Question PCI Express compatibility ?

[elric132]

Hello all.

I have an older CPU & motherboard (i7-6700 & Thimphu motherboard). I had an "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745 4gb Graphics Card" which met my needs 99% of the time until it burned out. Looking for an inexpensive replacement. The motherboard has:

• 1 PCI Express x16 (Gen3.0)
• 1 PCI Express x1 (Gen3.0)

Some of the GPUs I'm looking at have PCI Express 4.0 x16. I assume such a card will run(that is, be backwards compatible) but not offer me it's maximum benefit.

Am I correct? Is there anything else I need to be aware of?

Thank you!


EDIT: First, thank you all for your responses.

To answer a few questions.

I will almost certainly be buying used. Exactly which card will depend on price & availability. Among the most likely candidates are the gtx 10xx series. But a gtx 16xx, rtx 20xx, or even a gtx 9xx are possible depending on the details.

My current PSU has total wattage: 500 W external power adapter (100V-240V). I will need to open the tower up to get the exact model and wiring. I'll be back w/ that later.

But I can do one better. A link to the original machine is below. It has been modified though. For instance I added a 1 TB SSD drive.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05269153

 

[Aeacus]

Some of the GPUs I'm looking at have PCI Express 4.0 x16. I assume such a card will run(that is, be backwards compatible) but not offer me it's maximum benefit.

Am I correct?

Yes. However, i get a feeling that you think performance loss to be far greater than it actually is.

In reality, performance drop is negligible ~1%.

Source: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/nvidia-geforce-rtx-3080-pci-express-scaling/27.html

Is there anything else I need to be aware of?

PSU. Namely PSU build quality and wattage capacity. Also PCI-E power cables, since many modern GPUs need additional power from GPUs.

To make it simple: PSU make and model (or part number) is? Also, how old the PSU is, and was the PSU bought new or used/refurbished?
So, that i can look up what you have and tell which GPUs are suited for it. Or if you need to replace PSU as well.

 

[zinkles]

yes its backwards compatible and will work.

whats your PSU make and model? it should be considered as well, since your card could need a higher wattage than the PSU can supply

 

[SkyNetRising]

I had an "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745 4gb Graphics Card" which met my needs 99% of the time until it burned out. Looking for an inexpensive replacement.

What is your gpu upgrade budget?
GT 1030 would be appropriate replacement.
GTX 1050 also - a bit more expensive.

 

[synoptic12]

As SkyNetRising advised: GT1030 or GTX1050. The GT1030 should be purchased with the DDR5 not DDR4. The DDR5 is twice as fast. However the GT1030 DDR4 would suffice. The GTX1050 is better and the GTX1050ti is even better, yet more costly. You have 3.0 so all shall be compatible.
* Use the:

• 1 PCI Express x16 (Gen3.0) slot.

 

[elric132]

Yes. However, i get a feeling that you think performance loss to be far greater than it actually is.

In reality, performance drop is negligible ~1%.

Source: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/nvidia-geforce-rtx-3080-pci-express-scaling/27.html


PSU. Namely PSU build quality and wattage capacity. Also PCI-E power cables, since many modern GPUs need additional power from GPUs.

To make it simple: PSU make and model (or part number) is? Also, how old the PSU is, and was the PSU bought new or used/refurbished?
So, that i can look up what you have and tell which GPUs are suited for it. Or if you need to replace PSU as well.

Hello.

Sorry, it's been a bit.


You asked about the power supply. It's the OEM
HP 746177-002 Power Supply - IPS, ATX, Picolit, 500W, EStarBronze, 5Vsb/4A

The most likely video cards I'm looking at are the

Yes. However, i get a feeling that you think performance loss to be far greater than it actually is.

In reality, performance drop is negligible ~1%.

Source: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/nvidia-geforce-rtx-3080-pci-express-scaling/27.html


PSU. Namely PSU build quality and wattage capacity. Also PCI-E power cables, since many modern GPUs need additional power from GPUs.

To make it simple: PSU make and model (or part number) is? Also, how old the PSU is, and was the PSU bought new or used/refurbished?
So, that i can look up what you have and tell which GPUs are suited for it. Or if you need to replace PSU as well.

Hello.

Sorry, it's been a bit.

You asked about the power supply. It's the OEM
HP 746177-002 Power Supply - IPS, ATX, Picolit, 500W, EStarBronze, 5Vsb/4A

The most likely video cards I'm looking at are the GTX 10xx or 16xx series.

Thank you.

 

[Aeacus]

You asked about the power supply. It's the OEM
HP 746177-002 Power Supply - IPS, ATX, Picolit, 500W, EStarBronze, 5Vsb/4A

It does have PCI-E power cables, one 6-pin and another 6+2-pin (8-pin), so, you don't need to go with GTX 10xx series, but instead can go with GTX 16xx series GPU. Also, it's +12V rails (it has 4 of them) are at minimum rated for 144W, so, 120W GPU will do just fine.

