Power Consumption is one of the most important factors that many people take into account when buying a graphics card. Almost all powerful gaming graphics cards require external power from the power supply in addition to the power supplied by the PCI Express x16 slot. These gaming graphics cards require 6-pin or 8-pin PCI-E power connectors from the PSU for running.
Most Mid-range graphics cards use a 6-pin PCI-E connector and high-end graphics cards use one 8-pin or both 6-pin and 8-pin or two 8-pin PCI-E power connectors. You need a good and powerful power supply for graphics cards that need external power from the PSU. Also, the PSU you are buying should have a sufficient number of 6-pin and 8-pin PCI Express power connectors. This can be a problem for some people who don’t want to change their power supply but want a good powerful graphics card that can run the latest games at 1080p and does not require external power from the PSU. There are some mid-range graphics cards available in the market that are quite powerful and they do not need any external power connector from the power supply. Here in this post, I am going to provide you with a list of such gaming graphics cards with no external power connector. All these below-mentioned graphics cards have a power consumption of 75 Watt or lower because they draw their power from the motherboard PCI-E x16 slot only that can provide a maximum of 75W of power.
Also Check out: Best Single Slot Graphics Cards for Gaming
Best Low Power Gaming Graphics Cards (75W GPU)
Here are the best low-power GPUs from NVIDIA and AMD and they do not require external power connectors from the PSU. These graphics cards have lower power consumption, are powerful, and are quite affordable.
MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti GAMING OC 2GB GDDR5
GeForce GTX 750 Ti is a very popular mid-range graphics card. It might be a little older because of the launch of a newer and faster GTX 1050 Ti graphics card but it still packs some punch and can run most of the games at 1080p. GTX 750 Ti is based on the Maxwell GPU architecture. Here we have the MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti GAMING OC graphics card that comes with 2GB GDDR5 memory.
This GTX 750Ti card from MSI is overclocked to achieve greater performance in games. It comes with a TWIN FROZR Dual Fans cooling system that keeps the card temperature under control even during continuous gaming. Also, the two fans are very silent and they are almost unhearable at low loads. It is a powerful card and you can play most of the games on high settings with playable frame rates. The maximum power consumption of this card is 60 Watts and it needs a good 400W PSU for its working. For connectivity, it includes VGA, DVI, and HDMI ports at the rear.
| MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti GAMING OC Specifications | |
| CUDA Cores | 640 |
| GPU Clock | 1163 MHz / 1085 MHz (OC Mode) |
| Memory Clock | 5400 MHz |
| Memory Size | 2 GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Interface | 128-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.4 |
| Output Ports | VGA, DVI, HDMI |
Buy MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti GAMING OC
ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5
GeForce GT 1030 is an entry-level budget graphics card from Nvidia. It is a newer graphics card in the GeForce 10 series lineup and is based on the Pascal GPU architecture. The card comes with 384 CUDA Cores and 2GB GDDR5 memory. This graphics card is more powerful than the integrated graphics solution and is suitable for eSports gaming, playing older and mid-level games, video editing, watching 4K movies or 4K displays, and running normal graphics applications and software.
Here we have the ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 Low Profile Graphics Card that has got single-slot design. The card has a small single fan and heatsink, enough to keep its temperature under normal levels. For connectivity, the card comes with DVI and HDMI display connectors. The card has a maximum power consumption of 30W only and it does not need any additional power connectors from the PSU. The card requires only a 300W PSU for its working. At the rear, you can find DVI and HDMI ports for connectivity. So if you are looking for the latest low-end budget graphics card under 100 dollars with much lower power consumption then this card will not disappoint you.
Check out: Best GT 1030 Graphics Cards for Gaming & Work
| ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 Specifications | |
| CUDA Cores | 384 |
| GPU Clock | 1227 / 1468 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 6000 MHz |
| Memory Size | 2 GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Interface | 64-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.5 |
| Output Ports | DVI, HDMI |
Buy Zotac GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5
MSI GeForce GTX 1050 2G OC
GeForce GTX 1050 is a budget mid-range graphics card and is more powerful than GTX 750 Ti. GTX 1050 is based on the latest Pascal GPU architecture from Nvidia. Here we have MSI GeForce GTX 1050 2G OC that comes with 2GB GDDR5 memory and is overclocked for better performance.
MSI GeForce GTX 1050 2G OC is pretty compact in size and it comes with a single fan and heatsink. It does have a dual-slot design but due to its shorter PCB length, it may fit into mini-ITX cases. It can let you play the latest games on medium-high settings and older games at ultra settings at 1080p resolution. This card consumes 75 Watts of power and needs a good 300W power supply for its operation. Connectivity options include DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort. You can get this amazing budget graphics card for over 100 dollars.
| MSI GeForce GTX 1050 2G OC Specifications | |
| CUDA Cores | 640 |
| GPU Clock | 1518 MHz / 1404 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 7008 MHz |
| Memory Size | 2 GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Interface | 128-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.5 |
| Output Ports | DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort |
Buy MSI GeForce GTX 1050 OC 2GB GDDR5
Other GeForce GTX 1050 Recommendations:
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini is one of the best graphics cards that does not require external power from the PSU. The card is based on the Pascal GPU architecture and comes with 4GB GDDR5 memory. It is also a small form factor compact graphics card that can fit in almost all of the mini-ITX cases. The card comes with a single 90mm fan cooling and has a dual-slot design.
This is a powerful graphics card and can run the latest games on high graphics settings at 1080p with comfortable frame rates. The card has a power consumption of 75W and requires only a 300W PSU for its working. Connectivity options include DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort.
P.S. – You can also get the overclocked edition of this GTX 1050 Ti card which is the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti OC Edition. It has dual fans, higher frequencies, and slightly better performance without the need for external power from the PSU.
| ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini Specifications | |
| CUDA Cores | 768 |
| GPU Clock | 1303 / 1417 MHz (Base / Boost) |
| Memory Clock | 7 GHz |
| Memory Size | 4GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Interface | 128-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.5 |
| Output Ports | DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort |
Buy Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini
MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GT OC
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is the best mid-range graphics card that you can get for your gaming PC. GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is around 30% faster than the plain GTX 1050 and the advantage of extra 128 CUDA Cores does make a difference in the performance of GTX 1050 Ti. Generally, GTX 1050 Ti requires a PCI-E power connector from the PSU but this version of GTX 1050 Ti from MSI draws all its power from the PCI-Express x16 slot and it does not need any external power connector.
MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GT OC is a pre-overclocked card that comes with 4GB GDDR5 video memory. The card has a dual-fan thermal design and requires two slots for its accommodation. It is built on the latest Pascal GPU architecture from Nvidia and with this card, you can play the latest games on high settings at 1080p. The maximum power consumption or TDP of this card is 75W and it requires only a good 300W PSU. It has got DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort as display ports or connectors.
| MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GT OC Specifications | |
| CUDA Cores | 768 |
| GPU Clock | 1455 MHz / 1341 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 7008 MHz |
| Memory Size | 4 GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Interface | 128-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.5 |
| Output Ports | DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort |
Buy MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GT OC
Other GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Recommendations:
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4G
[One of the Fastest Low Power Graphics Cards, Dual Fan Cooling]
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4G is one of the best low-power graphics cards that does not require an external PCI-E power connector. It is also the fastest graphics card on this list here. GTX 1650 is a budget GTX 16 series graphics card and is built on the Turing GPU architecture. The card comes with 896 CUDA Cores and 4GB GDDR5 memory having a 128-bit interface. This card is 1.7X times better than the GTX 1050 and offers 30% more performance than the GTX 1050 Ti. It can run your modern AAA titles at very high graphics settings at 1080p with comfortable frame rates.
It is an OC edition card that comes with a mild overclock and has a GPU Boost clock of 1710 MHz, which is 45MHz higher than the reference. For cooling, it employs WINDFORCE 2X Cooling System that comes with dual alternate spinning fans (with a unique blade design) to reduce turbulent airflow and allow smoother airflow for better heat dissipation and thus cooling performance. Also, the 3D active fan feature of the card provides semi-passive cooling for much quieter operation. During low GU load or idle, the fans do not spin, and when a certain GPU temperature limit is crossed, they turn on automatically to keep the card cool. The card has a maximum power consumption of 75 Watts and requires a 300W PSU only. The display connectivity options at the rear include two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort.
| Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4G Specifications | |
| CUDA Cores | 896 |
| GPU Clock | 1710 MHz (Boost) |
| Memory Clock | 8002 MHz |
| Memory Size | 4GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Interface | 128-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 |
| PCI-E Power Connector | NA |
| Output Ports | DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0b x 2 |
Buy Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4G
ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 AMP GDDR6
[Slightly Faster than GTX 1650 GDDR5, Super Compact, Dual Fan]
It is the GDDR6 version of the GTX 1650 card and is unarguably the fastest low-power graphics card that you can find. The card uses 4GB GDDR6 memory (128-bit) running at 12Gbps, which is 4Gbps faster than the GDDR5 memory used in the older GTX 1650 cards. The GDDR6 GTX 1650 is around 8% to 9% faster than the GDDR5 GTX 1650 on average. ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 AMP GDDR6 is a factory overclocked card having a GPU Boost clock speed of 1650 MHz, which is 60 MHz higher than the reference card. It is also a super compact card, only 162.4mm in length, and can fit in all SFF or mini-ITX cases (except slim low-profile cases) easily. For cooling, the card comes with an aluminum heatsink and dual 70mm static pressure optimized fans for delivering better cooling performance.
It is a dual-slot card, which means you need to have expansion slots to fit it in your case. The card does not require an external PCIe power connector and draws the power from the PCIe x16 slot only. It has a maximum power consumption of 75W and requires a 350W PSU for its working. Connectivity options include HDMI, DVI-D, and DisplayPort. Using the Zotac Firestorm Utility, you can overclock this card a little further, fine-tune settings, adjust fan speed, and monitor the temperature.
| ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 AMP GDDR6 Specifications | |
| CUDA Cores | 896 |
| GPU Clock | 1650 MHz Boost |
| Memory Clock | 12Gbps |
| Memory Size | 4GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Interface | 128-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 |
| PCI-E Connector | NA |
| Output Ports | DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0b, DVI-D |
Buy ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 AMP GDDR6
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 OC Edition 6GB GDDR6
[Most Powerful PCI-E x16 Slot Power Card, Dual Fan Cooling, Compact Size, PCIe 4.0 Support, Factory Overclocked]
GeForce RTX 3050 6GB from Nvidia is the most powerful graphics card that does not require supplementary 6-pin/8-pin PCI-E power connectors. Its maximum power consumption or TGP is 70 Watts only. The card is based on the Ampere GPU architecture and is built on the 8nm manufacturing process from Samsung. The card uses the GA107 chip and comes with 2304 CUDA Cores, 18 RT Cores, and 72 Tensor Cores. The card comes with 6GB GDDR6 memory that has a 96-bit interface and runs at a speed of 14Gbps. The card is around 30% faster than the RX 6500 XT and more than 50 percent powerful than the GTX 1650.
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 OC Edition 6GB GDDR6 is one of the best RTX 3050 6GB custom models. It is an overclocked edition card that comes with a GPU Boost Clock of 1507 MHz, 37 MHz more than the reference. In OC mode using the Asus GPU Tweak III software, the GPU Boost Clock can be set to 1537 MHz (+67 MHz more than reference). The card is cooled by an aluminum heatsink and two fans that are IP5X dust-resistant. The card is pretty compact and can fit in almost all mini-ITX and small form factor (SFF) PC Cases. It measures 201mm in length and has a dual-slot design. Display connectivity options include one HDMI 2.1 port, one DisplayPort 1.4a port, and one DVI-D port for older monitors.
| ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 OC Edition 6GB GDDR6 Specifications | |
| CUDA Cores | 2304 |
| GPU Clock | 1507 MHz Boost |
| Memory Clock | 14 Gbps |
| Memory Size | 6GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Interface | 96-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 4.0 (x8) |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 |
| PCI-E Power Connector | None |
| Output Ports | HDMI 2.1 x 1, DisplayPort 1.4a x 1, DVI-D x 1 |
Buy ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 OC Edition 6GB GDDR6
Gigabyte Radeon RX 460 WINDFORCE OC 4G
If you are looking for a powerful AMD graphics card with no external power then Radeon RX 460 is the best in the business. Radeon RX 460 is unarguably the best budget mid-range graphics card in my opinion because it offers the best value for money. The card is relatively cheaper than the cards in this list and it offers great performance in its segment. Radeon RX 460 is faster than GTX 750 Ti and has performance almost equal to that of GTX 1050.
Here we have Gigabyte Radeon RX460 WINDFORCE OC 4G graphics card that comes with 896 Stream Processors and 4 GB GDDR5 VRAM. The card has dual fans and a dual-slot design. The WINDFORCE 2X cooling system with dual fans is very quiet and it does a great job of keeping the graphics card temperature down. This is an overclocked version of the card which means you will get slightly better performance than the stock RX 460. Gigabyte Radeon RX460 can run the latest games on medium-high settings and you can play medium-level or older games at high/ultra settings at 1080p. The maximum power consumption of this card is less than 75W and it requires a 350W power supply for its working. Connectivity options include DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort.
| Gigabyte Radeon RX460 WINDFORCE OC 4G Specifications | |
| Stream Processors | 896 |
| GPU Clock | 1212 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 7000 MHz |
| Memory Size | 4GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Interface | 128-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.5 |
| Output Ports | DVI, HDMI, Display Port |
Buy Gigabyte Radeon RX460 WINDFORCE OC 4G
Gigabyte Radeon RX 550 Gaming OC 2G
Radeon RX 550 is a budget graphics card from AMD in the Radeon RX 500 graphics card series lineup. The card is built on the Polaris GPU architecture from AMD and comes with 512 Stream Processors. This card is suitable for playing mid-level and older games on decent graphics settings and you can play eSports titles on high settings. You may also be able to play some of the latest games like Overwatch on low-medium settings on this card. It is a fairly powerful card for the price and has a maximum power consumption of only 50 Watts.
