Need some help picking out a graphics card on a budget.

TheseAcidWords

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2018
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I've been waiting to buy a new graphics card for a PC I built two years ago. My brother gave me his graphics card when I built it, it was a Radeon something that was a great card in 2010. Anyway, I've recently been wanting to play Witcher 3, which I downloaded like a year ago, and I just got Nioh, and my computer runs both games terribly. I don't necessarily have the money, but I really want to upgrade to play some modern games and I need to do it cheap. I figure as things are going I'll have extra cash in the future, but not currently. So what are some suggestions for around $300 or cheaper. I've been going back and forth between the GeForce GTX 1050(closer to my budget) and the GeForce GTX 1060(the card I actually want). Am I going to be disappointed if I settle with the 1050 or will that work? Also, any other suggestions are appreciated.
 

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
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The rest of the computer specs would help, but a GTX 1060 is a much gaming card at 1080p. The GTX 1050 is more for casual gamers who don't need to crank up the settings, or play the most demanding games.

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/msi_geforce_gtx_1050_and_1050_ti_gaming_x_review,24.html

index.php
 

Tweak155

Lifer
Sep 23, 2003
11,447
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If you're good with 2nd hand market, I've seen a few GTX1060's go for ~$225 recently (and sometimes even less). The GTX1060 will last you a very a long time at 1080p.
 

TheseAcidWords

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2018
9
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Alright then I'm sold on the 1060. Have you had good luck with used graphics cards? I'm guessing they're pretty reliable. I'm not a tech guy, but I know I hear people talking about changing their card for more performance, not replacing it because it broke.
 

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
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One last thing, I'm assuming I shouldn't waste my time with the 3GB version and just go to the 6GB?

I wouldn't. The 3GB version is roughly 10% slower, and if you plan on keeping it for a while, the lower VRAM amount will come into play with games.
 

Elfear

Diamond Member
May 30, 2004
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I'd also keep your eyes open for an RX580. They're on par with a 1060 6GB and I've seen those drop into the $250 range recently.
 

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
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I think we need to know what CPU you are using and what power supply you have.
How about what resolution your playing at?
Do you care about MAX settings when high settings will give you 90% of the detail but 25% more performance.
The chart that was linked shows MAX detail is not needed .
A $120 used gtx960 4gb will play the witcher 3 at 50fps at HIGH settings@ 1080p, and look just as good for half the price.
 

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
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If this looks good to you, find a used gtx960 4gb and enjoy for about $120.
If you want to buy new ,a gtx1050ti is a bit faster (2%) than a gtx960 4gb but cost about 180$.
 
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TheseAcidWords

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2018
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That's an interesting idea, happy medium. Saving money is a good thing. My power supply is a Thermaltake SMART Series SP-650PCBUS 650W ATX 12V 2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS, and I got the Asus Z170-A DDR4 motherboard, and a Intel Boxed Core I5-6600K 3.50 GHz, 6 M Processor Cache 6 for LGA 1151 CPU. The one thing I just realized I should bring up is my case is a midsize... so that may restrict some cards. Sorry I have these copy and printed from the invoices if they're written out weird.
 

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
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That's an interesting idea, happy medium. Saving money is a good thing. My power supply is a Thermaltake SMART Series SP-650PCBUS 650W ATX 12V 2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS, and I got the Asus Z170-A DDR4 motherboard, and a Intel Boxed Core I5-6600K 3.50 GHz, 6 M Processor Cache 6 for LGA 1151 CPU. The one thing I just realized I should bring up is my case is a midsize... so that may restrict some cards. Sorry I have these copy and printed from the invoices if they're written out weird.

Cpu is good , power supply is good, I'm assuming your monitor is 1080p res.
save yourself a few bucks, look at the video I posted, a gtx960 4gb, gtx1050ti is all you need.
Ebay or even our for sale trade forums could save you $100 and you can enjoy your Witcher 3 experience just fine.

If you have a small case they make singe fan versions smaller versions of these cards.
new gtx1050ti
https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007709 601273503
used Evga gtx9604gb
https://www.ebay.com/itm/GeForce-GT...309609&hash=item4b46202a32:g:dEQAAOSwJqNbIFIu
good luck man.
 

