Minimum card for 4K desktop use?

[Denithor]

Looking for the lowest cost card to push a 4K screen for a buddy's shop PCs. He wants 4K screens on the front desks for the large real estate, cannot run with the iGPU (SB quads). Looking for a cheap option to drop in, preferably no need for external power if possible.

Suggestions?

 

[Mercennarius]

I assume he won't be doing any 4K gaming?

 

[zinfamous]

The 1050s and 460s both should be able to do this easy enough and both, I believe, have no additional power connectors @ $100 or less.

 

[fleshconsumed]

I know you said he can't use iGPU, but he might also double check on that iGPU. I'm not sure about SB chips, but DisplayPort on my AsRock Z97 Extreme4 can output 4K at 60Hz.

Otherwise any card that supports DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 2.0 which is the minimum you need to drive 4K at 60Hz.

 

[Denithor]

Nope, no gaming on these at all, just needs to function for basic desktop uses (maybe video streaming at most).

The PCs don't have HDMI or DP outputs, VGA/DVI only, and not even dual link DVI which might work through an adapter.

Will there likely be 1030/1040 cards that will output 4K? He shouldn't even need the power of 1050 level card, zero gaming.

 

[TheELF]

You can get an older series card,as fleshconsumed already said all you need the GPU to have is the proper output port,just go for the fastest of those that is still in your friends budged so he will be able to watch better streams 1080 and especially 4k streaming is a bitch.

 

[fleshconsumed]

Well, if the only motherboard iGPU outputs are VGA and single link DVI then yes, he'll need a videocard. nVidia never released anything below 950 during previous generation, so it's unlikely that we will ever see 1030/1040 which leaves him either with buying nVidia 1050 or AMD 460. Base price on these seem to be around $100, if he is in the US he can knock off another $15 with android checkout on newegg, the promo is valid until end of the month.

The only other option is look for older used stuff on ebay. As I said any card with DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 2.0 will do.

 

[Denithor]

I didn't realize that about the 9xx series generation, no really low power cards or fanless/HTPC cards? I guess the assumption is that iGPU from last couple years can handle all non-gaming needs? Unfortunately PCs in question are from couple generations before this, so not capable of 4K. Oh, and I doubt there will be any 4K video streaming, more likely 1080p source on 4K screen at most. Wasn't HDMI 2.0 just released with the 9xx series cards? So no going back to the 750, etc?

 

[Bacon1]

I didn't realize that about the 9xx series generation, no really low power cards or fanless/HTPC cards? I guess the assumption is that iGPU from last couple years can handle all non-gaming needs? Unfortunately PCs in question are from couple generations before this, so not capable of 4K. Oh, and I doubt there will be any 4K video streaming, more likely 1080p source on 4K screen at most. Wasn't HDMI 2.0 just released with the 9xx series cards? So no going back to the 750, etc?

Correct.

Best bet is Displayport if available or HDMI 2 if not. HDMI 2 is only Maxwell / Pascal or Polaris. Display port gives you a lot more options but you'd have to check the card specifics to see which one it has.

So 950, 1050 or 460 for HDMI 2

 

[SolMiester]

Even low end maxwell GT750 will drive 4k!

 

[happy medium]

let me help ya.
evga gtx750 $65 free shipping.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EVGA-NVIDIA...562537?hash=item360a458669:g:rmMAAOSwdIFXyE0a

good for 4k easy.
http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=02G-P4-3757-KR

 

[IllogicalGlory]

Cards that can drive more than one 4K monitor (i.e., have more than one displayport out) can be fairly expensive, and none of them are power connector-less, unless you can use HDMI 2.0. If that's the case, 1050/RX 460/950 75W are your best options.

This is the cheapest card with 2 displayport outs that I could find: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487159&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker, LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

[happy medium]

they use more power and are more costly but Gigabyte G1 gtx950/960 cards can output 3 displayports and 1 hdmi at the same time. They call it flex technology.
I have the 960.

http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5911#kf

The 1050 gigabyte G1 card can use 3 hdmi and a displayport at the same time and only 1, 6 pin power.
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=6061#sp

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4125917&cm_re=gtx_1050-_-14-125-917-_-Product

 

[ArtForz]

Cards that can drive more than one 4K monitor (i.e., have more than one displayport out) can be fairly expensive, and none of them are power connector-less, unless you can use HDMI 2.0.

Rather sad how this segment seemingly got abandoned and/or limited to $$$ "pro" cards.
HD7750 Eyefinity cards had 4x or 6x DP, could do 3x 3840x2160@60 DP1.2 SST or MST, required no power connector and weren't unreasonably expensive. 3 years ago.