That being said, you can look towards any GTX 1660, GTX 1660 Super and GTX 1660 Ti GPU,
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/video-card/#sort=price&c=439,450,438&page=1

All those GTX 166x GPUs require one 8-pin PCI-E power connector, which your PSU does have. Now, there could be some GTX 1660 series GPUs that may have 6-pin PCI-E power connector but i can't recall any from the top of my head. I'm personally using GTX 1660 Ti (MSI Gaming X version) and it requires 8-pin PCI-E power connector.

Performance wise, GTX 1660 is weakest, then comes GTX 1660 Super and best of the three is GTX 1660 Ti.
If you go with GTX 1660 Ti, performance uplift from your GTX 745 is this,
GPU comparison: https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-745-OEM-vs-Nvidia-GTX-1660-Ti/2638vs4037

But if you do not have enough money for GTX 1660 series GPUs, you can look towards GTX 1650 G6,
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/video-card/#sort=price&c=500,476

Whereby performance uplift will be less, but still considerable amount,
GPU comparison: https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-745-OEM-vs-Nvidia-GTX-1650/2638vs4039

 

[elric132]

It does have PCI-E power cables, one 6-pin and another 6+2-pin (8-pin), so, you don't need to go with GTX 10xx series, but instead can go with GTX 16xx series GPU. Also, it's +12V rails (it has 4 of them) are at minimum rated for 144W, so, 120W GPU will do just fine.

That being said, you can look towards any GTX 1660, GTX 1660 Super and GTX 1660 Ti GPU,
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/video-card/#sort=price&c=439,450,438&page=1

All those GTX 166x GPUs require one 8-pin PCI-E power connector, which your PSU does have. Now, there could be some GTX 1660 series GPUs that may have 6-pin PCI-E power connector but i can't recall any from the top of my head. I'm personally using GTX 1660 Ti (MSI Gaming X version) and it requires 8-pin PCI-E power connector.

Performance wise, GTX 1660 is weakest, then comes GTX 1660 Super and best of the three is GTX 1660 Ti.
If you go with GTX 1660 Ti, performance uplift from your GTX 745 is this,
GPU comparison: https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-745-OEM-vs-Nvidia-GTX-1660-Ti/2638vs4037

But if you do not have enough money for GTX 1660 series GPUs, you can look towards GTX 1650 G6,
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/video-card/#sort=price&c=500,476

Whereby performance uplift will be less, but still considerable amount,
GPU comparison: https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-745-OEM-vs-Nvidia-GTX-1650/2638vs4039

Hello again.

Sorry to keep bothering you, but I have yet to pull the trigger and I have a couple of more questions for you.

1) I am seeing some NVidia RTX 20xx cards selling for prices comparable to the GTX 16xx cards. If I can get a newer, slightly more powerful GPU for the same price it seems like a good idea. Do these present any compatibility problems you would be aware of?

2) I was avoiding AMD video cards because of what may be an old technology issue I'm remembering, the G-Sync/Free Sync. Is this still an issue? I'm using an approximately 2 year old LG Nvidia G-Sync monitor. The AMD RX 590 & the AMD RX 5700 seem to be roughly comparable to the GTX 16xx & RTX 20xx cards with competitive prices.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Aeacus]

1) I am seeing some NVidia RTX 20xx cards selling for prices comparable to the GTX 16xx cards. If I can get a newer, slightly more powerful GPU for the same price it seems like a good idea. Do these present any compatibility problems you would be aware of?

GTX 1660 Ti is 120W GPU and would do fine with 500W PSU.
RTX 2060 is 160W GPU and i, personally, would use 650W PSU with it, just to be safe.
RTX 2060 Super is 175W.
RTX 2070 is also 175W.
RTX 2070 Super is 215W, where 500W PSU is a solid No.

If you want something better than GTX 1660 Ti, then i suggest RTX 4060 which is 115W and equal to the performance of RTX 2070 Super, while costing considerably less than RTX 20-series,
comparison: https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-RTX-2070S-Super-vs-Nvidia-RTX-4060/4048vs4150
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/video-card/#c=552&sort=price&page=1

the G-Sync/Free Sync. Is this still an issue?

Not an issue anymore.

Latest info regarding G-Sync vs Freesync;

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQdo67SjIHk

 

[elric132]

GTX 1660 Ti is 120W GPU and would do fine with 500W PSU.
RTX 2060 is 160W GPU and i, personally, would use 650W PSU with it, just to be safe.
RTX 2060 Super is 175W.
RTX 2070 is also 175W.
RTX 2070 Super is 215W, where 500W PSU is a solid No.

If you want something better than GTX 1660 Ti, then i suggest RTX 4060 which is 115W and equal to the performance of RTX 2070 Super, while costing considerably less than RTX 20-series,
comparison: https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-RTX-2070S-Super-vs-Nvidia-RTX-4060/4048vs4150
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/video-card/#c=552&sort=price&page=1


Not an issue anymore.

Latest info regarding G-Sync vs Freesync;

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQdo67SjIHk

Just a conclusion for you all. I ended up getting a used GTX 1660 (just the vanilla model, not super or ti) for 94$ which included shipping & tax(& free return shipping if there is a problem).

Thanks again for everyone's assistance & most especially Aeacus for the extra support.