Best Graphics Card Building a PC for Parents

cheaptech20 on 13/02/2021 - 17:15
Last edited 14/02/2021 - 11:58

I am currently building a PC for my parents, which can do the basics for their setup:
- Office applications
- Video streaming
- Web browsing
- Some minor video/ photo editing (but not much)

I have a system being built with the following specs, some of it's overkill, but had good deals:
CPU AMD Ryzen 5 3600 plus Wraith Cooler
MOBO: Gigabyte B550 Aorus
CASE: Corsair 4000D ATX Mid Tower
MEMORY: G.Skill Flare X 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory
SSD: Crucial P1 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME SSD
PSU: Corsair RM550x

I originally intended to use the integrated graphics, but now realise (after purchasing these parts) that Ryzen processors don't have integrated graphics.

Noting the above use case (no gaming other than solitaire) but they use a 4k 60hz monitor, what's the best graphics card for the money now? I'm not sure whether the GT710 and GT1030 are good enough?

EDIT:
Note a lot of the specs were at my parents request, I just found the deals for it. Some were higher, but I brought them down (e.g. 2 x 1TB NVMEs).
They already own a 4k monitor for docking a work laptop.

EDIT 2:
I think I will go with a GT 1030 - thanks all!

Computing

Comments

  • Diverse on 13/02/2021 - 17:20
    +3

    Ryzen does have integrated graphics, just has the G at the end of it.

    • bazingaa on 13/02/2021 - 20:06
      +1

      AMD Ryzen 5 3600 does not

      • Diverse on 13/02/2021 - 20:32
        +1

        This I understand, he said "that Ryzen processors don't have integrated graphics."

        • cheaptech20 on 14/02/2021 - 08:03
          +1

          I meant as opposed to Intel where most do have integrated graphics

  • Pelicannn on 13/02/2021 - 17:22
    +9

    Office applications
    - Video streaming
    - Web browsing
    - Some minor video/ photo editing (but not much)

    GTX 1030.

    Everything else is overkill, but so is the rest of the build for what they are doing so you may as well buy a 30xx series too.

    • FireRunner on 13/02/2021 - 17:27
      +5

      Yeah, OP could get a refurb Optiplex + GT1030 which would be more than sufficient to suit parents needs

  • xuqi on 13/02/2021 - 17:42
    +1

    GT1030 would be fine. Even a 2nd hand Quadro K620 would be enough for 4K desktop usage:

    https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/croydon/components/nvidia-qu…
    https://www.nvidia.com/content/dam/en-zz/Solutions/design-vi…

    I purchased a Dell Optiplex 3070 micro for my parents from Dell last year for $700, as I figured a dull desktop pc would be overkill for them.

    i5 9500T, 32GB DDR4, 512GB NVMe, Wi-Fi +Bluetooth.

    Small footprint, whisper quiet, and runs using a 60W AC adaptor.
    https://imgur.com/a/kYBW5SN

  • Jugganautx on 13/02/2021 - 18:22
    +2

    a 2nd hand 970 would do the job.

    • This Guy on 13/02/2021 - 21:44

      A secondhand PCIe 6800 GT would do the job.

      A 1030 is a far better answer than either of these.

  • psyren89 on 13/02/2021 - 19:32

    I just listed a GT610 for $10 on FB marketplace if you want to go really budget :P

    Edit: just saw it needs to power a 4K monitor, that's me out.

  • zrmx on 13/02/2021 - 20:09
    +1

    Gt 1030

  • AndyC1 on 13/02/2021 - 21:01
    +3

    Something is a miss. 1GB SSD and 32GB RAM and 4K monitor, but only use the apps listed and Some minor video/ photo editing (but not much)….

    Why waste money on the 1GB SSD when a 500GB and say a 4GB HDD is probably a better solution as video editing needs a bit of HDD space.
    4K monitor for the apps and minor video seems an overkill.
    32GB RAM - more than I have used and I have done allot more than listed…

    AS such I cannot recommend a video card as I would have said get the cheapest you can, but the specs of the components used indicate that you need to get a $300 to $400 video card to keep up with the rest of the spec.

    • Diverse on 13/02/2021 - 21:08

      Could be a place holder while the 3000 RTX series prices drop back down.