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
7,380
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I'm going to respectfully disagree with the GTX 960. It's fine if you want to crank down the settings, but I'd personally pick up a GTX 1060 or RX 580 (maybe you could find a decent deal on a card like the GTX 980). The 1060 will just last longer, and you can use higher settings in the games. But the decision is yours, read a few reviews, and decide what would be better for your use.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/07/nvidia-gtx-1060-review/
 
Aug 11, 2008
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Still a tough time to be buying a graphics card. I cant believe the 1060 6gb is still going for 300.00, but that is the way things are with the mining demand. That would be my choice. NewEgg has an asus model for 310 with a 10% off promo, so that brings the price to 280. The 3gb model can be had for about 230; very tempting, but I would try to go for the 6gb model, especially since you said your budget is 300.00. Personally, I am uneasy buying a used gpu, but that is an option. I have found gpus to be the most troublesome parts of my computers, especially the fans, but if you are willing to take the risk you could save a lot of money.
 

TheseAcidWords

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2018
9
1
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After talking it over with a friend I'm still leaning towards the GTX 1060 or RX 580. We agreed I would be happier to spend the extra cash and not only get to play games at decent settings, but also I won't have to open this thing up every year or two to put the new discount card in. $150 isn't going to break me, and I think I'm ordering the RX 580 tomorrow.
 

TheseAcidWords

Junior Member
Jun 18, 2018
9
1
11
Also wanted to say, thanks for the help everyone. I'm not exactly a tech guy, but I do like having nice stuff, so thanks for helping me out.
 

Guru

Senior member
May 5, 2017
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361
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Anything lower than a GTX 1060 is NOT for gaming. You are already going to struggle in most newer games at 1080p and high settings with the GTX 1050ti, let alone an older and crappier card like the GTX 960.

The GTX 1060 6GB is a must have if you are a gamer, if you want good gaming experience at 60fps and max or close to max details in most games at 1080p then you need a GTX 1060 6GB.

The 6GB is also much better than the 3GB model, its 10% faster due to having about 10% more cores, and its obviously got double the vram, which helps.

Personally I wouldn't touch a used 1060 either, because of mining, you just don't know if its been used as a mining card. If you know the seller or you can verify he's a trusted seller then go for it, otherwise you can get a GTX 1060 6GB for up to $300, I've actually seen few models going around for $270.
 

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
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You are already going to struggle in most newer games at 1080p and high settings with the GTX 1050ti, let alone an older and crappier card like the GTX 960.

The gtx1050ti and gtx960 4gb have identical performance.
You should not post if you don't know what your talking about.

ANd you can play most games @ 1080p, high settings, @ 50 fps with a gtx1050ti and 960.

The OP made the right choice in the $300 range.
The gtx1060 6gb is 2x faster than a $130 gtx960 4gb or the 180$ gtx1050ti.
 

Guru

Senior member
May 5, 2017
830
361
106
The gtx1050ti and gtx960 4gb have identical performance.
You should not post if you don't know what your talking about.

ANd you can play most games @ 1080p, high settings, @ 50 fps with a gtx1050ti and 960.

The OP made the right choice in the $300 range.
The gtx1060 6gb is 2x faster than a $130 gtx960 4gb or the 180$ gtx1050ti.
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/2885/geforce-gtx-1050-ti

7% better performance over the GTX 960, even with an older set of games. I'm sure if you include the newest ones the difference will grow due to better game and driver optimizations for Pascal architecture.

Again check various youtube channels and techpowerup benches as well, the 1050ti struggles getting more than 30fps in the newest games at 1080p and max details.
 

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
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https://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/2885/geforce-gtx-1050-ti

7% better performance over the GTX 960, even with an older set of games. I'm sure if you include the newest ones the difference will grow due to better game and driver optimizations for Pascal architecture.

Again check various youtube channels and techpowerup benches as well, the 1050ti struggles getting more than 30fps in the newest games at 1080p and max details.
You are comparing a 2gb 960.
A 4gb 960 is about 7 % faster,
It has more cuda cores and will overclock 20% easily.
New games?