Here we have Gigabyte Radeon RX 550 Gaming OC 2G that comes with 2GB GDDR5 memory. It is an overclocked Radeon RX 550 graphics card and it comes with WINDFORCE 2X Cooling System with Dual 90mm Blade Fans. The card does not require external power from the PSU and needs only a good 400W power supply for its working. The card also supports major features like DirectX 12, Vulkan, FreeSync 2, Relive Capture, Hardware-accelerated H.265 encode/decode, and One-click Super Overclocking. Also, it is very affordable, and you can get this graphics card for under 100 dollars only. Overall it is a great card for users who want to upgrade from integrated graphics and need something powerful and affordable. Display connectors include DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort at the rear.
Note: If you are unable to find this card then you can also opt for the single fan variant of this card which is Gigabyte Radeon RX 550 D5 2G
Check out: Best RX 550 Cards for eSports Gaming & HTPC
| Gigabyte Radeon RX 550 Gaming OC 2G Specifications | |
| Stream Processors | 512 |
| GPU Clock | 1206 / 1219 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 7000 MHz |
| Memory Size | 2 GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Interface | 128-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.5 |
| Output Ports | DVI, HDMI, DP |
Buy Gigabyte Radeon RX 550 Gaming OC 2G
MSI Radeon RX 560 AERO ITX 4G OC
This is one of the most powerful graphics cards that does not need external power from the PSU. MSI Radeon RX 560 AERO ITX 4G OC is a compact Radeon RX 560 graphics card that comes with 1024 Stream Processors and 4GB GDDR5 memory. Radeon RX 560 is the successor of the Radeon RX 460 graphics card and is also based on the Polaris GPU architecture. This is an OC or Overclocked version which means it has better performance than the reference Radeon RX 560 graphics card having stock frequencies. It is a powerful mid-range graphics card and you can play the latest games on medium to high settings at 1080p with playable frame rates (50-60FPS). This card can dominate eSports gaming titles and can run older games or mid-level games on the highest settings.
Major features of this card include CrossFire multi-GPU support, AMD Eyefinity, AMD FreeSync, DirectX12 / OpenGL 4.5 / Vulkan SPI support, and high-end Military Class 4 components for longer life and stability. To power this card, you only need a good 400W PSU. The connectivity options in the card include DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort.
| MSI Radeon RX 560 AERO ITX 4G OC Specifications | |
| Stream Processors | 1024 |
| GPU Clock | 1196 GHz |
| Memory Clock | 7000 MHz |
| Memory Size | 4 GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Interface | 128-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 3.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.5 |
| Output Ports | DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort |
Buy MSI Radeon RX 560 AERO ITX 4GB GDDR5
Other Radeon RX 560 Recommendations:
XFX SPEEDSTER SWFT105 RADEON RX 6400
[Most Powerful Low Power AMD Graphics Card, SFF Design, Very Power Efficient]
Radeon RX 6400 is the most powerful low-power AMD graphics card that does not require a supplementary PCIe power connector from the power supply. The card is around 15% faster than GTX 1650 at 1080p gaming. RX 6400 is the smallest card in AMD’s Radeon RX 6000 graphics card series built on the RDNA 2 GPU architecture. The card sits below the Radeon RX 6500 and uses the same Navi 24 GPU but in a cut-down form. The card is built on the smaller 6nm manufacturing process and comes with 768 Stream Processors and 4GB GDDR6 memory having a 64-bit interface. The card supports PCI Express 4.0 but the PCIe lanes are limited to x4 only. The power consumption of the card is rated at 53W only which is among the lowest in the segment.
Here we have XFX SPEEDSTER SWFT105 RADEON RX 6400 which is a single-slot low-profile RX 6400 card. It is a small form factor graphics card and can be used in mini-ITX and low-profile or slim PC Cases without any issues. For cooling, the card uses a sleek aluminum heatsink with a single fan. It is the only low-profile single-slot RX 6400 model where the shroud covers the entire PCB area of the card and this gives the PCB and components protection during handling. The card has a GPU Boost Clock of 2321 MHz which is the same as the reference RX 6400. The display outputs on the card include one HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort 1.4a port.
| XFX SPEEDSTER SWFT105 RADEON RX 6400 Specifications | |
| Stream Processors | 768 |
| GPU Clock | 2321 MHz Boost |
| Memory Clock | 16 Gbps |
| Memory Size | 4GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Interface | 64-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 4.0 (x4) |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 |
| Output Ports | HDMI 2.1 x 1, DisplayPort 1.4 x 1 |
Buy XFX SPEEDSTER SWFT105 RADEON RX 6400
See also: Best Small Form Factor Graphics Cards for Mini-ITX cases
Final Words
In the end, I would like to say if you are looking for a good gaming graphics card without external power then you cannot find anything better than the ones mentioned above. These graphics cards draw all their power from the PCI Express x16 graphics card slot and need no more than a 400W power supply for their work. They offer good performance in games and they are not expensive either. If you have any queries regarding graphics cards then you can ask me by leaving a comment below.
(*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you choose to purchase through the links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!)
“At the end I would to say if you are looking for some good gaming graphics card without external power then you cannot find anything better than the ones mentioned above. ”
Yes, you can find better and I did. I have to Zotac GTX 1050 Ti OC Edition which has no external power connector and 1392 Base/1506 Boost core speeds and 7ghz memory. It was unbeatable when it was first released and still ranks high among overclocked GTX 1050 Ti cards either with or without an external power connector.
Great to know that and i will include this card in the list.
Hello sir, I will like to know if the my motherboard GIGABYTE G31M-S2L first edition will be able to run a GTX 1650 4 GDDR5 or GDDR6. I don’t have funds to make a complete upgrade at the moment so I am concentrating first on the graphic card. I know I can get a cheap 750ti or 1050ti or even gt 1030, but I need an upgrade that will still be relevant for intensive gaming for the next 8 years, especially with PS 5 around the corner. And by the way I can afford higher than that GTX 1650.
What processor do you have?
Hello, thanks for your reply of my query about my motherboard and whether it can take the GTX 1650 4gb Gddr5 or Gddr6. My processor is pentium dual core E2200 overclocked to 2.85. My current monitor resolution is 1280 x 1084 and I do not intend to game higher than that on this set up until I can get the rest of my upgrades. So will the motherboard be able to run it? Will I need to update bios? By the way I am running on 4gb of system ram
I think it should fine. However, if you face any issue then you may have to update the BIOS.
I agree highly, but most people that can’t have external power for their graphics card will most likely have a computer that isn’t top notch quality, meaning that they are probably looking for something that isn’t too expensive, because there is no point wasting money on a graphics card that deserves to be in a gaming pc. Moreover, you’re still right, that is better than the ones in the list. Many Thanks.
I’m trying to build a PC on a budget I have something planned but I don’t know what card I can fit on my crappy motherboard can you help me with what 4gb card I can fit on a Q87 motherboard
I suggest you to go for Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini. You can also use any other GeForce GTX 1050 Ti card from other brands.
Can you please suggest me a graphics card to buy?
I have 4 GB of RAM, Intel E7400 CPU @ 2.8 GHz, 720p Monitor @ 60 Hz Refresh Rate with only VGA port, Intel DG31PR motherboard.
I would like to play Civilization VI, Cities: Skylines, Anno 2205 at medium settings @ 30 fps or atleast playable rates.
I suggest you to go for ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Mini.
With a Core 2 Duo, I’d be seriously concerned about being able to take cards newer then a GTX5xx series. The GTX 10 series is very unlikely to post. Maybe try a Palit GTX460 because I know that one has a VGA port or it’s definitely time to get a newer CPU and motherboard.
Can you please suggest me a graphics card to buy that can draw power from the motherboard itself?
I have 4 GB of RAM, Intel E7400 CPU @ 2.8 GHz, 720p Monitor @ 60 Hz Refresh Rate with only VGA port, Intel DG31PR motherboard.
I would like to play Civilization VI, Cities: Skylines, Anno 2205 at medium settings @ 30 fps or atleast playable rates.
But it does not have VGA port. What is the remedy?
You can use DVI to VGA adapter for VGA port.
Some GTX 750TI (ASUS, MSI) have VGA port.
Is 2 GB VRAM and 4GB RAM sufficient for me to play Civilization VI and Anno 2205? Or should I go for 1050ti (4GB VRAM)? I have a 720p monitor. If 2 GB is sufficient, should I go for GT 1030? I expect to play the games at 24 fps.
Can my E7400 @ 2.8 GHz CPU handle the much faster GTX 1050 or GTX 1050ti and the above mentioned games? Will my CPU be a bottleneck?
The minimum requirement for Cities: Skylines is a Core 2 Duo CPU @ 3.0 GHz. So, can I play the game at playable rates?
The minimum requirement for Civilization VI is Intel i3 CPU @ 2.5 GHz. So, can I play the game at playable rates?
The minimum requirement for Anno 2205 is Intel i5 CPU @ 2.6 GHz. So, can I play the game at playable rates?
Thank you very much for replying. I also apologise for troubling you a bit.
If you are on budget then GeForce GT 1030 would be fine for your gaming needs. Yes you can play these games at medium settings at 720p with playable frame rates on your PC using GT 1030. For latest games your CPU can be a bottleneck for GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti but that depends on the game too. You can check out some of the best GT 1030 cards here https://graphicscardhub.com/best-geforce-gt-1030/.
My specs are mobo: MSI A68HM-E33 V2, proc: AMD A8-7650K, ram: 4GB. What’s your recommendation on which GPU I should get that can play the latest games atleast in mid settings
I suggest you to go for ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini.
Good day to you! Good Sir,I am trying to upgrade my very old prebuilt Computer. So can my CPU( Intel core 2 duo E7400 @2.8 GHz) handle a Gigabyte Radeon RX 460 Windforce Oc 4G.
My other specs are :
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L
PSU: FRONTIER (UNBRANDED) 450W
RAM: 2GB( Unbranded, but plan to change it to 4Gb(2×2gb) or 8Gb(4×4Gb)
Yes it can handle Gigabyte Radeon RX 460 Windforce Oc 4G but you will lose out some performance in games that are more CPU intensive.
Hello thanks for the Informations but
I need your Help in my old pc on what maximum GPU needed so that it will not be bottleneck.
Mobo: GA-H61MA-D2V LGA 1155
processor : i3 2nd gen
4gb RAM
Thanks alot 🙂
If suggest you to go for ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Mini or ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 if you are on tight budget.
ok OK 🙂
thanks for the info
You need a DVI to VGA cable converter. The lowest modern card is a GeForce GT 1030 and your power supply has to be atleast 300 watts but 333 watts is also universally benchmarked. You will degrade your power supply’s life-cycle and it will not be a good build. It will work but you don’t want to go that low. 350 watts is more realistic. Now, for a startup video gaming PC, you should be starting, with a 400 watts power supply. “Just buy a PlayStation 4 that’s 4x-10x better.”
Hello there. I recently came across a hp compaq 6200 pro MT. I wanted to know the strongest gpu I can runwith that set-up? It comes with a 320watt psu that cannot be upgraded. I was wanting throw in a 1050 ti since it’s about the most I believe it can handle while only drawing power from the PCI Express x16 slot. Which is all this model is able to due ( no type of extra connectors)(ie. 6 pin or such)being supported. I don;t want to make any other purchases besides the graphics card. Please help!
The most powerful graphics card that you can use with hp compaq 6200 pro MT without PSU upgrade is GTX 1050 Ti. I suggest you to go with ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini as it does not require external power connector and needs a 300W PSU only.
I forgot to mention that I saw a site that states that it works but you would then need to flash the bios of the cpu to make this work.
No you don’t need to flash anything.
Thanks so much for the help!!!
sir, I have a i3 540 & 6 gb ddr3 ram. which gpu should I buy?
I suggest you to go for Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 Mini
Dear Mr. Verma. Could you recommend some older cards that offer at least 2 times the power of the HD4400 integrated graphics I currently have in my Optiplex 3020 tower, don’t require external power and are nvidia based. Trying to get by on under $40 used on ebay. Thanks a bunch. William.
Hello William,
The cheapest card you can get is the GeForce GT 710 2GB DDR3 (MSI/Zotac/Asus) but if you can extend your budget a bit more then it is better to go for Gigabyte GeForce GT 730 2GB GDDR5.
https://graphicscardhub.com/best-graphics-card-under-50/
https://graphicscardhub.com/best-graphics-card-under-100/
Thank you Mr. Verma. Picked up a used GT 730 1GB DDR5 unit off ebay for $30 – should be a perfect match for my limited needs.
Great to hear that.
