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Low spec Dell in need of GPU

pilsburypie

pilsburypie

pilsburypie

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Joined
30 Jun 2011
Posts
335
Location
Birmingham UK
Hi all. My young lad has a very basic Dell 3268 i3 7100 with the inbuilt 630 graphics.

He loves playing Fortnite on the PS4 but when he tries on the PC it is unplayable due to serious lag even at lowest quality settings.

From my limited understanding, this is almost certainly from the very low specced PC, particularly the inbuilt graphics. Some research also leads me to believe adding a GPU is rather tricky due to small form factor and low powered PSU. However someone mentioned the Geoforce GT1030 as it is slim, can take the 30w it needs from the slot rather than the PSU and is pretty cheap at £65.

I’d love some thoughts and advice on this. After nothing more than a cheap fix to enable Fortnite playing!
 
Theres a guy here, running a 1050ti and an SSD

https://www.dell.com/community/Inspiron-Desktops/Inspiron-3668-GPU-upgrade/td-p/6089904

‎06-08-2018 01:09 PM
Re: Inspiron 3668, GPU upgrade?
I have added Asus 4gb GTX 1050Ti Graphics card

SanDisk 480gb SSD drive

Also added me spare 300gb 3.5" hard drive

Pc is now super fast with great graphics

all working with the original PSU 240w
Click to expand...

here is a 2GB 1050 vrs 4GB 1050ti


It all comes down to how much you want to spend on it.

Does it need to be a low profile card? As if it does that limits the options a bit.
 
bru said:
Theres a guy here, running a 1050ti and an SSD

https://www.dell.com/community/Inspiron-Desktops/Inspiron-3668-GPU-upgrade/td-p/6089904



here is a 2GB 1050 vrs 4GB 1050ti


It all comes down to how much you want to spend on it.

Does it need to be a low profile card? As if it does that limits the options a bit.
Click to expand...
That 3668 looks like it has a bigger case than the one we have on the 3268. Also has a 240w power supply compared to my 180w. Very low power. Plus i5 vs i3. Mine has to be as bog standard basic as you can get.
The only reason I mention low profile card is that’s what I’ve read on my travels. As far as what I want to spend..... as little as possible. At a later date a new machine seems to be the sensible option.
 
Last edited:
My bad I copy pasted the model number and didn't notice the google result was a different model.

Well at least it gives you an idea of how well the lower 1030 card could perform, just lowering the setting more.
 
Thanks for all the advice. Fully aware this is a sticking plaster until I have to buy a better specced machine. Just hope the 180w PSU holds up.... the card specs recommend 300w:eek:
 
pilsburypie said:
Thanks for all the advice. Fully aware this is a sticking plaster until I have to buy a better specced machine. Just hope the 180w PSU holds up.... the card specs recommend 300w:eek:
Click to expand...
You should be okay. Graphics card vendors always go way overboard on PSU recommendations to account for people using a "500W" Chinese special from Ebay that cost £15. An i3 7100 and GT 1030 aren't going to get anywhere near 180W, even accounting for other components, and the PSU is a respectable 80 Plus Bronze-rated unit.
 
Aren't OEM PSUs like Dell quoted for sustained load (so more like a 250 or even 300 for a generic)? I thought they were. It shouldn't an issue though, doubt that PC with a 1030 would be much over 70ish. The i3 really isn't slow for older or mainly single/2 thread games, but the 630 is poop. Does it have single channel memory? That'd make a 630 even worse.
 
If you can get a low profile SFF 1050ti, these are also minus a power jack, and get all their juice from the PCIE slot (so max 75W), so if you can find one for a good price, this would be a better idea as FAR faster than a 1030.
That being said the better low profile ones like the MSI have double height cooling that ideally want some free space under that to let air get to the card.

Well worth it if you can though, got one in my HTPC and it does a great job on the odd bit of backup gaming.
 
Thanks for all the great advice. Really appreciated as you lot are clearly very knowledgeable. FYI I have decided to go for the GT1030. Fully understand this is a low spec GPU but for the £65 (half that of the better 1050) it will hopefully be the cheapest “fix” to enable my young lad to do what he wants on fortnite on low/medium settings which he is currently unable to do. I’m in no doubt in the not to distant future I’ll be back asking for a spec on a proper gaming machine.

Merry Christmas all
 
@pilsburypie JFYI if you're dead set on getting a GT1030...
nvidia made 2 versions, one with DDR4 and (the original) one with GDDR5

I highly advise you to steer clear of the version with DDR4, as this was made basically to scam unknowing people
the performance gulf between the two versions is huge

https://www.gamersnexus.net/hwrevie...1030-gddr5-benchmark-worst-graphics-card-2018
Unfortunately, because the new GT 1030 obfuscates that choice and conveniently blends its significant DDR4 reduction into product IDs, we must rescind that recommendation. The average consumer cannot reasonably be expected to look at “GT 1030 2GB OC LPD4” and understand that is 55% slower than “GT 1030 2GB OC LPG5.”
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for pointing that out. The one I ordered is the ddr5 version.

Just one more question. I’m pretty sure I read I have to do something in the bios before fitting the new card..... legacy settings or something? Again any simple idiot guide instructions appreciated.
 
Found the article. Says have to go into bios and turn secure boot off and CSM and Legacy option Roms on.... this sound right? How do I get into bios? F2 on boot up?
 
You would need a 1030 as far as anything new goes that will be useful or maybe an older r5 250 or whatever it is, both have LP option and under 40w.
 
Thanks for that. When this gpu arrives on 28th I’ll simply try plug and play first off and mess around in the bios only if I’m having issues.
 
Sorry I hadn’t posted back on the results. GT1030 arrived and installed a couple of weeks ago. Fortnite works great with no glitching on medium settings. My lad is chuffed to bits. Original PSU having no obvious issues. Thanks for all the help and advice
 
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