about 170mm long) package and given that it's old 700-series GPU, you can find one relatively cheap. Though, pick the model that doesn't have 6-pin PCI-E power connector on it (some can have it though).

Can that card run in my 240w power supply since I have an i7-2600 too? I used a watt calculator which says 280W but I've been told that most of those overestimate the wattage.

Also do you know of any other graphics cards that just simply work with my pc, and is around a gt 1030, because I'm sure I can find a bargain and more options are very helpful.

 

[Aeacus]

Yes, PSU calculators do overestimate quite a bit. Though, when it comes to the PSUs, you'd want to have 100W spare headroom than coming 10W short. Hence why they overestimate wattage consumption.

Well, GTX 750 Ti is 75W GPU, i7-2600 is 95W CPU and if you add the rest of your system to it at about 50W, max what your PC can consume at 100% load is about 230W. For me, that's too close for comfort with 240W PSU in there. I'd be comfortable using minimum of 350W PSU with GTX 750 Ti, just to be safe.

Though, power consumption of GPUs that are equal or a bit better than GT 1030 are:
30W - GT 1030
50W - RX 550
55W - GTX 750
75W - GTX 750 Ti, GTX 1050, GTX 1050 Ti, GTX 1650

50W RX 550 would do nice with 240W PSU while 75W GPU may pop the PSU during heavy load (gaming). As far as pricing on 2nd hand market goes, that i'm not familiar with.

 

[Helpmeplease345]

Yes, PSU calculators do overestimate quite a bit. Though, when it comes to the PSUs, you'd want to have 100W spare headroom than coming 10W short. Hence why they overestimate wattage consumption.

Well, GTX 750 Ti is 75W GPU, i7-2600 is 95W CPU and if you add the rest of your system to it at about 50W, max what your PC can consume at 100% load is about 230W. For me, that's too close for comfort with 240W PSU in there. I'd be comfortable using minimum of 350W PSU with GTX 750 Ti, just to be safe.

Though, power consumption of GPUs that are equal or a bit better than GT 1030 are:
30W - GT 1030
50W - RX 550
55W - GTX 750
75W - GTX 750 Ti, GTX 1050, GTX 1050 Ti, GTX 1650

50W RX 550 would do nice with 240W PSU while 75W GPU may pop the PSU during heavy load (gaming). As far as pricing on 2nd hand market goes, that i'm not familiar with.

One last question, I found a lot of gt 1030's going for cheap, but they're all OC version instead of low profile, can the OC version work inside my system instead of a low profile, what is the difference? They both seem to be the same size.

 

[Aeacus]

Difference between OC and LP version is that LP version is shorter in height. Length wise, they all are about same,
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/gWQRsY,Q4648d,FjfmP6,b4KhP6/

Though, there are two exceptions; MSI GT 1030 2GHD4 LP OC and MSI GT 1030 2GD4 LP OC are both Low Profile (LP) and have a little bit of overclock on them (OC),
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/8hvbt6,YP8j4D/

Some dimensions as well;
MSI GT 1030 2GHD4 LP OC - length: 150mm, height: 69mm, width: 38mm (low profile with fat heatsink)
MSI GT 1030 2GD4 LP OC - length: 150mm, height: 69mm, width: 19mm (low profile with fan)
MSI GT 1030 2GH OC - length: 147mm, height: 100mm, width: 37mm (small from factor with heatsink)
Asus PH-GT1030-O2G - length: 184mm, height: 110mm, width: 36mm (small from factor with fan)

 

[hang-the-9]

One last question, I found a lot of gt 1030's going for cheap, but they're all OC version instead of low profile, can the OC version work inside my system instead of a low profile, what is the difference? They both seem to be the same size.

They won't be the same size, the standard card is taller and won't fit in a small form case. So you need an SFF card, or some people just leave the top of the case off. You ran into a very common issue that people get when buying small form basic business systems and then try to put video cards for games in them, not enough power and not enough space. SFF 1030 should work, assuming the motherboard will run the newer card. Or get a SFF nVidia 740 or 750 which have lower power draw than the 750 Ti. Either way you want to make sure the system is on the latest BIOS.

The real fix is to not use that system as a gaming PC and get a tower system with about a 300+ watt PSU in it if you want a gaming setup.

 

[Wolfshadw]

I would note that the PCI-Ex16 expansion slot in this system is limited to 25 watts. Even with a GT 1030 (max consumption ~30 watts), under load, you'll experience system crashes.

No point in even trying to get this system up and running as a gaming system.

-Wolf sends

 

[Helpmeplease345]

I would note that the PCI-Ex16 expansion slot in this system is limited to 25 watts. Even with a GT 1030 (max consumption ~30 watts), under load, you'll experience system crashes.

No point in even trying to get this system up and running as a gaming system.

-Wolf sends

Thanks so much for warning me. You probably saved me so much money I appreciate it !