Hi, an interesting article, thanks. I have a Dell Optiplex i5 9010 which is a small form factor with two low profile slots and a 240 watt power supply that can’t be upgraded. Can you recommend an economical 2GB graphics card for general gaming such as Zwift, which is a multiplayer cycling trainer programme. It can be a bit power hungry due to the number of simultaneous players each with non-screen renderings. Zwift recommend GTX 650 but that appears to ned too much power, I’ve been thinking about something like a passive GT710, but think that it might struggle. Thanks in advance.
Hello,
I suggest you to go for GT 1030 as it would be perfect for your work and it is even better than GTX 650. The card has lower power consumption (30 Watt on average) and will run fine with your power supply. Also, get the GDDR5 version of this card because DDR4 variant is half as fast of the GDDR5 one. My personal recommendation is Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G and you check here for more https://graphicscardhub.com/best-geforce-gt-1030/.
Do not buy the RX 590 for Zwift. The software have issues with this graphic card. I have one and it is really ugly. See details and photos of the issue here : https://forums.zwift.com/t/no-4k-resolution-with-amd-rx590-8gb/34398
Hope that helps (and not to late – at least maybe for others who are wondering about the same thing…)
What GPU should I get I have a budget of 100 Canadian Dollars
Specs
CPU: Intel Core i5-7400 3.00 GHz
RAM: Size: 12 GB
RAM: 12 GB DDR3L 1600 MHz UDIMM
Power Supply: 300 W
Dimensions (cm): 17.5 (W) x 39.79 (H) x 44.28 (D) cm
Dimensions (in) : 6.89 (W) x 15.67 (H) x 17.43 (D) in
I suggest you to get GeForce GT 1030 GDDR5. It may cost you a tad above 100 CAD but is worth the price, and there is no point of getting card below GT 1030 level. Here are some good GT 1030 cards that you can check out https://graphicscardhub.com/best-geforce-gt-1030/
Hello,
I hope that you can help. I have just bought a workstation for my son (it was a good price):
30BK001XUK
Lenovo ThinkStation P320 SFF – Core i7 7700 3.6 GHz – 16 GB – 256 GB SSD.
I have just noticed that it only has a 210W PSU.
I was going to buy an MIS 1050ti graphics card but the specs say that it requires a 300W PSU, even though it appears to only require 75W to power it. It would seem that the PC can provide that.
Would you suggest that I avoid buying one or do you think there’s a chance that it could work or require additional power?
If not, do think there’s a card that would be similar and suitable?
Thanks in advance!
Daniel.
Is this
I think GTX 1050 Ti can work with your current PSU even if it is not a 300W one. Can you please tell that how much current does your PSU have under 12 Volt rail?
Hi Akshat,
Thanks for coming back to me. I am sorry but I am not sure that I understand the question.
I have taken this from the specs sheet:
Nominal Voltage
AC 120/230 V (50/60 Hz)
Power Provided
210 Watt
80 PLUS Certification
80 PLUS Bronze
Okay..
Just to clarify – it is this version of the graphics card:
https://www.msi.com/Graphics-card/GeForce-GTX-1050-Ti-AERO-ITX-4G-OC/Overview
I think you should be fine with it but for total peace of mind if you want to upgrade your PSU then here are some good options https://graphicscardhub.com/tfx-power-supply-psu/
Thank you so much, Akshat.
I might try it and then if it struggles then upgrade the PSU. I think it seems like a fairly straightforward job.
Thanks
Daniel.
Sure you can do that..
I hope you don’t mind a question from someone who isn’t a gamer.
I’ve taken an interest in machine learning. I can rent time on GPUs to run the models I’m experimenting with but I’d rather run them on my own machine. My target box has a 250 watt power supply, but the minimum I see in the cards you reviewed is a requirement for 300.
I’ve looked around and there seems to be a variety of opinions at to whether adding (any) GPU will either a) melt a hole in my motherboard, b) render the box unbootable, or c) it will work because the OEMS all fudge the requirement upward so they don’t get on the wrong side of UL listing.
I know I can handle plugging in a board, but have my doubts about swapping in a higher wattage psu. The box already has HDMI so I don’t need the GPU for any video rendering.
Also the bus interface is PCI Express 2.0. I read that the 3.0 cards are backward compatible.
Should I take a chance and get the Zotac 1030?
Thank you for organizing the article and sharing so much knowledge. I learned a lot.
Hello,
Zotac GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 will run fine on your system with 250W PSU and PCI-E 2.0 x16 slot, but make sure you have sufficient clearance for it in your case. Also make sure to get the GDDR5 variant only as DDR4 version of this card has much lower performance.
Thanks for the prompt response. Also thanks for the bit about the DDR difference. I didn’t know they made variations. I’ll be careful. And I’ll definitely use the link on your review page so you get credit with Amazon.
I am totally baffled. It’s listed as low profile, but dimensions on Amazon are 6.77 x 0.63 x 4.38 in. I though it might be a mistake. I checked the Zotec site and that is how they list it. I looked it up this morning and both the MD1 and the MD2 standard for low profile indicate maximum height is 2.536 in. Pictures of the card do not make me think it is 4.38 high.
It’s an issue since my desktop box is only 4.0 in. I am not adverse to running with the access panel off, or cutting a slot in it, if necessary, but what is your take on this? Did someone at Zotek make a mistake?
I have to say that your passion for this stuff shines through. And it’s obvious that you like to help people. Many, many thanks!
Mike
Hello Mike,
Yes, there is definitely some issue with the card’s dimension on the Zotac site and on Amazon. I have personally seen this card on my friend’s PC, and it is a low profile card with maximum height of around 69mm – 70mm (2.7 inch). So, in my opinion you don’t have to worry about its height.
Hi Sir! I brought a Athlon 200ge with C.A320m-K Pro v14 mobo. with 2×4 gb 2400 ram. I’m on a very tight budget but i need a video card without changing my 400w psu (no six or 8 pins). Any suggested graphics card? I’m looking forward for GT730 2GB GDDR 5, is it compatible with my hardware?
I would rather suggest you to go for GeForce GT 1030 (GDDR5 variant) as it is a much better card, very much affordable and consumes very less power (~35W). It will run fine with your system. My recommendation is Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G or ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5.
thank you! is the brand important? i saw PALiT brand selling near my place, slightly used.
Palit is a good brand so it is safe, but make sure that the GT 1030 card has GDDR5 memory on it and not the DDR4 one.
just wanna share, i saw also the selling gt730 ddr5 i ask the seller that it might be gddr5 with the letter “g” but he sent me pic of the box it is really ddr5 by aFox. is that legit? are ddr5 and gddr5 different?
I have not seen any cards with DDR5 memory. I think the card is GDDR5 only as GT 730 comes with either DDR3 or GDDR5 memory.
Thank you so much for your help! One last thing, I saw used gt1030 cards with 64bit and 128bit. the one i saw cheaper was 64bit which is just 2,000 php (Philippine Peso). Can I still use 64bit in the future? or be able to run some newer games like Resident Evil 2 remake and PUBG? I’m ok with low graphics settings just to play the game.
GT 1030 comes with 64-bit memory only, and yes you can play Resident Evil 2 on it at medium settings.
thank you sir, Akshat! So glad I found this site. More power!
Thanks for your kind words and you are always welcome.
Hi! So we installed MSI Aero RX 560 in an Acer Aspire TC-780 desktop and it crashes some of the games whenever the settings are set to high or maximum. The power supply is rated at 300 W, is this the issue? Thanks.
Yes it could be the issue because RX 560 requires 400W PSU for its proper working. I suggest you to get a good 450W or even 500W PSU to be on the safe side. This will help https://graphicscardhub.com/budget-power-supply-psu/
Thank you! I ordered Acer-specific PSU, from here: ebay.com/itm/NEW-480W-FOR-Acer-Aspire-TC-780-UR12-Power-Supply-REPLACE-50N-13/332978768486?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Let’s see if it works…
Curious I am looking to get a DFI ITOX BE171 motherboard. It has a Amd RX cpu build in and room for up to 16 gig of ddr3 ram. It has integrated graphics but of course its nothing to talk about. Thing is this motherboard uses what looks like a laptop powercord that plugs into the motherboard. Claims it is 12v 100W which isn’t much at all. I have seen alot of fanless compact cards that claim to only use 30w but they usually say they still want 300w or higher power supplies. The motherboard has a slot that the manual says is for upgrading the video card on it. Just wondering what the best card I can get for this will be?
Plan to make a cheap build that will be used to connect to the tv. Plan to use it for some basic stuff like media apps (netflix, hulu, etc) but also would like to do some basic gaming. I want to use this MB because I plan on using an old Xbox case for this PC and having an internal power supply or a large Motherboard would make that rather difficult.
Here is a link to the directions on the board I am looking at:
https://www.dfi.com/Uploads/DownloadCenter/f2a19d74-d0bd-4fe6-81da-cd89f60ea2b2/DFI-BE170-BE171-BE173-Mini-ITX-Manual.pdf
I think MSI GeForce GT 1030 2GH LP OC would be perfect for you (https://graphicscardhub.com/best-passively-cooled-graphics-card/). It is a passive card that has 30W of power consumption. The reason why most manufacturers list 300W PSUs for these cards is because they take into account for the whole system and not that card itself. So, this card can easily run on 250W PSU too if the power consumption of other components is on lower side. Hope this helps!
Hi,
I have a Lenova e32 Workstation with 16gb DDR Ram, 256 SSD, and HP Full HD IPS Moniter,
Lonova Workstation come with Qudero K2000, I want to upgrade GPU, please segguest which GPU we select. (Play some AAA Games & Some 3d, Adobe Application)
Regards
Manoj K Chauhan
I suggest you to go for GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. Here are some of the best ones https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1660-ti/
Hello Akshat, do you know of a GPU that has better performance than the GT 1030 but uses 30W or less? Price is not an issue.
I am afraid there is no such GPU right now. The best option would be Radeon RX 550 which is better than GT 1030 but has TDP of 50W.
hello, I am wondering what psu I should use that is compatible with my case to power a gtx 1660 along with a ryzen 7 2700, 32gb 3000 ddr4 ram, 1 tb hdd. I currently have an HP 690-0013w with a 310w psu and also use a gtx 1050, amd ryzen 5 2400g along with the same 1 tb hdd and 1 module of ddr4 8gb 2666 ram
A good 450W PSU is enough for your new specs. You will be fine with Corsair VS450 too. Also, here are some of the good budget PSUs that you can choose from https://graphicscardhub.com/budget-power-supply-psu/
Sir ., Suggest me a good GPU for HP 8300 elite tower which has only 320 watts psu.
Is this a mini-tower, micro tower or small form factor variant?
Its a convertible microtower
I suggest you to go with Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G. You can check this card at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-geforce-gt-1030/.
Hi Ashkat – I have a Dell Inspiron 3650 with 16GB RAM, Core i7-6700 GPU @3.40 GHz, and currently installed graphics card is the OEM Radeon R7 360. Can you please recommend the best card (in terms of value) for me to upgrade to? I’ve been told it needs to be a short card with under 75W power consumption. Thank you for your help.
Hello Craig, I suggest you to go for ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC. You can check this card at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650/
Thanks!
Akshat,
Thank you for the very informative article on low power GPU cards. Per your suggestion, I installed a Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 OC (twin fans) DDR6 –
replacing a old card in my Dell XPS7000. (running on Windows 8.1). But when I turned on the computer, it asked me to plug 6 pin PCI power supply! I thought the Dell XPS8700 PCIex16 slot has 75W power already. Can you please advise? Thank you.
The GDDR6 version of this card does require a 6-pin PCIe power connector. You can get a 4-pin molex to 6-pin PCI-E connector to power it.
Akshat,
In my previous message to you, forgotto mention that the card is 4GB and i also upgraded to 16GB DDR3 (from 8GB DDR3) at the same time. Is that an issue with the power supply for GTX 1650 card?
Thanks
Chandra Aithal
What is the best gpu for my setup?
AMD FX-4300 QuadCore
12gb ddr3 ram..
Thanks mr. Verma
I suggest you to go with GeForce GTX 1650. Here are some of the best ones https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650/
Hello, Mr Verma,
I am looking to upgrade my gpu.
I’m on a tight budget of £50 and am looking to get the best graphics card for my budget that can run game like Fortnite the best.
My PC Specs:
CPU: Intel Pentium G2030 3.0GHz
MBO: MSI H61M-P31/W8
RAM: 8GB
PSU: 500W
HDD: 1TB
PS:
Btw Im looking for a gpu which only relies on motherboard power and no external power
Hello, I suggest you to go with Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G GDDR5. It will cost you a little above £50 but it is worth it. It draws power from the motherboard PCIe x16 slot only and can run Fortnite on low to medium graphics settings at 1080p with playable frame rates.
What frames would i be expecting?
60 FPS on average.
Hi, I have a I7-3770 with 32GB DDR3 ram. What GPU would work best with this setup for Davinci Resolve? Any recommendations. Thanks
I recommend GTX 1660 Ti and the specific model that I would like to suggest is Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti OC 6G because it offers great performance for the money. You can also check some of the best GTX 1660 Ti cards at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1660-ti/.
