Reference: List of "Value GPU" candidates

[DevTech]

List of "Value GPU" candidates 

 

I have noticed that sometimes people that don't want to spend a fortune on a GPU card end up getting a recent model low-end card from a model selection that is designed to trap consumers into getting very poor value.

 

In most cases, an older model more capable GPU at the same price will provide much more value.

 

For this initial attempt at a Neowin Reference, I have only included NVIDIA models, but if there is any interest I can update with AMD information.

 

UPDATE: to be part of NVIDIA's current driver updates, any NVIDIA GPU needs to be 600 series or later. 

 

I am also interested in getting pricing feedback from various geographical regions in order to see the sweet spots in value.

 

 

List of common mid-range/affordable cards

sorted in order of performance

(a few higher cards included for reference)

 

1070 Ti - 12260 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+1070+Ti

 

980 Ti - 11322 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?id=3218

 

1070 - 11056 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?id=3521

 

980 - 9577 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?id=2953

 

 

Under 10000

 

780 Ti - 8888 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+780

 

1060 - 8842 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+1060

 

1060 3GB - 8781 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+1060+3GB

 

970 - 8582 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+970

 

780 - 7971 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+780&id=2525

 

1060 with Max-Q Design - 6710 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+1060+with+Max-Q+Design&id=3769

 

 

Under 6000

 

770 - 6089 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+770

 

960 - 5805 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+960

 

1050 Ti - 5802 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+1050+Ti

 

680 - 5683 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+680

 

670 - 5373 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+670

 

950 - 5023 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+950

 

760 ti - 5090 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+760

 

580 - 5021 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+580

 

 

Under 5000

 

760 - 4941 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?id=2561

 

660 Ti - 4679 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+660

 

1050 - 4425 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+1050&id=3596

 

570 - 4419 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+570

 

480 - 4355 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=geforce+gtx+480

 

660 - 4124 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?id=2152

 

 

Under 4000

 

750 Ti - 3710 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+750

 

470 - 3694 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+470

 

560 Ti - 3537 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+560

 

650 Ti BOOST - 3534 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+650

 

750 - 3283 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+750&id=2825

 

560 - 3123 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?id=71

 

 

Under 3000

 

460 - 2655 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+460

 

1030 - 2297 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GT+1030

 

745 - 2173 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+745

 

550 Ti - 1927 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=geforce+gtx+550+ti

 

650 - 1831 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTX+650&id=2155

 

 

Under 1500

 

450 - 1558 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GTS+450

 

640 - 1282 - https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=GeForce+GT+640

 

 

Observations

 

 

There are also some notable observations from that list:

 

- the 1030 really sucks

 

- they sold a lot of 560 Ti which means used availability might be good UPDATE: needs to be 600 series or greater to get current drivers

 

- the 580 really holds on nicely for its age UPDATE: needs to be 600 series or greater to get current driver

 

- the 950 is surprisingly well endowed

 

- the 770 holds up well as the best (affordable)  performer of the pre-9xx generation

 

- the 1060 really pulls away from the crowd compared to previous generation type jumps.

 

 

Anyone passing by: please comment on this list to add corrections, omissions, your experience... It would be interesting for people to mention which cards hit a value sweet spot in their geographic location.

 

Based on looking at the value GPUs in  list of older GPUs above, I grabbed a GTX 770 to test out to see if there is a non-benchmark perceptual improvement over a GTX 570

 

I will report back - Yes, so I did that and the 770 is very much nicer than the 570 and also hits the arbitrary NVIDIA cutoff point for current driver support. The 770 will meet the gaming needs of any casual  and mid-level gaming, but of course there are a couple of significant jumps beyond it to 1060, again a big jump to 1080 to 2080.

 

 

[PGHammer]

I pointed to the GTX 1050Ti as a value-GPU candidate (vs. the non-TI version of the same GPU) due to capabilities vs. price.

