Lockdown Gaming GPU

Stretch · 24 Jan 2021 at 00:45

I've been out of the gaming world for a while. My PC is 10yo, Core2 Quad Q9400, 8GB, 450 gts. It's been a loyal friend, but practically an antique now.

Like almost everyone else, I've been watching the GTX 3000 series availability, so I can do a major upgrade, but I've given up hope now.

I'd really like to have a semi-reasonable gaming PC to help me through the remainder of lockdown.

I was hoping to upgrade my monitor to a 49" ultrwide, but I'm happy to keep using my 24" 1920 × 1200 if helps me find a card that will play games at not potato settings without braking the bank.

My new plan is to buy a new rig, and use a stop gap card. Can anyone recommend the best bang for buck in the £200-300 bracket that isn't going to be worthless in a few months time?

Stretch · 24 Jan 2021 at 14:16

mickyflinn said:
Best to get something from the members market new overclockers are selling rx580 from £320 bargain i think not, thats the state of the gpu market.

What is the minimum spec GPU needed to play most games these days.

Something like a GeForce GTX 1650?

Stretch · 24 Jan 2021 at 23:50

IICIIEII said:
Sooo... my two cents. It is true that time is horrible to buy a new or second hand card, since something like the 980Ti is being sold for 200 pounds at the moment on Ebay. However, you also say that you will be playing at 1920x1080 and you have been out of the gaming world for a while. You could grab a regular 980, for example, and play games like Witcher 3, Fallout 4, or many great classics, like the Dead Space Trilogy, Borderlands 1 and 2, Portal 1 and 2... just to mention a few games in no particular order. Those are relatively mild in requirements nowadays but still fantastic experiences if you did not experience them. Also, they will be quite friendly to your Quad Core. Moreover, there are tons of great indie and not so indie titles in Steam that do not require anything powerful and are still quite awesome (Ion Fury?). I am sure you have plenty of games to play before you buy the new rig .

Thanks

Just to clarify my current rig situation. I could buy a new rig now if it helps, I'm just a bit stumped about what GPU I should put in it.

Games I would like to play are

Dirt Rally 2.0
Forza Horizon 4
COD Cold War
Far Cry 5/6
Counter Strike
GTA 3-5

If availability was better, I'd probably go for an RTX 3080, and get a new monitor.

However, since that's probably 5-6 months away, I just need a card that will allow me to play those kind of games @ 1920x1080 until supply picks up later in the year.

I'm beginning to think that if I want a gaming rig at the moment, I just need to be prepared to write-off ~£200.

Stretch · 25 Jan 2021 at 00:09

So far my short list is

RX580
1650 Super
1050TI
980TI

Should I discount any of these because they are too underpowered, and/or is there a price/performance sweat spot?

Stretch · 25 Jan 2021 at 00:17

Zefan said:
What fps are you looking for? Big difference between ultra at 100fps+ vs 60fps with some settings turned down to medium/high. For the latter you'd be fine with a 580 I reckon, otherwise you're in to £200-250+ territory in the current horrendous market, something like a 1080.

Yours is the second RX580 recommendation

Are these still available to buy new, or am I looking at second hand?

Also, would these still preform in my current rig (in OP), or is it too much of a bottleneck?