Hello Akshat! is brand “HIS” okay? i find some slightly used rx 560 graphics card selling at a low price with 2gb vram and GDRR5 . I’m just now familiar with the brand name “HIS” Thanks
HIS is a good brand of Radeon graphics cards and it has been in the business for quite a long time.
thank you Akshat! also, what do you think is the best graphics card that will not bottleneck on my Athlon 200ge that no external power needed? thanks in advance
I would say GeForce GTX 1650. You can find some of the best GTX 1650 cards at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650/
Hello Akshat, I was wondering if you could help me out for a graphics card. This is my current desktop https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05266971 so with the 300W limit in mind, would you suggest a 1050 ti or a 1650? I dont have a budget per say but im willing to spring a bit if the difference between the two is worth the extra dollars. Thanks for your time and effort
Hello Matt,
I would suggest GTX 1650 because of better performance and availability. The specific model that I would like to recommend is ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC. It is a small form factor card that is low on power consumption and does not require external PCIe power connector. You can check this card at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650/. Also, you can view the performance comparison of GTX 1650 with other cards in its league at https://graphicscardhub.com/gtx-1650-vs-rx-570-vs-gtx-1050-vs-gtx-1050-ti/.
Forgive me if im being too cautious, but i just have to ask. My monitor is connected by a hdmi cable so that shouldnt be a problem right?
What problem are you referring to?
This is an excellent Graphics card, BUT it only uses U.S.B. connections for output. If you have a monitor that uses the new U.S.B. input system get it! It’s great. If, however, your monitor uses an EVGA, VGA, or HDMI input, this is not the card for you. Yes there are adapters, but they add considerable expense to the cost of this system. Check your monitor’s connector and get the graphics card with the proper connectors!
This is a review I saw on amazon which is why I asked the question above. I have a monitor connected by hdmi cable
Which card?
hey, I have a dell 790 with a 250 w power supply. I would like to get a 2 mg graphics card for gaming. I have around 60-70 bucks to spend. What would U recommend? Thank you!
I suggest you to go with ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5. It will cost you a little more i.e. around 85 bucks, but it is worth it and is the best entry level graphics card that you can get for gaming. You can check this card here https://graphicscardhub.com/best-geforce-gt-1030/
TY for your timely response. I will give it a shot.
I’m using a Gigabyte GT 1030 LOW Profile GeForce GT1030 Internal Graphic Card 2048 MB for an 4k HTPC and it works great. (not the DDR4 version) It’s not the cheapest was around £70, but for 30 watts you can’t complain about it’s performance and it may have a tiny fan but you cant hear it.
It is a decent card for the price and has very low power consumption. It is good to know that you have the GDDR5 version because the the DDR4 variant is crap.
About half the speed from what I’ve seen (though 20 watts the DDR4 one).
Would be better if they were around £50 as its a bit too close to a 1050 which is much more of a card. (though I guess they wouldn’t still be able to sell a 710/720/730 if they did drop its price)
I am looking for the best video card I can put in a Dell r820 server. I want to use this for everything. I have the dual 1100 watt power supplies but there is no external power for the video card. I can make a gaming vm of Windows 10 pro for games.
I suggest ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 Low Profile. It is the fastest low profile graphics card as of now and it does not require external power. Check at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-low-profile-graphics-card/
I’ve read through this thread and your original article on low power GPU’s and I’d just like to thank you Akshat for taking the time to give such great advice and being so patient with all those that have asked questions. You have provided great answers to all. Keep up the good work !
Thanks Steve for the appreciation.
Hello Akshat , I would like to know if can used a gtx 1650 oc 4g with the following configuration:
CPU: intel core i5-2500
RAM: 8 GO
PSU: 320W
pci express 2.0 16x
Thank you.
Yes it will work well with this configuration. However, get a GTX 1650 card that requires no external PCIe power connector, and I would recommend ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC (https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650/).
I have a dell 3565 desktop with an A10-8700p and I want to get a new gpu for it but it doesn’t have any pcie power ports on the psu I am looking at a gtx 1650 but I know I will upgrade the motherboard and cpu later so I need the pest performance possible. currently it has a 180w psu.
Well, currently the most powerful card that you can get without PCIe connectors is the GTX 1650 only (some models do require external power). What will be your next CPU upgrade? Also, you have to upgrade your PSU too to support more powerful graphics card.
HI Verma,
I have a Dell Optiplex 7040 mini factor pc with the following below mentioned specs:
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700 CPU @ 3.40GHz, 3408 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. 1.15.5, 7/19/2019
BaseBoard Manufacturer Dell Inc.
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 32.0 GB
System Type x64-based PC
Name AMD Radeon(TM) R5 340X
Currently running a 2gb graphic card, May I know what is the best graphic card for this pc that you could suggest, as per your review I see that msi radeon rx 560 4gb is good, but can u suggest me some good one better than this for gaming like farcry 5, greedfall, one piece world seeker, apex legends and pubg
CPU dimensions are listed below:
Dimensions
Height: 11.4″ (29 cm)
Width: 11.5″ (29.2 cm)
Depth: 3.6″ (9.26 cm)
Weight: 2.82lbs (1.28kg)
I would suggest getting the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC. The card is very compact and is only 151mm in length, is powerful enough to run the games that you want on ultra settings at 1080p (with 60FPS on average) and is low on power consumption.
sff dell optiplex 7010 with 50w pci-e 16 slot 15 4570 8gb … how does that come as a challenge then to you! ? 🙂
The best graphics card that you can put in it is the low profile GeForce GT 1030 and the specific model that I would like to suggest is the Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G or ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5.
Hi Verma,
HP ELITE 8200 MIDI TOWER i7-2600/8GB/250GB
Intel® Core™ i7-2600 Processor (8M Cache, 4×3.40 GHz)
Intel® Q67 Express Chipset
8Gb DDR III 1333 MHz
500 Gb SATA 7200
(1) full-length PCI slots, (1) PCI Express x1 slot, and (2) full-length
PCI Express x16 graphics slots
psu 320W
what if i buy: 24″ FHD Super Slim Monitor SF354
LS24F354FHUXEN
Super Slim Design
Schnelle Reaktionszeit
AMD FreeSync
Game Modus
and what if not ?
thanks !
I did not understand your question completely. Do you want to buy a graphics card first?
Yes yes, sorry mo matter monitor, what is Best gpu?
I Will try again. I want to know what is my Best option for video card on this configuration and limited space. What would you suggest? Sorry for my bad english.
Thanks
Keeping the current power supply, I suggest you to get ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC. It is a small form factor card that is good for 1080p gaming and does not require external PCIe power connector from the PSU.
thank you or the great list! also, i can see the effort in your replies. i didnt come here on a budget. i reviewed your list because i enjoy building machines that run 24/7 with 100% cpu and 100% gpu, so i can use distributed computing software like boinc and donate my pu cycles and gpu cycles to project like finding new malaria vaccines or analyzing the human microbiome… low tdp/ watts is important if i run 24/7.. is there anything else i should worry about if im using gpus at full capacity? thank you.
If you want to use the GPU at 100% usage then you have make sure that it does not overheat and should remain in the safe operating temperature.
My specs. I5 3450 3.10ghz, 8gb ddr3 ram, 1tb hdd, this PC I get year 2013 and i want some upgrade for this PC so which graphic card I give for this PC ( this PC I already use gt 710 very well) I also upgrade 450w psu
So now 2019 time this PC give me a well gaming ?
You should go for GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or Radeon RX 570 8GB.
Good day! I have a Acer Aspire TC-885-UA92 abs I was wondering which graphics card upgrade (just to add some value) would fit and be compatible, it has a poor power source I think
Thanks in advance
You should for for GeForce GTX 1650. Here are some of the best ones https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650/
Is it possible to safely add a graphics to my new computer that only has a 180 watt power supply? The new graphics card cannot need an external power cord. Below are the specs for my new computer.
HP Pavilion Desktop
Model: TP01-0034
Intel Core i7
24GB Memory
256GB SSD
2TB HDD
Has integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630
The PC came with only 8GB memory and the 256 SSD. I added an additional 16GB of memory for a total of 24GB of memory and I added an internal 2TB HDD. So those two additions are probably using more of the internal power.
Is it possible to safely add a new gaming graphics card to my new computer that only has a 180 watt power supply? If so, what brand and model number do you suggest? Thanks for your help!
I would not suggest adding a graphics card on a system with 180W PSU, especially with an Core i7.
That is what I thought. Thanks for your quick reply. Also thank you for this post. Very informative.
You are most welcome.
Question, is there any brand of GTX 1650 Super that doesn’t need external power supply? Thank you.
No, there is not.
Hi there, i’ve read your site about the best graphics card yet i came to stop due to having a budget pc and wondered which graphicsi should get ?
My build is;
Motherboard: Dell Optiplex 790
CPu: Intel Core i5 2500
Ram: (2x4gb) ddr3 sticks
Hard Drive: Seagate 500GB
PCU: Cooler Master 650 80+ Bronze
I’m not sure what graphics card i should get for the Dell Optiplex Motherboard, any suggestions ? ( I’ve heard that a Gtx 660 ti would work )
What is your budget and Is your Dell Optiplex 790 PC is SFF or regular tower one.
Thank you for replying and my budget build is $230 and the motherboard is an SFF
I would suggest ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 Low Profile. It is a low profile graphics card that can fit in your PC and is pretty good for 1080p gaming.
Hi. I have a Lenovo H50-50 I3-4170 4GB 500GB Window 10 Desktop. I replaced the 500GB HDD with an SSD, though. The integrated video card cannot handle my 27 inch 4k IPS display. Which of these video cards would you recommend?
I also added 8GB of RAM.
I would suggest ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5. It can easily drive 4K display and is good enough for casual gaming too at 720p/1080p.
Thank you for your suggestion!
If you revisit this survey, you should include the Asus 1050 Ti, as it is Still the most power efficient 4gig gpu board on the market. My whole rig runs off of a Seasonic 350 watt fanless psu. And that’s with a 4C8T cpu running at 4.4ghz with a Corsair 280 AIO, 32Gb dimm, and six SSD’s. We are all off grid out here (PV powered), and using a 300 watt gpu card just doesn’t pass the “green” test. Your survey is dated, but I sincerely thank you for taking the time to look the other way, instead of touting the latest and greatest mid-tower “heaters” 🙂 1080p @ 60fps is adequate for my needs (D.C.S.). Here is a link to the power consumption survey that I am “quoting” from :
https://www.techpowerup.com/review/asus-gtx-1050-ti-strix-oc/27.html
Thanks again .. keep up the good work amigo. Cheers!
Hi,
Just got a new system AMD Ryzen 5 3600. Needed a low powered GPU bcos of 24/7 On and at least equal to AMD 3400G Vega11. For non gaming and non overclock. Mostly for work, Netflix, Youtube etc. My PSU is Corsair SF4500. Is fanless recommended? Will it be 560/570, 1030/1050/1650?
Which card do you recommend?
I would suggest GeForce GT 1030 for your requirements. The specific models that you can go for are: Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G or ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 or MSI GeForce GT 1030 2G LP OC. Before buying, make double sure that it is the GDDR5 version only.
Does AMD CPU works better with AMD/Nvidia GPU? or doesnt matter?
It does not matter.
Hi, Thanks for the reply. As much as I want 1050/1650, 1030 is more than enough for my non game applications.
I came down to these 2 cards. Gigabyte GT1030 Low Profile 2G and Gigabtye GT1030 OC 2G.
I believed these 2 will perform very similar.(OC slightly better) My final question is which is quieter? I always thought bigger fan is quieter than smaller fan bcos the RPM is slower etc. Is it true? Or the Low Profile runs quieter in this case?
Both will perform nearly the same. Gigabtye GT1030 OC 2G is quieter than the low profile variant. Yes, bigger fans are quieter (for the same GPU) because they have lower RPM compared to cards with smaller fans. To cool down the card effectively, smaller fans have to spin at higher speeds to make up for the size disadvantage they have.
I am looking at this Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB DDR5.
Does it needs external power? Low power? Is it good?
How about 1030 vs RX550?
Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB DDR5 does not require external power and offers much better performance over GT 1030 and RX 550. RX 550 is a little faster than GT 1030 but consumes more power too.
I have a Dell Vostro 3470 that comes with an i3 8th gen processor. 4+4 gb ram. I wish to upgrade from the intel UHD 630. The website says that it has a 200W bronze power supply. What gpu can i buy? I understand that 200w is very low, but i am trying to make the most of it.
I would suggest getting a GeForce GT 1030 (GDDR5 version). It has maximum power consumption of 35W and would be a very nice upgrade over your integrated graphics. The specific models that I would like to recommend are Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G, ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 and MSI GeForce GT 1030 2G LP OC. You can check them at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-geforce-gt-1030/
hello sir i have an dell optiplex 990 sff i want to put a graphic card that help me to play games at good fps. here my specs
processor- i5 2400
Ram- 4gb
psu- 240w
i want to put a strong graphic card other than gt 1030 but the problem is that pcie x16 slot of motherboard draws only 35 w whereas even gtx 1050 ti requires 75w as mentioned above….so is there any way or any specific upgrade i can make in order to get past this problem……many people in youtube have reported success in installing gtx 1050 ti inside optiplex but iam still not sure about it…please help
A motherboard PCIe x16 can provide up to 75W of power. I suggest ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 Low Profile, which is a powerful low profile graphics card and has power consumption of only 75W.
https://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/optiplex-990-customer-brochure.pdf
but sir in page 19 of the above spec sheet it is given 35w for sff
You are right. It is limited to 35W only in SFF model which is really strange. Sometimes it may work with 75W cards and sometimes it may not. So, here you have to go with the GT 1030 only.
