# Recommend a (cheap) graphics card **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 24, 2021, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-graphics-card/942808 "2021-05-24T15:32:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-graphics-card/942808/1 "2021-05-24T15:32:11Z")
My windows box has been cobbled together, mostly from discarded parts. The motherboard is a Dell Optiplex 9010 SFF, but it’s in a full size case with a decent PSU. The card in there is an AMD FirePro v4900. It’s fine. I play mostly old games. But the fan has started to die. I could buy the same card on eBay for $25, but I imagine there’s something better. Any suggestions? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-graphics-card/942808/2 "2021-05-24T23:31:15Z")
It is a very bad time to buy video cards, because of pandemic but also Bitcoin mining. But sounds like you don’t need much so any older AMD or Nvidia card of an agreeable price should be fine. Here’s a couple GPU hierarchies, find one that’s not at the top of the lists. > **[GPU Hierarchy 2023 - Graphics Card Tier List \[Updated List\]](https://www.gpumag.com/gpu-hierarchy/)** > > Find out how different GPUs stack up as we make the ultimate GPU hierarchy based on performance while also keeping value in mind. > **[2023 GPU Benchmark and Graphics Card Comparison Chart](https://www.gpucheck.com/gpu-benchmark-graphics-card-comparison-chart)** > > 2023 This list is a compilation of almost all graphics cards released in the last ten years. Take the guesswork out of your decision to buy a new graphics card. In this GPU benchmark comparison list, we rank all graphics cards from best to worst in a... > **[GPU Hierarchy 2023 \[Nvidia + AMD\] - Graphics Card Tier List](https://www.gamingscan.com/gpu-hierarchy/)** > > Want to know how different graphics cards (GPU) compare against each other? We've made this tier list of all current-generation graphics cards. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-graphics-card/942808/3 "2021-05-24T23:54:19Z")
I’ve got an AMD Radeon R7 200 series card, which isn’t listed on any of those sites. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-graphics-card/942808/4 "2021-05-25T00:52:48Z")
Just a quick aside, for the reasons @thelurkinghorror mentioned, specifically bitcoin mining, it’s a very, VERY bad time to buy a USED video card. The market is flooded with used cards that have been redlined for months and then returned riiiiiight before the warranty expires or just simply put up as ‘used’ on a number of sites. One of my friends who used to work in the business (he worked on Darksiders 1&2 and after then went over went to work for bank because he was sick of the uncertainty) was trying to upgrade his system and was warned off by friends still in the industry. Of course, since a new card generally has a at least 100% markup from before COVID and crypto, you may want to take your chances. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-graphics-card/942808/5 "2021-05-25T05:57:15Z")
Yeah, I’m aware that it’s a terrible time to buy a graphics card. But at some point this fan is going to die, and it’s going to annoy me every day until then, so I’ve got to suck it up and buy _something_. My plan is to buy something new but pretty out-dated. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-graphics-card/942808/6 "2021-05-25T06:26:14Z")
For your processor and power supply, I’d recommend a GTX 1050 Ti LP (low profile). It can run off the power through the PCIe slot without requiring additional plugging in direct from the PSU and shouldn’t have any significant bottlenecks with the CPU. It’s also a fairly capable card (for what it is) but pointless for crypto mining. It should be a $125 card which means you’ll probably pay $200+ in this market. Stay away from Wish and other sketchy sites or eBay sellers coming from China; you’ll just wind up with a crappy older card like a GTS 450 with the BIOS flashed to make the computer think it’s a 1050 Ti. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-graphics-card/942808/7 "2021-05-25T15:52:45Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > For your processor and power supply, I’d recommend a GTX 1050 Ti LP (low profile). I can personally recommend this card, as I was using one until 3-4 years ago (it’s actually still running in my wife’s PC for that matter). She uses it to play World of Warcraft (not particularly demanding) and Civ 5 (also not demanding), so probably more than enough for your needs. When I was using it, it was more than adequate for Skyrim (much more demanding, but again, an older game as you suggested you played). ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-graphics-card/942808/8 "2021-05-25T16:13:13Z")
Yeah, it’s a decent card. More importantly, it works within the issues that the computer has: Small form factor case but the low profile card will fit (make sure to get the low profile one) Low powered PSU (probably 250W) but the card can work off that No PCIe power connectors on PSU but card can draw all its power off the board Older CPU but the 1050Ti isn’t so powerful as to go wasted paired with the 3rd gen i5 chip Only issue now is in finding one for an acceptable price. Since it’s actually half decent for modern gaming, people have been buying them up as stand-in cards until more powerful GPUs become more readily available. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-graphics-card/942808/9 "2021-05-25T16:35:51Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Small form factor case but the low profile card will fit (make sure to get the low profile one) > Low powered PSU (probably 250W) but the card can work off that > No PCIe power connectors on PSU but card can draw all its power off the board > [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Dell Optiplex 9010 SFF, but it’s in a full size case with a decent PSU. I have a full size case and a 500W power supply. The only challenge is that the actual motherboard might have some components in the way of a full-length card. I could put a much more powerful card in here but I just have no need for it, and as has been pointed out, it’s definitely not the time for a stretch upgrade. The 1050 looks like a good option, thanks for the recommendation. Sounds like to buy one I should just check online storefronts regularly and try to get lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-graphics-card/942808/10 "2021-05-25T16:52:28Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I have a full size case and a 500W power supply Ah, I missed that last night. Wouldn’t really change my opinion though given your use case aside from not sweating the low profile aspect when 1050 Ti shopping and maybe getting a 1060 instead if it was available. Since you have power available, you could also look for an RX 570 on the AMD side or even a used R9 290(X) if you could find one. Worst case scenario if the existing card died would be to buy a GTX 1030 which is somewhat available and still a significant step up from your existing card. Make sure to buy one with DDR5 memory since the older ones with DDR3 are much worse performance-wise. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-graphics-card/942808/11 "2021-05-25T17:35:03Z")
I have a GTX 970, which was probably never good enough for crypto, but I think it scores higher than a 1050. Works on all games I try it on, but not on the highest settings. I don’t really know what the aftermarket looks like for those.