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Spec me a GPU - Either new or 2nd hand.

Abz Hussain

Abz Hussain

Abz Hussain

Associate
Joined
18 Mar 2011
Posts
810
Location
East London.
Just picked myself up a 3700x, need a GPU to go with it. Have been out of the loop for a while with hardware so im trying to see what the consensus is out there.

In no particular order:
  • I need it for the usual day to day stuff.
  • Will be taking up/learning CAD for 3D Printing.
  • Light Video Encoding
  • Was a very light gamer, looking to take up Racing sims and flight sim again, again, very light gaming (Project cars, Assetto Corsa, F1, Microsft Flight Sim & Xplane).
  • I have one Dell 1440p 60 hz Monitor (non HDR) and one Full HD TV. (non HDR)
  • I will game on one or the other.
  • I want to play minimum very high settings.
  • GPU will reside in a SFF case, most probably DAN Case A4 or Sliger SM5XX series.
  • GPU can be new or used
  • Dont want to spend more than £250.
  • No intention to overclock, if anything may undervolt.
Having had a quick looksie here and there, my hunch is maybe a used 1070 or 1080, mini version.
Would love to know the thought of someone who knows GPUS better than me.
Thank you.
 
Sorry, this isn't going to deal directly with your question as it is, as you say, 'light' on the gaming side of things where I would know more. The one question I would raise is whether you might be prepared to throw another max £250 at a graphics card if you were to find the one your purchased broke. This is mainly a finance/budget question. If this wouldn't be an issue, then I think a used card is worth the risk. However, if this absolutely needs to last with no issues, then I would recommend going for a new card because of the warranty. It seems used cards these days hold their value pretty well, so you don't get a huge price saving by going used, but you do get the issue of potentially no warranty. If there is a huge price saving, particularly on a high-end model that would typically have cost way above £250, then you should be wary of it being an ex-crypto mining card.
 
SirPsychoZe0 said:
Sorry, this isn't going to deal directly with your question as it is, as you say, 'light' on the gaming side of things where I would know more. The one question I would raise is whether you might be prepared to throw another max £250 at a graphics card if you were to find the one your purchased broke. This is mainly a finance/budget question. If this wouldn't be an issue, then I think a used card is worth the risk. However, if this absolutely needs to last with no issues, then I would recommend going for a new card because of the warranty. It seems used cards these days hold their value pretty well, so you don't get a huge price saving by going used, but you do get the issue of potentially no warranty. If there is a huge price saving, particularly on a high-end model that would typically have cost way above £250, then you should be wary of it being an ex-crypto mining card.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply.
The budget is not a problem as such. I have the means to buy the top of the line cards that are available out there right now. Its more of a question of 'do i really need to spend £400+ for my use'.
I totally get where you're coming from though. I have been looking at cards on an auction site and seeing the prices they have been selling for and thought to myself 'well, if i just added another £60+ I could get new one and with warranty'. So yes, there is the peace of mind issue with newer cards and the fact that i could have them for longer.
Feel free to reccomend and thanks for your help.
 
Because of the video encoding and CAD work, there are probably very particular things you should look out for in a GPU that I just don't know enough about, so unfortunately I can't make any meaningful recommendations (something in the back of my head says more VRAM is probably important, but don't know why!). Whatever GPU is best for those purposes will likely also satisfy your gaming needs, so best that these factors are considered most important. I'm sure someone else will chip in shortly with some meaningful input. :D
 
SirPsychoZe0 said:
Because of the video encoding and CAD work, there are probably very particular things you should look out for in a GPU that I just don't know enough about, so unfortunately I can't make any meaningful recommendations (something in the back of my head says more VRAM is probably important, but don't know why!). Whatever GPU is best for those purposes will likely also satisfy your gaming needs, so best that these factors are considered most important. I'm sure someone else will chip in shortly with some meaningful input. :D
Click to expand...
no worries mate, im sure someone will chip in.. cheers
 
Used gpu's are a mugs game.

They are overpriced with no warranty.

With your budget I'd go 1660 super. However it will struggle with the following.

Microsoft flight sim
1440p
Very minimum very high settings

You might be okay since you are only at 60hz though.

Personally I would have went with a 3600x. It's on par with the 3700x for gaming but £100+ cheaper.

That £100 I would have added to the gpu budget instead and tried to get a 2070 or 2070 super.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
Used gpu's are a mugs game.

They are overpriced with no warranty.

With your budget I'd go 1660 super. However it will struggle with the following.

Microsoft flight sim
1440p
Very minimum very high settings

You might be okay since you are only at 60hz though.

Personally I would have went with a 3600x. It's on par with the 3700x for gaming but £100+ cheaper.

That £100 I would have added to the gpu budget instead and tried to get a 2070 or 2070 super.
Click to expand...

@Psycho Sonny - appreciate the advice, thank you.
If i can just pick your brains a lil further. Lets say I just DIDNT want to game. I just need a GPU to run my 1440p 60hz Dell and 1080p tv with a veiw to going either multi monitor or 4k in the future - what would you reccomend, new.
Cheers.
 
Abz Hussain said:
I know, crazy eh.

Anyways, on topic, I have decided I CBA to game just have better things to do.
So will just pick my self up a decent little new card and go with that.
Click to expand...

If you aren't gaming then you can use anything. I would spend as cheaply as possible because no cards off hdmi 2.1 compabitbaility. So you may want that in the future. So buy anything for now then upgrade to that when needed.
 
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