Ok sir I will go with gt 1030….but aren’t there any upgrade like changing motherboard or anything that I can do to get rid of this problem….IAM sorry if I sound bullshit IAM really a noob in these things but IAM curious and wanna learn about this thing
No, there is nothing you can do.
Ok sir…thankyou so much for your replies
Hello Mr Akshat Verma. Can you suggest me a graphics card for my asus M5A78L-M LX V2 mobo. I prefer the one without external power. Which is the best? Thanks in regards
I suggest you to get the GeForce GTX 1650. It does not require external power and is pretty good for 1080p gaming. Here are some of the best GTX 1650 cards you can buy https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650-super/
Thanks for your fast response sir. I’ll check the card you mentioned above. Thanks again
My specs.
Amd athlon II ×2 260, Ati radeon 3000 integrated graphics , 4×2 gb DDR3 Ram, which graphic card I should buy ?. , Will it run Call of duty MW3, MW2,Pubg?plz reply bhai
I am sorry to say that you need a better processor to play these games smoothly, even if you have a good graphics card.
But I used to play COD 4 MW at medium setting on 4gb ram with same processor ,
But after upgrading to win10 64 bit , 8 GB ram it’s lagging so much
Windows 10 is very resource hungry and requires at least 12GB RAM and an SSD to run smoothly. I would suggest you to stick with Windows 7 only. The graphics card that will go well your PC is GeForce GTX 1050 Ti at the very best.
If it is about Processor I will upgrade it to better one
Ok Bhai, thank you so much for suggestion
Hello, I have a ryzen 3 3200g 8gb ram what graphics card should I get?
How much is your budget and what PSU do you have?
Hi, Akshat. I have an old four core i5-2400 with 8GB DDR3, a GeForce 8600 GT and a 500W PSU without PCIe power connector. I’m thinking of upgrading the graphics card but I don’t want to change the PSU or spend too much, since I’m not that big of a gamer, so I’m looking at these cards. I’m my country I have narrowed it down to:
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 OC 2GB GDDR5 – 109,90€
MSI Radeon RX 560 AERO ITX OC 4GB GDDR5 – 113,90€
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050Ti OC 4GB Low Profile GDDR5 (also a MSI version and an ITX smaller one) – 141,90€
PNY GeForce GTX 1650 XLR8 Gaming 4GB OC GDDR5 – 141,90€
I have written off the list the 1030 and RX 550 4GB because they’re 75€-86€ and I think I would rather go for the 1050 2GB or the RX 560 4GB. What do you think of my options considering their price? Would my processor or the PCIe 2.0 slot be a problem? Why are you not recommending Radeon cards, are they really worse even considering their price?
Thank you for your insight.
Hello,
I suggest you go with the PNY GeForce GTX 1650 XLR8 as it is the most powerful card here (around 35% faster than GTX 1050 Ti on average) and costs the same as Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050Ti OC 4GB Low Profile. It should work great with your processor and motherboard with PCIe 2.0 x16 slot. There are no good budget options available in AMD Radeon cards, especially with lower power consumption. Also, the drivers for Radeon Cards are quite troublesome.
Thanks for your quick reply! I have been reading some articles in your site and have a little question here. If I had to choose between two similar cards, i.e. same GPU and same memory, but one had one bigger fan and the other had dual smaller fans in low profile, where would be the difference? One bigger fan is less noisy but will have less OC potential and worse performance because it will probably provide worse cooling? Or low profile smaller dual fans actually won’t perform better? I’m looking at cards in this price range like GTX 1650 4GB.
Generally, the card with a large single fan will be quieter and provides optimum cooling in most of the cases. On the other side, the low profile model with two smaller fans will be much noisier and may or may not provide cooling performance better than single fan model. This is because the standard size card having single fan may have a better heatsink with copper heatpipes. Also, VRMs can be more on the regular sized card with larger PCB.
Hi again! I’m really having a hard time thinking about this. I really like the *PNY GeForce GTX 1650 XLR8 Gaming 4GB OC GDDR5 (142€)*, but now I found two RX 570 cards:
*XFX AMD Radeon RX 570 RS 4GB XXX Edition 4GB GDDR5 (132€)
*XFX AMD Radeon RX 570 RS 8GB XXX Edition 8GB GDDR5 (144€) (Higher memory frequency than 4GB version)
I know that I would need an 8 pin cable for the RX 570, but they come with 4-to-6 and 6-to-8 adapters, and I have some free MOLEX connectors. But I’m not sure if my 500W PSU would be a little short on power because XFX says 500W is their minimum PSU and I don’t know if my PSU is of good quality. I’m also concerned about drivers, temperature, etc. Also, I don’t know if I can expect a drop in prices for this segment of 1080p budget cards any time soon and I feel like I shouldn’t wait on that. Any thoughts?
If you are unsure about your power supply then better stick with the GTX 1650 only. To check whether your PSU is good enough or not, open the PC case and look for the table on the PSU that shows the current on the 12V. Report the values to me or take a photo of it and upload it on https://imgur.com/.
Luckily I took a photo of it last weekend!
https://imgur.com/a/7WAHzPn
https://www.tooq.com/product.php?id=1554 (I think it’s this exact model)
I read it has 1x +12V rail and 21A in that +12V.
I’m currently using 3 SATA connectors: 1x SATAIII SSD, 1x 7.2K rpm HDD, 1x CD/DVD combo (which I rarely use).
Also using 1x 4pin MOLEX to power a case fan in the rear side.
I’ll read about PSU to inform me better.
Thanks a lot. I’m a high school teacher and all this detailed information goes also to my students. Your blog helps me a lot to stay up to date with current graphics cards and hardware standards.
Thank you for the appreciation. I am sorry to say that this power supply is not enough for RX 570, because it is not a true 500W PSU. The 12V rail provides power to all the major components in your computer that include processor, graphics card, fans, hard drive etc. This PSU has only 21A on 12V rail that equals to 252 Watt (12 x 21). So, basically it is more of a 250W PSU and not enough for RX 570.
I wasn’t aware about the 12V rail importance and now I’m a little mad because I really really didn’t want to change the PSU. Tomorrow I’ll take a wattmeter and do some stress testing to see how much power is being used when under a heavy load. My current GPU (8600 GT) is listed at 43W TDP and that GTX 1650 without 6-pin external power should be 75W. It’s not a big difference but I’m worried my low quality PSU might not be able to handle it, considering also that I would be running games and applications that would be more GPU and CPU demanding than those that I currently run. Thanks again 🙂
What card would you recommend for a Ryzen 5, SFF PC with a 250w psu and a free PCIE 16 slot? Thank you in advance and keep up the good work on this excellent website.
Is this a slim low profile SFF case and how many expansion slots does it have?
Yes, it’s this machine https://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=9DP09EA&opt=ABU&sel=DTP
Hello Will,
It is not worth investing in a graphics card for this SFF PC because the best card you can use with it is the GeForce GT 1030, which performs the same as the integrated graphics in your PC (Radeon RX Vega 11 Graphics). However, if you still want to add a dedicated graphics card for some other reasons then here are the suggested models:
1) Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G
2) MSI GeForce GT 1030 2G LP OC
3) ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5
Thank you. Great advice.
Please prefer me the best graphics card
My specs are-
1)Core i3-4130
2)4gb ram
3)Gigabyte h81m-ds2 (mobo)
4)200W power supply
5)Windows 10
How much is your budget?
My budget is 189 usd
You need to upgrade your RAM to 8GB and Power Supply to 450W for a decent graphics card to work properly.
Tell me one graphics card which will work properly with 200W psu and 4gb ram
I would say GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5.
Is there a 4gb graphics card for me?
I am sorry to say that there are none (good ones) for your specs.
I’m going to buy an old server, could you please suggest me which video card is the best fit with it?
here is the link
https://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/precn/en/Dell-Precision-T5600-Spec-Sheet.pdf
Regards,
Budi..
What power supply does it have? 820W or 635W?
820W
I think GeForce GTX 1650 is the best you can get at 150 dollars. Here are some of the best GTX 1650 cards in the market https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650/
thank you
Can the low power video cards that do not require a PSU be used in an independent external video card dock without a PSU?
By the way, excellent website and insight.
I did not get your point. Please explain clearly. Thanks!
Hi,
I have an Pavilion 590-p0050-8gb ram, i5 2.8ghz desktop. PSU is 310w and have Expansion slots 1 PCIe x1 and 1 PCIe x16. What would be the best graphics card for me? I am looking for the best value and something that can play video games like Halo 5 Forge and NBA 2k20.
I would suggest GeForce GTX 1650. Here are the best GTX 1650 cards in the market right now https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650/
WOW! Thank you for the quick reply. Thank you.
My wife constantly asks me to clarify, as well. 🙂
There is hardware I can use to add an external graphics card to a laptop. It is comprised of an external independent graphics dock with a graphics card PCI E connection. The graphics card dock connector is connected to the LAN connection inside the laptop. The graphics card is then inserted into the dock and is powered by an external PSU. If a low power video card can be used in this set up without a PSU, that would be the least expensive and most efficient way to set it up. I hope that helps.
I want to play Warthunder and I wonder what you think is the best low power or single slot card you would recommend. I am thinking 4GB. I am on a tight budget.
William
Well, the best low power single slot graphics card you can get is the GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5. The specific models that I would like to suggest are:
1. Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G
2. ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5
3. MSI GeForce GT 1030 2G LP OC
Check them out at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-geforce-gt-1030/
Can the recommended low power graphics cards be used in the external graphics card configuration that I have described without an external PSU?
Thank you for the card recommendations.
How much power does this dock can provide? Do you have any link for it?
I have a DX4831-01e Gateway computer looking for a way to upgrade Graphics with a
pci express x 16 2.0 slot not sure of speed or the details in order to make the install
work it has on board graphics which I am guessing would have to be disabled somehow
either through soft ware say bios fixing or some post switching of some sort.
Help!
Dennis
What power supply does it have?
Laptop External Independent Video Card Graphics Dock NGFF M.2 A/E key M2R0
ebay link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Laptop-External-Independent-Video-Card-Graphics-Dock-NGFF-M-2-A-E-key-M2R0/402166591412
Yes it can easily handle GeForce GT 1030
Thank you Akshat.
You are very welcome.
You are the man.
Hi Akshat, I need your opinion for my doubts, if you can give me please.
I’m a simracer playing only rfactor2, assetto corsa competitzione, iracing and assetto corsa. Hi have at the moment asus z97-deluxe, I7 4790k 4ghz with watercoller, 16gb ram Corsair vengeance ddr3 2400mhz, msi gtx 1080 ti, 3 fans, and I’m not sure but I think I have about 800w of Psu if I’m not wrong.
I’m starting now to do some streams from my races on YouTube, but for streaming I’m losing some fps in game. Considering that I’m playing in triple screen 5760×1080, I was thinking maybe to buy an extra gpu only for the streaming. Which gpu would you recommend me?
many thanks in advance
I would say GTX 1650 SUPER.
Hi Akshat, I need your opinion
Please prefer me the best graphics card with low tdp
Spec: fx6300, ram 4×2 ddr3 and psu 450w 80+
Budget under $90
I would suggest GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5. It has TDP of 30W. Here are the best GT 1030 cards https://graphicscardhub.com/best-geforce-gt-1030/
I’m really apreciate for the answer
How about with AMD and which should i choose?
In AMD, you can get Radeon RX 550 but it costs a little more and performs almost the same as GT 1030 (GDDR5 version).
HI. Excellent article. I have a HP ProDesk 400 G4 SFF Business PC and would like to upgrade the video card. What do you recommed?
I suggest Single Slot Low Profile GeForce GT 1030 (GDDR5 version). The specific model that I would recommend is Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G. Check at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-geforce-gt-1030/
My motherboard can only supply 30w, but I was wondering, could I remove the fans to reduce the load and use a spare fan conector to power the fans instead?
30W for PCIe x16 slot?
Think so, its a dell optiplex 780 ssf but I need to check to see if its one of the ones that can go to 75w.
I have a hp compaq 6200 pro mt, i5 2400. it has a 320watt psu I think.
Is the gtx 1650 the best I can put in there, and do you know if there are any models less than 175mm in length, as any more than that and it will hit the CPU cooler I think.
Fantastic article, very helpful, thanks in advance for any response.
Hello Tom,
Yes there are some super compact GTX 1650 models available having length much shorter than 175mm. They are:
1) ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC / ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC GDDR6 (151mm, Single Fan)
2)ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 AMP / ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 AMP GDDR6 (163mm, Dual Fan)
Get the GDDR6 version (if available) because it is a little faster. If not available then GDDR5 is good too. Useful links:
https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650-gddr6/
https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650/
I just want to know whether my pc will bottleneck or not my specs are
Core i3 4130
8gb ram
Radeon rx 570 8gb
450 w psu
If it will please tell me what to do and if you find any flaws in my built than please do tell me.
Well, in CPU intensive games, you will face CPU bottleneck. You can upgrade to a better processor if you can find one in the used market.
Does playing in high res removes bottleneck? And how many fps drop will i face in games due to bottlenecking?
To some extent but in AAA games you will be limited by your CPU.
Other than that do you find my pc good for gaming?
It is okay, a bit weak on the CPU front.
Hello, thank you for running this site it looks very useful
I have a Lenovo V55T desktop with AMD 3400g processor with Vega 11 integrated graphics and a 180w PSU. What do you think the best graphics card would be that would work with the 180w PSU, is it the GTX 1650? Many thanks!