    • cheaptech20 on 14/02/2021 - 08:04
      +1

      They already had the 4k monitor - and they know how to use computers and requested these specs. But do not care about the graphics card

  • djones145 on 13/02/2021 - 21:52
    +1

    if it parents are paying, nothing but the best

    gives u a reason to visit for a feed and some gaming hahahha

  • knightslay2 on 13/02/2021 - 22:22
    +1

    Op, why not a Ryzen 3300G? that has integrated graphics and you don't have to buy a graphics card.

  • Agret on 13/02/2021 - 22:31
    +1

    Get a Ryzen 3300G or 3400G and you won't need a graphics card. 3600 will be overkill for their usage anyway.

    The GT 710 doesn't list 4k resolution capable:

    https://www.geforce.co.uk/node/13144/specifications

    GT 710 Display Support:
    2560x1600*Maximum Digital Resolution
    2048x1536Maximum VGA Resolution

    The GT1030 will be capable of 4K output though :)

    https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/graphics-cards/gt-1030/…

    7680x4320@60 Hz Maximum Digital Resolution

    This video shows the GT 1030 is marginally better than the 3200G but for your purposes you are better off buying a 3200G than a 3600 and saving the money that would've been spent on a 1030.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE4SWQ2EXZM

  • [Deactivated] on 14/02/2021 - 00:24

    Swap the CPU for a 3400g. Either sell the CPU, and you'd be able to buy the 3400g for less, or just ask someone to swap. i'm sure people would gladly lineup for that trade

  • MontyMacaw on 14/02/2021 - 10:45
    +3

    Is it just me or could this be yet another ageism post presuming older people are not tech savvy and don’t appreciate high quality tech? Most older people I know grew up through the computer revolution and have had computers for over 40 years and could teach most people a thing or two. Btw 40 years ago most people used cassette tape to load programmes. Then went to real floppy disks at great expense helping pave the way for the development of today’s tech. I imagine this not being an issue 40 years from now as AI treats everybody equally.

    • cheaptech20 on 14/02/2021 - 11:57
      +3

      Good point! As the OP, no ageism on my part, but some of the comments certainly do have tones of this. My parents came off a 10 year old top spec machine (that they chose) and used to use it a lot for work. So they know their way around computers enough to demand things lol

      • MontyMacaw on 14/02/2021 - 13:01
        +4

        Many forward thinking older people want top of the line specs in their tech so it will last them a lot longer as their incomes decline and the tech won’t need replacing for some time.

        • cheaptech20 on 14/02/2021 - 16:53
          +1

          Exactly right!

        • Agret on 15/02/2021 - 23:28

          We've reached the point where buying an ex-corp 4th gen i7 desktop from ebay/graysonline for $300 will be more than enough for most home users, just put an SSD in there if it hasn't been already done by the seller and you will have a very fast machine that's capable of eating up any desktop processing task.

  • Ramrunner on 14/02/2021 - 11:24
    +3

    Look, fair go the parents made most of the specifications, but for the use case scenario really a decent Gen 10 or 11 Intel NUC that sits on the desk or mounts behind their monitor will do the job just fine rather than a power guzzling behemoth tower.

    I know I'll cop crap for saying that and I'll accept it but my experience is keep it simple. NUCs have 3 year warranty and are generally indestructible.

    Sorry to butt in - I'll go back in my box now.

  • johnno07 on 15/02/2021 - 09:07
    +2

    I assume you already have storage aside from the 1TB SSD?

    • cheaptech20 on 15/02/2021 - 22:20

      Their old PC had HDDs so I might move it across

    • Agret on 15/02/2021 - 23:30

      Do you think they would need more than 1TB? I deal with a lot of elderly clients when fixing/upgrading PCs as my job and they often have used only 200-300gb of their drive even with lots of photos and had the computer for 5-10yrs already. Usually half of that storage is taken up by 1 or 2 old hard drives from previous machines copied to the new machine with the documents/pictures copied not moved to their new user profile so the actual usage is actually closer to 80-100gb. It's only when you start downloading movies/tv shows/youtube that you can fill it up quickly and not everyone consumes media this way.

      • johnno07 on 16/02/2021 - 09:57

        OP mentioned video/photo editing which is a red flag for potentially requiring a little more storage.

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