 

1.  The Ti version typically uses no more power at the slot than the non-Ti version - a power pig it is not.  For those same reasons, it can replace straight-up any non-powered nV GPU of the previous generation (if not a good half of the powered nV GPUs of two or more generations back - only the Titans can't have their chop called - surprising that a mainstream GPU can do that.

 

2.  Then there is that lack of power use - the GTX 1050 Ti uses less than 80W, despite a loadout of 5 GB of GDDR5.  To put that in understandable terms, the GTX550Ti it replaced (of mine) used more power, and had one-fifth the memory.  It didn't merely get blown into last year (the older part) - it got blown into five years ago.

 

3.  A GTX 1060 would have been overkill - 4K would, in fact, BE overkill - my display doesn't go there - nor is it on the horizon.

[DevTech]

7 minutes ago, PGHammer said:

I pointed to the GTX 1050Ti as a value-GPU candidate (vs. the non-TI version of the same GPU) due to capabilities vs. price.

 

1.  The Ti version typically uses no more power at the slot than the non-Ti version - a power pig it is not.  For those same reasons, it can replace straight-up any non-powered nV GPU of the previous generation (if not a good half of the powered nV GPUs of two or more generations back - only the Titans can't have their chop called - surprising that a mainstream GPU can do that.

 

2.  Then there is that lack of power use - the GTX 1050 Ti uses less than 80W, despite a loadout of 5 GB of GDDR5.  To put that in understandable terms, the GTX550Ti it replaced (of mine) used more power, and had one-fifth the memory.  It didn't merely get blown into last year (the older part) - it got blown into five years ago.

 

3.  A GTX 1060 would have been overkill - 4K would, in fact, BE overkill - my display doesn't go there - nor is it on the horizon.

You jumped from 1927 to 5802 on my list above.

 

So how much is the going price right now for a 1050 ti? From building up a list of prices converted to U.S.D. we might over time see some value sweet spots.

 

I paid about $60 for the GTX 770 at 6089, about the same level as a 1050 ti.

 

Of course there are lots of details such as DX Version, RAM size etc that can make individual comparisons interesting but one goal I had in mind was a handy reference for people that want to play games on a budget.

 

The other primary goal of course for any topic at Neowin is that we find it entertaining so all thoughts and opinions are welcome!

 

 

 

[PGHammer]

The MSI GTX 1050 TI GT OC (the version I own) is identical in configuration to the EVGA GTX 1050 Ti SSC (there is no difference except cosmetics).  Meanwhile the EVGA GTX 1050 Ti FTW and ASUS STRIX GTX 1050 Ti both require 6-pin power auxilliary feeds (for use for the cooling systems) despite neither having any more fans than the SSC or GT OC (both of which are dual-fan dual-width slot versions.  The surprising part is that my GT OC is, despite the two fans, silent in the default automatic fan configuration - and it sits atop my desk; if it made ANY noise - coil-whine or otherwise - I'd be aware of it because of that position - less than a foot from my right ear.  It's quieter than the one-fan GTX550 Ti it replaced. (An additional boggle factor, in fact.)

 

Best price from Amazon-based sellers is $238 - which is - quite bluntly - utter screwball - and I'm being nice. (I paid two-thirds of that.)  The week before I pulled the trigger, the prtice had spiked to $189USD (mining-related shens) and I maintained my stall (which had reached a month).  I suspect similar shens - and I therefore suggest doing nothing.  Do NOT succumb to such silly-season shens.

[DevTech]

I have updated this reference list with a note about current NVIDIA driver support needing a 600 series or greater. It is a bogus arbitrary limit that discards a 580 while including a 620 but that's the way it is.

 

DO NOT buy a low end 600 to get current driver support. Very poor value. Check the value list first.

 

And finally I report back on my experiment to buy a used GTX 770 to prove it has EXCELLENT VALUE and the real world experience completely matches the benchmark numbers and maybe a bit more, it just seems to feel like it is not straining at all when the 570 is huffing and puffing. A minor distinction on older hardware since exposing the 770 to games you know it can't run would humble the beast compared to current gen GPUs