No, you can’t run GTX 1650 with a 180W power supply. You need a 300W PSU to support it. I think your computer TFX power supply. Here are some good TFX PSUs https://graphicscardhub.com/tfx-power-supply-psu/
Thank you for the reply. Do you think there are any graphics card that would be a reasonable improvement over my integrated graphics, whilst keeping the same PSU? Thank you
No, there is not with your current 180W PSU.
Hi Akshat:
I have a Dell 3670 Inspirion that is about a year and half old. Specs: I7 8700. 16gb ram, 290w power supply, Intel Graphics 630.
I originally got this to use in audio recording and editing for which it works great. However, I’ve recently started doing some video editing and the Intel gpu wont cut it. Most video editing software requires at least a 2gb video card.
So I tried installing the GeForce Gt 2Gb 1030 DDR5 low profile, passive cooling. One from Asus and the other from MSI. Both wouldn’t work. They both recommend a 300 w power supply.
My question is: Because I only have 290w and not 300w, is that lack of 10w making the difference as to why these cards wont work?
Also, If I do have to upgrade the power I might as well go for better video card. My main criteria is to be quiet as possible. What would you recommend for quiet power supply and a 4 gb gpu?
Thanks. Cheers, J
GT 1030 can also run on a 240W PSU without any issues. I think the issue is with the BIOS. Update the BIOS to the latest version if possible. The PSU that I would suggest is EVGA 500W 80 Plus White and for GPU I recommend GTX 1660 SUPER.
Hi Akshat: Thanks for the reply. I did a complete update including the bios prior to installation. Still no go. As well, it was suggested on Dell systems to turn off secure boot and legacy options on. Supposedly, Microsoft might not recognize new hardware otherwise. I tried this and still no go.
Do you think it could be a motherboard issue? Your power and GPU suggestion look really good. My concern would be that the system wouldn’t recognize them like the other two cards. Thanks. Cheers, J
If the cards are working fine in other systems then it could be a motherboard issue.
Hi
I have a hp elite 8200 with an i7 2600
8g ram 240ssd and 1 tb hdd with a 240v psu not sure if its a sff or an upgraidable mini tower or if it is relevent to this question but ,could you please sugest the best possible graphics card
The best card you can get for this system is the low profile GTX 1030 (GDDR5 version). Recommended models:
1. Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G
2. MSI GeForce GT 1030 2G LP OC
Check at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-geforce-gt-1030/
Hi Akshat Verma what is your best recommendation Graphic Cards to my spec..
Mobo. Biostar A55mdp
Apu. A10 6790k
Psu. Generic boston (500watts)
Ram. 8gb ddr3 1666mhz (4×2)
I would say GTX 1050 Ti or GTX 1650
is it ok.. but my PSU is Generic?
How much current does it have on the 12V Rail?
9A
Are you sure? It is too low for a 500W PSU.
Voltage 220Vac
Current 3.5A
Frequency 50hz to 60hz
DC output:
Orange +3.3 V = 12A
Yellow +12V = 9A
Blue -12v = 0.5A
Red +5v = 15A
White -5 = 0.5A
Purple +5VSB = 1.5A
Black COM = GND
Green Ps-ON
Gray PG
Looking at these figures, I don’t think it is even a 200W PSU, let alone the 500W one. You won’t be able to run any graphics card with this PSU if the specifications you have listed are true.
i know right.. how is that im currently using GT730 GPU it runs ok but im not satisfied with the performance slow processing in photos and video… (im not a gamer just a casual user)
I really don’t know because even GT 730 has power consumption of 49W (max).
thanks for reply … im planning to buy AEROCOOL RAVE 500W 80+ POWER SUPPLY PSU… with gtx1050 ti
hi i have a 290 watt PSU and i want to install a graphic card for i5 4570 8 gb ram.suggest me a graphic card which will work.
Here is the list that i liked the graphic card.
AMD RX 560 4 GB
AMD RX 550 2GB
NVIDIA GT 730 2 GB
NVIDIA GT 730 ZONE EDITION GRAPHIC CARD
Can you please tell us about the brand and model of your PSU?
DELL OPTIPLEX 3020 CPU. AND THE PSU IS OF DELL ITSELF..
Is this a small form factor (SFF) Dell PC?
it didnt mention as SFF PSU. The model number is ac290am
ac input-100-240 v
50-60 hz
5.4a
output-
+12va-14a
+12vb-16a
+12vsb-1.67a
total power max-290w
I mean the desktop. Is it the tower or SFF model because if it is a SFF one then you can only use low profile graphics cards.
its a mini tower
and all specifications are:-
OptiPlex 3020 MT/SFF/Micro Technical Specifications
Chassis Minitower (MT) Small Form Factor (SFF) Micro
Processors1 Intel® 4th generation Core™ i5 Quad Core (84W for MT & SFF, 35W for micro), Core™ i3 Dual Core,
Pentium® Dual Core and Celeron® Dual Core (65W for MT & SFF, 35W for Micro)
Chipset Intel® H81 Chipset
Operating System
Options1
Windows 8.1 Standard 64 bit
Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit
Windows 7 Professional SP1 32 bit
Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit
Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit Downgrade
Ubuntu® (select countries)
Graphics2 Integrated Intel® HD Graphics 4600 (with select CPUs)
Supports optional discrete graphics solutions from AMD N/A
Memory3 2 Long DIMM slots; 2 SO- DIMM slots;
Non-ECC dual-channel 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM, supports up to 16GB
Networking Integrated Realtek® RTL8151GD Ethernet LAN 10/100/1000;
optional PCIe 10/100/1000 network card; optional wireless
802.11 a/b/g/n card
Optional wireless M.2 802.11ac
card
I/O Ports 2 external USB 3.0 ports (rear) and 6 external USB 2.0 ports (2 front,
4 rear); 1 Serial port (optional); 1 PS/2 (optional); 1 RJ-45; 1 VGA;
1 DisplayPort 1.2; 1 Mic-in & 1 Headphone out (front);
1 Mic-in/Line-in & 1 Line-out(rear)
2 external USB 3.0 ports (1 front,
1 rear) and 4 external USB 2.0
ports (1 front, 3 rear); 1 Serial port
(optional); 2 PS/2 (optional); 1
RJ-45; 1 VGA; 1 DisplayPort 1.2;
1 Mic-in (front, re-taskable to
headphone); 1 GHS (front);
Removable Media
Options
Supports optional optical disc drives and media card reader options Supports optional optical disc
drives by external USB
Hard Drives4
Options Hard Disk Drives: up to 1TB
Supports Solid State Drives, Hybrid and Hybrid Opal SED FIPS
No Hard Drive – Supports Dell Cloud Desktop diskless option
Dimensions (H x W x D)
Inches/(cm)
14.2 x 6.9 x 16.4
/ 36.0 x 17.5 x 41.7
11.4 x 3.7 x 12.3
/ 29.0 x 9.3 x 31.2
7.17 x 1.4 x 6.93
/ 18.2 x 3.6 x 17.6
Min. Weight (lbs/kg) 20.68 / 9.4 13.2 /6.0 2.82 / 1.28
Number of Bays 2 internal 3.5”
2 external 5.25”
1 internal 3.5”
1 external 5.25” (slimline)
1 internal 2.5”
Expansion Slots 1 full height PCIe x16
3 full height PCIe x1
1 half height PCIe x16
1 half height PCIe x1
1 M.2 (22x30mm)
Power Supply11 Unit
(PSU)
Standard 290W PSU Active PFC or
optional 290W up to 90% Efficient
PSU (80 PLUS Gold); ENERGY
STAR compliant, Active PFC
Standard 255W PSU Active PFC or
optional 255W up to 90% Efficient
PSU (80 PLUS Gold); ENERGY
STAR compliant, Active PFC
Standard 65W adaptor. Minimum
Efficiency >87%, ENERGY STAR
compliant.
Recommended
Accessories
Dell Monitors:
Dell 22 Monitor – P2214H, E2214H
Dell 23 Monitor – E2314H
Dell 20 Monitor – P2014H, E2014H
Micro Mounting Options: Vertical Stand, VESA Mount, Dual VESA Mount, All in One Mount,
Console with DVD-RW
Keyboards & Mice: Dell Standard Keyboard, Dell Multimedia Keyboard, Dell Smartcard Keyboard,
Dell USB Mouse, Dell Laser Mouse
Dell 1TB Portable Hard Drive
Dell Security Lock – LP500
Discover professional class desktops at Dell.com/OptiPlex
1 Offering may vary by region. Some items may be available post-RTS. Offering may vary by region and configuration. For complete details, refer to the Technical
Guidebook published on www.dell.com.
2 System Memory and Graphics: Significant system memory may be used to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors.
3 4GB or Greater System Memory Capability: A 64-bit operating system is required to support 4GB or more of system memory.
4 Hard Drive: GB means 1 billion bytes and TB equals 1 trillion bytes; actual capacity varies with preloaded material and operating environment and will be less.
5 Computrace: Not a Dell offer. Certain conditions apply. For full details, see terms and conditions at www.lojackforlaptops.com.
6 Please refer to www.epeat.net for specific country registration rating and participation.
7 Limited Hardware Warranty: For copy of Ltd Hardware Warranty, write Dell USA LP, Attn: Warranties, One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682 or
see www.dell.com/warranty,
8 Onsite Service after Remote Diagnosis: Remote Diagnosis is determination by online/phone technician of cause of issue; may involve customer access to inside of
system and multiple or extended sessions. If issue is covered by Limited Hardware Warranty (www.dell.com/warranty) and not resolved remotely, Technician and/or part
will be dispatched, usually within 1 business day following completion of Remote Diagnosis. Availability varies. Other conditions apply.
9 Dell Services: Availability and terms of Dell Services vary by region. For more information, visit www.dell.com/servicedescription
10 TPM: TPM is not available in all regions.
11 PSU: This form factor utilizes a more efficient Active Power Factor Correction (APFC) power supply. Dell recommends only Universal Power Supplies (UPS) based on
Sine Wave output for APFC PSUs, not an approximation of a Sine Wave, Square Wave, or quasi-Square Wave (see UPS technical specifications). If you have questions
please contact the manufacturer to confirm the output type.
Security Trusted Platform Module10 (TPM) 1.2, Dell Data Protection|Security Tools, Dell Data Protection|Encryption,
Chassis lock slot support, Chassis Intrusion Switch, Setup/BIOS Password, I/O Interface Security, optional
Smart Card keyboards, Intel® Trusted Execution Technology, Intel® Identity Protection Technology, Intel®
Ant-Theft Technology, KACE Security, Dell Secure Works, BIOS support for optional Computrace
The best card you can use for it is the GeForce GTX 1650. How much is your budget for the card?
under 7k. I’m a bit confused that it has both SFF and MINITOWER for the same specifications.🤔
So suggest me which will work for both. i am totally confused what to purchase. I will be thankful to you. Pura dimaag ka dahi ho gaya sir. *_*
The best card you can get under 7K is the GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5. The specific models I would like to suggest are Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G or ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5. Both are single slot low profile graphics cards and can fit in any PC case easily.
any amd graphics recommendations?
No for this budget.
for knowledge purpose if i have 15k then? because i have monitor of samsung i.e has amd freesync.
I would say Radeon RX 570 but you need to upgrade the PSU for it.
So, let me ask for a recommendation . I bought a prebuilt Dell Desktop which had an Intel G4560 , 4GB RAM and a 180 watt PSU (80+ rated ) . Will GTX 750Ti be a good companion ?
And a doubt 😢 the TDP of Pentium is 45 watts ,if I install a GTX 750Ti then the power consumption will be 45+60=105 watts and let’s add some more for RAM , HDD and cooler then it will be 120 watt and still 60watts for the system . Will it be safe for me to install a GTX 750Ti ???? Please Answer
I don’t recommend GTX 750 Ti with a 180W PSU. The best you can use with this system is the GT 1030 (GDDR5 variant). GT 1030 delivers performance almost equal to GTX 750 Ti but consumes only 30W power which is half of GTX 750 Ti. The specific models that I would like to suggest are Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G and ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 .
The maximum time I spend on my PC is 3 hours then too won’t it be safer ?
Yes it is a high risk.
But why won’t it work ?
It may work at idle but during gaming you might end up damaging something because power draw during gaming can be higher.
But still 50watts are their for the system
50 watts a lot , then why is it risky , will it work in 300 watts ?
How much current is there on the 12V rail of your PSU?
I’m sending you the link to the details please check this out : BTW thanks for answering to my queries otherwise no , I tried Quora ,Yahoo Answers !! But none replied .
This is the link : https://dell.to/2NGWxG3
The link does not have the information I need. Have you already bought the GTX 750 Ti?
No I haven’t bought still
If you tell how to check it then I’ll try
Open the case cover and look at the sticker present on the side of the PSU.
Sir it actually doesn’t have any screws or anything 😭😭😭😭😭 how will it open ????
There must be a way. Look on the internet.
Sir, so I’ve decided to go with GT 1030 as you suggested the pci on my motherboard says” one PCIe x16 half height card” will this card work with it ?
It should work fine.
So, will the GT 1030 work in a Prebuilt Dell Small Form Factor Desktop with 180 watt PSU ?
It should work.
Sir , I finally got to open my case and here are those specifications :-
+12VA == / 12A
+12VB == / 14A
STANDBY MODE
+12VA == / 0.5A ____
| Max 2.5A
+12VB == / 2.5A ____|
Input 200-240V~ /-1.5A
50-60Hz
Total 180W MAX
+12VA peak current can be 15A but endurance time less than 1msec.
Now please tell which GPU will work with it !!!!!
Please 😢
GeForce GT 1030 only. (12V x 15A = 180W)
😭😭😭😭😭😭
Hello Akshat Verma, I need some help upgrading GPU with similar circumstances I have a Lenovo K450e > 250-280 watt max psu >msi built gtx720 (stock) I5 quad core 4460 3.2 ghz >8 gig ram mid tower …
What could my best options be with this setup (stock rig) ?
Your help will be greatly appreciated ! 🙂
The best card you can get for your setup is the GeForce GTX 1650 GDDR6 and the specific model I would suggest is the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4GB GDDR6.
Hello Akshat Verma, I am looking to add a graphics card to my system. I would need one that does not require external power connectors and is powered strictly by the PCIex16 slot. I have a HP Pro 3500 MT system (Intel i3-3240, 12 GB Memory and 300 Watt PSU). What would you suggest as my best options? Your help would be appreciated.
I suggest ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4GB GDDR6.
Thanks for the quick reply to my question. One last question. In looking into the models I found ZT-T16520J-10L, ZT-T16520H-10L and ZT-T16520F-10L. Two appear to be with dual fans and one with a single fan. Do you think any one of these would work in my system or is one better than than the others? Since I had to send back my last card because it needed external power I wanted to be sure in this next purchase.
ZT-T16520J-10L requires 6-pin PCIe connector while other two don’t. ZT-T16520H-10L is a low profile model for slim low profile cases and is noisy. I suggest the ZT-T16520F-10L / ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC GDDR6 for you.
Hi, I thinking to get the “Dell Optiplex 7010 MT Intel Core i7-3770, 16GB” which i think it has a 250 psu. What graphic card would you recommend?
Thanks
Is this a SFF or Tower model?
Is the tower model (MT)
I think the MT one has 275W PSU. Please confirm.
just had a look at the specs sheet and indeed is a 275w psu.
I would suggest ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC. Check at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650/
hey i have the dell optiplex 7010 MT desktop tower model (the big one) running with a gtx 1050 ti right now which I believe uses “75w” but runs and have been running with my stock psu for a year now perfectly w.o a single issue and ive also seen alot of other people run it as well so I guess my question is whether or not by that logic I can run the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4G with the two fans which i also believe needs 75w or if i can only use the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC. sorry if this message sends twice, that was a mistake
If you are running GTX 1050 Ti without any issues then I think you will be able to run GTX 1650 too (without 6-pin PCIe connector version). From these two, I recommend ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC, because of its compact size you won’t run into any clearance issues.
Thank you so much, is there any significant or any power loss at all really between the two fan and one fan versions?
I don’t think so and even if it is then it would be negligible.
whats the difference between the ddr6 and ddr5 version of the zotac card? will either work for the PC I described?
GDDR6 one has faster memory but lower GPU clock and may consume a bit more power even though both the cards do not require 6-pin PCIe connector.
Hi Akshat,
We have a Dell XPX tower, with an i7-6700@4Ghz, 16GB ram, 4TB Western Digital Blue HD, and a 450W PS (385W on 12V). We would like to upgrade our video card for better gaming without having to upgrade the power supply. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks very much.
I suggest ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC GDDR6.
Hi mr verma,
I would like to know if it is possible to use a 5600 xt GPU mini just from the pci e power.
For this project i thought of using a PSU to boot and manually undervolt and underclock and then restart without the 6/8 pin connector. Do you think that it would work?
I don’t think so.
Tyvm!
Hello!
Looking to do a modest upgrade to my rig.
Current Basic Spec:
Mobo: Gigabyte B350 Mini-ITX
Processor: Ryzen 3 2400G
Ram: 8gb DDR4 3200
PSU: EVGA Bronze 550w
GPU: None
Looking at upgrading to:
Processor: Ryzen 5 2600
RAM: 16gb DDR4 3200
GPU: ???
System is in a Thermaltake v1 case and air-cooled, including an aftermarket tower cooler for the CPU.
Money’s tight and I don’t really want to spend more than $150 USD on a card. Others are recommending the RX 570 to me. They ARE a bit cheaper and more powerful, but they seem to generally be a bit power hungrier and require that extra wiring to the PSU. My case CAN fit a full size card, and my PSU is fully modular, but I still worry about power consumption, heat, and cable management.
Currently I’m leaning towards your recommendation of a GT 1650. It’s a bit more then I want to spend, but it cuts out the extra cable management and gives me most of the performance that an RX570 will. Thoughts? Any other recommendations?
Thank you ahead of time!
Well, I would avoid RX 570 because of its higher power consumption and operating temperature. The best you can get is the GeForce GTX 1650 which can give you performance almost equal to RX 570. You can get MSI GeForce GTX 1650 D6 AERO ITX OC or MSI GeForce GTX 1650 D6 VENTUS XS OC at 150 bucks exact (just checked) on amazon.
I have a hp pavilion P6-2176s 300w psu g640 cpu pciex16 2.0 slot. I have an old NVIDIA gt8500 in it now, want to upgrade. recommendations?
I suggest GeForce GTX 1650 and the specific model I recommend is the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC GDDR6. Check https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650-gddr6/ and https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650/
Thank you. Your help is most welcomed.
Hi, you look like a expert. I would like to connect some gpu (due to your page probably gt 1030 or rx 550) external with exp gdc dock or mini pcie to pcie x16 riser. I would like to know if I could power it just with minipcie, without need of psu. Lots of people saying it provides 75w but I think it’s rumor based on (I think e.g. Wikipedia says) pcie x16 can provide 75w. But I think is possible that:
1. mini pcie can provide less watts than pcie 16x
2. mini pcie to riser/dock cable can’t tranfer watts, only data
So do you think that exist some way how to use some gpu without psu? Thank you a lot.
I think some people said that their mini pcie (here I’m not sure if I remember correctly) can provide cca 35 watts, so if cable could transfer that it could be possible with gt 1030.
Yes you need to provide power to the GPU Dock for GT 1030 or RX 550.
Hi! I current have an Optiplex 790 SSF with I7-2600 8gb ram 240w psu (all factory conditions). I would like to upgrade the video card. I was thinking in the gt 1030 2gb with 30w. Is it posible to install a better GPU like the gtx 1060-1050ti? What do you recommend me? thank you
You can use GTX 1050 Ti with it but not the GTX 1060. The specific models that I would like to suggest are Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 Ti OC Low Profile or MSI GTX 1050 TI 4GT Low Profile.
Thank you! Concerning memory of the pc, it only has one slot for memory. I would like to change the hard drive for a ssd beacuse there is not space for both, do you know hoy much memoy does it support in GB?
It has four memory slots and supports up to 16GB memory. https://i.dell.com/sites/doccontent/shared-content/data-sheets/en/Documents/optiplex-790-customer-brochure.pdf
Very good article. Makes the decision process much easier.
I would like to suggest maybe in future updates, including the physical length of the card would help alot. Most consumers is the market for these types of cards are upgrading prebuilt PCs and often longer cards physically wont fit due to hard drive cages and such. That information is generally available by searching the cards individually but if it were also compiled with the great information you have given here, it would make it even easier to make the decision.
Thanks again for the great information you have researched and provided.
Hi! Would you be kind enough to provide me with an LP PCI Express graphics card recommendation for an Optiplex 7070 SSF? The factory configuration is as follows:
I5-9500
1x16GB RAM
200W PSU
M.2 256GB PCIe NVMe Class 35 SSD
Optional: 1TB hard disk
I would like to mention that I have a spare 255W PSU from an Optiplex 9020. If possible I would like to know the possibilities for both PSU’s in order to make a good choice.
Thanks in advance for your reply.
I suggest Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G. Check at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-geforce-gt-1030/. I think you can use Optiplex 9020 in Optiplex 7070 SSF as both have same dimensions.
Thanks for your reply.
So the additional 55W from the 9020 PSU will not be enough to make a ‘stronger’ graphics card work in this system?
Just double checking so I don’t unnecessary remove the factory PSU that came with the Optiplex 7070.
Thanks again in advance for your reply.
Yes because Optiplex 7070 SFF can only support single slot low profile graphics card and the best single slot low profile graphics card that you can find right now is the GT 1030 only.
Excellent!
Thank you for lending me your expertises and guiding me to the proper choice. I highly appreciate it!
Your are most welcome.
Hello Master!
I’ve a ThinkCentre M710s.
Why if GeForce GT 1030 2GB has maximum power consumption of 30W only The card requires a 300W PSU?
Wouldn’t a 180W PSU be enough?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Because the manufacturers generally list PSU requirements based on a modern day system (generally).
Hi Akshat – Fantastic blog. Appreciate you replying to every comment. Would be keen to hear your suggestions on a low powered graphics card. I am not a pc gamer but wanted to dip my toes to enter into the world of pc gaming – not any high powered titles atleast for now. I have an old office PC – config as below – and wanted to add a card to that –
Processor – core-i3 40130 CPU – 3.4 Ghz
RAM – 2 sticks of 4GB DDR3 RAM (total 8GB)
500GB HDD
Intel® Desktop Board DB85FL Socket LGA1150
iball Baby 315 – ATX Cabinet
SMPS- iBall ZPES-258 200 Watts (DC Output – +3.3V 15A, +5V 15A, +12V 18A, -12V 0.3A)
1. Would you suggest any of the lower powered cards to which I can add to the PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot which can work with the 200 Watts SMPS.
2. Alternately, if I need to change my SMPS – Would you suggest any alternatives for this SMPS dimension (12.5cm x 6.5cm x 10.3cm) and a budget card I can add to the system?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
What is your budget for the graphics card? Also, you definitely have to change your PSU for a decent budget card.
Hi Akshat – I am ok spending about Rs 5000 Rs to 15,000 max for a graphics card.
The graphics card I would like to suggest is the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti and the power supply I would recommend is the Corsair VS450 or Cooler Master MasterWatt Lite 450W. Both the things will cost you at or under 15K.
Thanks Akshat for your response. Is there any graphics card which I can manage with the curent SMPS of 200W.
Maybe a 30W card?
There is GeForce GT 1030 (GDDR5 version) and the specific model that I would like to recommend is the ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5. Check https://graphicscardhub.com/best-geforce-gt-1030/
Thanks a lot. Appreciate your response.
My processor is i5 2500K 2nd gen.
Motherboard is Intel DH67CL
Can I buy gtx 1650 gddr6
Is it suitable for me. I want to buy a mid range card with max performance without extra power requirement. Can u suggest me the correct model.
What PSU do you have?
450 watt but 9 years old.
Power connected components
01 2tb HDD
240gb SSD
I would suggest Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 D6 WINDFORCE OC 4G. Check at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650-gddr6/
Thanks sir for guidance
Hello, I was wondering which one of these would be best for a dell optiplex 9020 with a 290 watt psu. The processor is a intel core-i5 4570 clocked at 3.20 GHz. Your response would be greatly appreciated
Is this the Small Form Factor (SFF) model?
Thank you for your reply! And no, It’s a mini tower and it should fit every card on this list.
Ok, I would suggest ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 AMP GDDR6.
Hey Akshat, I have 24gb ram, a Ryzen 5 3400g, asus b350 mb and a 230 psu atm(which I can upgrade if needed) Can you recommend a good gpu that matches and wont bottleneck with my cpu?
I would suggest GTX 1650 SUPER but you need to upgrade your PSU to 400W to 450W. Here are some good GTX 1650 SUPER models https://graphicscardhub.com/best-gtx-1650-super/
Sir i want a full setup within 40k,(without mouse and kb)
Just some gaming nothing else can u please refer something?
Monitor included?
Hello, and many thanks for a very useful article.
I would really appreciate any suggestions for a GPU that will work with my old Dell Dimension 9200 (MB Dell DXP061; Intel Core2 Quad Q6600; 256 SDD; 4 x 2 GB RAM).
Currently I have an AMD HD 7750 but it’s struggling, so I need to decide if I need a new rig or I can still get a few more years from my old and trusted Dell.
Many thanks!
For GPU upgrade, I suggest GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or GTX 1650. However, your processor will let you down heavily in modern games. So, in my opinion, it is better to get a new rig for gaming and I suggest going with the AMD Ryzen processors.
Many thanks for your prompt reply!
You are most welcome!
Confused… You say these cards consume 75 watts or less,,, but need a 300 – 400 Power Supply???
because other components need power too and you don’t want to overload the power supply. For a 75W card, a 240W PSU can work too if other components do not draw much power.
That was what I thought but wanted to make certain. I am trying to build the lowest power consumption PC possible (with good performance) to do video editing. I live on my boat full time and power everything from my battery bank. The PC / monitor will be powered via a buck boost supplie to keep power loss to a minimum. (It will not have a conventional PSU)
Thanks for your help!
You are most welcome. It must be very thrilling to live on a boat full time.
Akshat, any thoughts on a video card to do video editing as compared to a gaming video card? Just an FYI: I am not impressed with any of the “on board” video systems I find on motherboards.
Video editing is mostly CPU dependent but in software such as Davinci resolve, graphics card plays a major role. I think it is better to a powerful processor rather than investing in a video card for video editing. You can benefit from the graphics card in video editing but the CPU is more important. In the lower power graphics card category, GeForce GTX 1650 or GTX 1050 Ti are the best choices.
Thanks for the insight, very much appreciated.
Kindly suggest me a laptop around 52k INR for coding and designing,CAD etc.
I suggest HP 15s-du1064TU (Core i3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD+1TB HDD, Windows 10, MS Office, 15.6-inch display). You can get it on Amazon too.
Is graphics card necessary?
Not necessary but it will help. However, in this budget, this is the best configuration.
Good day Akshat. I have scrolled most of this thread trying to research a graphics card upgrade for my (please don’t laugh… 😉
HP Pavillion 590-p0054, I-3-8100 processor
16GB DDR4-24DD SDRAM(recently added +8 GB)
1 TB hard drive
128 GB
Intel UHD graphics 630
I’ve just started light gaming, WoT, War Thunder etc. and run a ultra low @ 35+_ FPS but still struggles…not really smooth/clear.
Thank you in advance
Well, considering your gaming requirement and system power supply (180wW only), I would suggest Geforce GT 1030 (GDDR5 version). The specific model that I would like to suggest is ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 or Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G.
Thank you for your quick reply Akshat. This will be a temporary fix until I get the chance to just get a new console.
Akshat:
I would be most grateful for your feedback.
I have a refurbished hp elitedesk 800 G3 small form factor running Windows 10 Pro (64 bit) with an i5-6500 cpu (3.2 GHz), 16 GB RAM and 512 SSD.
(1) if the power supply is not upgraded, do you believe the best graphics card for this computer wold be (a) ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 or (b) Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G? Do you have a preference for one over the other?
(2) Would our computer with the graphics card noted above or with another card you recommend be appropriate for gaming and for use with the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset?
(3) If I choose to upgrade the 180W power supply, do you have any recommendation against my upgrading to a 500W PSU (ARESGAME, AGV500) from Amazon? If this PSU upgrade is acceptable, what is the most economical graphics card that you would recommend after this PSU upgrade? The computer will be used for both gaming (particularly VR Gaming with Oculus 2 and school work).
Thank you
Louis
The best graphics card you can use with hp elitedesk 800 G3 small form factor is GT 1030 and I would recommend Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile 2G over the ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5. GT 1030 is not at all recommended for VR gaming because it is not that powerful. Also, even if you upgrade your power supply to 500W then also you cannot use more powerful low profile cards such as low profile GTX 1650 or GTX 1050 Ti, because in HP Elitedesk 800 G3, PCI Express x16 slot runs at x4 bandwidth and is rated for 35 W maximum power instead of 75W.
Thank you so much for your feedback.
I want to ensure I understand. Please see the PDF manual for my computer at http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05935362.pdf
PDF page number 23 of 29 (printed page # 17) states the following:
NOTE: The PCI Express sockets support only low profile cards. You can install a PCI Express x1, x4, x8, or x16 expansion card in the PCI Express x16 socket. For dual graphics card configurations, the first (primary) card must be installed in the PCI Express x16 socket that is NOT downshifted to a x4.
However, in your email, you state “PCI Express x16 slot runs at x4 bandwidth and is rated for 35 W maximum power instead of 75W.”
Slot 4 is PCI Express x16 and is colored BLACK. Slot 1 is PCI Express x16 downshifted to a x4 and is colored WHITE.
Questions:
1 Should a single low profile card be installed in Slot 4 or Slot 1?
2 Does the availability of the Black Slot 4 which is PCI Express x16 (not downshifted to a x4) change your graphics card recommendation? Does this improve my options for a better, economical graphics card?
3 (a) If there is no change to your recommending the card that you recommend above, which slot should it be installed in?
(b) I assume the card that you recommend above is the Gigabyte GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 GV-N1030D5-2GL PCI-E Video Card DVI HDMI Low Profile. This has DDR5 rather than DDR4. This is not a ZOTEC card. I believe the card you recommend is at the following link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/144354641213 Am I correct?
Thank you again for your feedback.
Louis
Still, you have to use the GT 1030 only because even the black PCIe x16 (that runs at x16) is configured to deliver 35W power at maximum. You can install the card in the PCIe x16 black slot. Yes, the card I recommend is the DDR5 version, and do not ever go with the DDR4 one because the performance difference is quite significant between the two. Check these links: https://graphicscardhub.com/gt-1030-gddr5-vs-ddr4/ and https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/What-are-the-Video-Card-s-Suitable-For-Elitedesk-800-G3-SFF/td-p/6925867
hello sir, im planning to upgrade my dell vostro 3888 desktop pc with an amd radeon rx 6400. my pc has a wattage of 260w ,so am i able to use it with my pc? if you need any more information please let me know. here is the full details of the power supply:
Type 260 W Bronze
Input voltage 90 VAC to 264 VAC
Input frequency 47 Hz to 63 Hz
Input current (maximum) 3.20 A
Output current (continuous) Operating mode:
● +12 VA/16.50 A
● +12 VB/14 A
Standby mode:
● +12 VA/0.5 A
● +12 VB/2.5 A
Rated output voltage ● +12 VA
● +12 VB
Temperature range:
Operating 5°C to 45°C (41°F to 113°F)
Storage -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)
also, if it doesnt work can you give me other good options with similar price on amazon?
thanks,
I think you can use RX 6400 but make sure it is of compact form factor to avoid any fitting issues. Here are some of the best RX 6400 models that you can look at https://graphicscardhub.com/best-rx-6400/
would this one work too? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Y7358Kj
and would it be the same performance as the other ones?
thanks,
Yes, it will work and the performance will be the same as the other ones.
thank you very much for everything
You are most welcome!
if you dont mind i have just another question. i have never installed a graphics card before so can you tell me what do i need to do exactly for me to start using it? just place it in the pc and install the graphics driver for it?
yes, install the card in the PCIe x16 slot, connect the display cable to the graphics card video port, and install the graphics driver for your GPU.
ok thank you very much
wait.. do i install the graphics driver before plugging it into my monitor or after?
To get a display from your graphics card, first, you have to install the graphics card in the PCIe x16 slot.
hey im back with another question. i asked another person about this and they said that you would need more watts. the website also says that you need a minimum of 350 watts. so like would it still work with my wattage and why?
It should work fine unless you have any other power-hungry components installed in your PC. Manufacturers do overstate the PSU recommendation to remain on the safer side.
How do I make sure I don’t have any power hungry component?
If you have a high-end processor that is overclocked, multiple case fans, multiple hard drives
i dont know if my processor is high-end. my processor is intel core i5-10400. im not sure if it is overclocked. i have an application called parkcontrol on it. does that overclock it?
It is a mid-range processor and you will have no issues with RX 6400 regarding power. ParkControl is not for overclocking but only for tweaking processor cores e.g. enabling or disabling some cores.
ok thanks. also by the way, i had ultimate performance mode on i think that increases power usage but not sure. i looked it up and it said most likely it wont help in gaming. is that true? also should i still use parkcontrol?
Set it to balanced mode if you are more concerned. Also, do not use parkcontrol as it can mess up your processor settings.
i want to use high performance mode would that be fine aswell? also i did use parkcontrol before is there a way to reset any changes done to my processor?
You can use high performance mode.
Any changes you make with ParkControl are easily reverted. To restore defaults of a power plan, simply click the ‘Restore defaults’ link shown on the user interface. You can select each stock power plan (or overlay) to restore the defaults of it. https://bitsum.com/parkcontrol/
oh by the way, i was using HWmonitor while playing a game and here is what info i got from that testing. the highest wattage from each part was:
Package: 72.20w
IA cores: 67.33w
GT: 10.04w
DRAM: 2.65w
also here is the highest temperature recorded on the processor. it was 82.0C
Your power consumption is below 100W which is fine. Add 53W of RX 6400 and you will still stay below 150W.
ok thank you very much.
Hello sir, I wanted to ask you about something. I’m planning to upgrade my system with an m.2 512 gb nvme ssd because I have a HDD. So is it possible to upgrade considering my PSU? ( I won’t remove the HDD from my pc)
Yes, you can go with the NVMe SSD upgrade without any issues.
Ok thank you very much. I have another question. When I was playing a game before, for some reason the keyboard just disconnects or something because it wouldn’t work at all. This only happens in one game could it be that the PSU is the problem here?
No, it is not a PSU problem.
I really wish there were a Radeon RX 6500 right at that magic 75W with performance close to the RX 6500 XT. Even better if it were less than $200 and single slot!
The RX 6400 is just such an awesome little card for SFFs!
i can’t believe you’ve been monitoring this post for the past five years. impressive. with that being said, you’re the only one i know that’s able to comment on the current state of gpu affairs;
i’ve been looking at this:
https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/power_performance.html#scatter
the drawback is that the scatterplot should be 3d, not 2d, with price being the added dimension
so, start with price. it’s not that i can’t afford to pay $1000 for a gpu. it’s that i’m not doing it. it doesn’t actually have anything to do with price. it’s to do with i’m not paying for something that i want that i won’t be getting
what i don’t want is a five hundered watt gpu. i like paying for the bleeding edge, but there is nothing bleeding about getting a five hundered watt gpu
i have a pci-e cable, and i’ll use it if it’s for something i want
so i’m looking here because i’m getting an error code 43 on my evga gtx 750 ti, and have followed the troubleshooting steps with no resolution. after looking around, i’ve come to the conclusion that i’m just going to send it out for repair
i’ve considered:
https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-1660-Ti-vs-AMD-RX-6600-XT/4037vs4117
but i’m hard pressed to place a 120 tdw or 160 tdw card in my system:
ASRock B450 Gaming-ITX/ac
AMD Ryzen 7 2700
2x g skill F4-3200C14-8GFX
Windows 7 Ultimate (x64) Build 7601
seasonic 600w 80plus titanium
looking for a video card
i’m a conscientious consumer. i will not pay to have the industry manufacture gpus that consume more power. i want a gpu that consumes less power
What is your maximum power limit for the graphics card? If you want a great balance between performance and power at a reasonable price then RX 6600 XT is a very good option.
thank you, yes it is because i do not have a 4k monitor. i am also looking at rtx 4060-ti, which is using the exact same total dissipative watts
RTX 4060 Ti is also very power efficient but a little overpriced.
amd is advertising the release of a radeon rx 7600 using tdp of 120 w
so it’s now the proverbial question of should i purchase something now, or should i wait for something that i might like better
The Typical Board Power (Desktop) for RX 7600 is 165W. Please Check at https://www.amd.com/en/products/graphics/amd-radeon-rx-7600#product-specs
thank you for the correction. i wonder how i made that mistake
i found an interesting paragraph on tom’s hardware that broke it down in terms of frames per second / per watt
and an interesting discovery that the very latest cards have dropped support for win 7
and i’ve been looking a lot. so, as you probably know, here’s what i found:
RTX 4060 Ti (160 w)
$400 (horrible reviews on https://www.bestbuy.com/site/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4060-ti-8gb-gddr6-graphics-card-titanium-and-black/6543946.p
rx 7600 (165 tdw)
not a very kind review on tom’s hardware
$270 from msi (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1767272-REG/msi_r7600m2c8c_radeon_rx_7600_mech.html)
RTX 3060 Ti (200 w)
$420 from evga (https://www.evga.com/products/productlist.aspx?type=8)
$332 from zotac (amazon)
Sapphire RX 6600 XT
$217.77 from amazon
MSI Radeon RX 6600 XT
$255 from newegg
so the question is which manufacturer do you prefer. there are a lot of good ones to choose from. as far as resellers go, i like b & h photo video simply because they observe the sabbath. plus they have good customer service. i don’t like buying from amazon or ebay
so, in scripture it says fools don’t listen to advice, suggestions, or recommendations. lol, so ok, which brand/model, and where to buy it from. this is the last part of the puzzle. i don’t know why the msi version of the 6600 is fifty dollors more on b&h
Generally, I don’t have any preference for any manufacturer. What I look for is the price, form factor, and if the cooler is good enough. When buying online, better to avoid eBay and stick with Amazon, Newegg, or any other reputable website for electronic goods. Also, it is very important to check the seller’s feedback rating and profile before making a purchase.
mr. verma,
i have to admit that ordering a new video card has been the most unpleasant experience of the month. i would have rather worked in the yard pulling weeds
i decided not to purchase a card newer than the 6600 for the simple reason that the best thing that i can do to improve my video quality is to get the correct prescription glasses. lol, there isn’t any point in getting 4k at 144 fps if you can’t see
and besides, i’m not switching from win 7, so that was a factor, and also availability. there were a few newer cards, but like you said, this one is going to be what i need:
MSI – AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT MECH 2X 8G OC GDDR6 PCI Express 4.0 Gaming Graphics Card – Black
Model: RX 6600 XT MECH 2X 8G OC
SKU: 6476228
Quantity: 1
Product Price: $229.99
Item Total: $240.74 ($16 tax, $5 checkout discount)
from: best buy, usa
the very last thing: it’s funny how i came across an article on 75 watt graphics cards and ended up getting a 160 watt model. times change. thanks for your help akshat
You are most welcome my friend.
Hello, I really appreciate your blog on graphic cards. I did not read through all of the comments, however you made a very big omission in your list. The most powerful graphics card to not need external power is the Nvidia A2000 series. The card comes in both 6gb and 12gb and can be bought on Amazon for $250.00 Nobody should really buy the rx6400, and if they do make sure they are on a pci 4.0 system, otherwise they will be missing out on performance. Thanks, Bennett.
Thanks for your comment and feedback. The reason Nvidia A2000 is left out is because it is a workstation card.