Recommend Me a Graphics Card - Budget $250 (No Gaming)

geordie10 on 20/06/2024 - 13:22
Last edited 20/06/2024 - 17:39 by 2 other users

Hi everyone, I appreciate some tech bargain advice on this one.

Story is I have upgraded my dual monitors to 32” 4K. My graphics card is struggling to output 4K to both and watching video is just not happening. I don’t do any gaming or video editing. The most would be watching 4K video in full screen.

Currently have a
MSI B350M Pro-VDH AM4 Motherboard
AMD Radeon RX550 Graphics Card

Can anyone recommend me something capable or any deals to watch out for. I don’t really want to upgrade motherboard if not entirely necessary and my budget is $250.

Thanks for any advice.

Computing Computer Component Video Card

Comments

  • AusRetro on 20/06/2024 - 13:26
    +2

    You'll want to go secondhand for your budget. You could probably find a 5700XT or a 2060 Super for around that price. Another option is going a bit over to around $300 for a 2070 Super.

  • scrimshaw on 20/06/2024 - 13:42
    +3

    you just need a newer generation GPU, not neccessarily a more powerful graphics card. Different GPU generations introduce support for newer kinds of video codecs, so if your graphics card doesn't decode AV1 for example, you fall back to software based decoding.

    RDNA2-based GPU's and Nvidia Ampere series GPU has Av1 decoding for example. Without a supported card, your video player can still brute force on a CPU (Software decoding is not very efficient and you'll see stutters if your processor isn't high end enough to handle it).

    According to Wikipedia an RX550 would have UVD6.3. The chart shows no VP9 hardware decode for that card.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Video_Decoder

    I'd probably take a look at the used RX 6600 $219, though note some caveats:

    • No original box, card only.
    • Used for mining
    • “Working condition, some rust and oxidation”
    • 3 month warranty
    • donga100 on 20/06/2024 - 14:25
      +1

      Lol at those caveats.

    • MrThing on 20/06/2024 - 14:41
      +1

      "used for mining"

      is code for "(profanity) fuked mate"

    • Gnostikos on 20/06/2024 - 18:08
      +1

      “Working condition, some rust and oxidation”

      Lol, hard pass.

  • AustriaBargain on 20/06/2024 - 16:37

    You don't necessarily need to render the game at 4K to enjoy your 4K display. A lot of games these days will let you render the game itself at 1080p or whatever resolution you want, but the graphical overlays (menus, the health bar over your character, status indicators etc.) can render in full crispy 4K. On games like Overwatch it makes a huge difference imo. So you may not need the $1,000 4070 Max or whatever to experience the game in 4K. Bet you could find a $250 (or so) card that would make you happy.

    • FireRunner on 20/06/2024 - 18:48
      +1

      OP doesn't play video games…

      • AustriaBargain on 20/06/2024 - 19:00
        +1

        I think I used to have an rx550 actually. Ran multiple 4K monitors just fine. Maybe they just need better cables. I've got loads of cables the won't work properly.

  • johncaus on 20/06/2024 - 16:38
    +1

    You don't list what CPU you have? it's important.

  • qaz182 on 20/06/2024 - 16:57

    Can I play this game too?

    I have a Nvidia 2080 Super and thinking of upgrading sometime over the next 6 months

    My CPU is a i7 9700K and 32gb of DDR4 Ram

    I currently have a 1440p monitor (and 2 1080p monitors) and aren't planning to upgrade to 4k anytime soon

    But being able to run higher framerates at 1440p would be nice as would be the extra multitasking performance and AI image gen

    Was thinking 4080 Super but it might be overkill for a 1440p system. Oh and unlike the OP, this is for gaming

    • liquornoodlescabbage on 20/06/2024 - 18:03
      +1

      If theres no real rush it wouldn't hurt to wait for the new Zen 5 parts to come out in July. Hopefully will bring down the price of current AMD parts even more. If you've got the budget the 7800x3d is the way to go, trades blows or wins outright against the the 14900k and is significantly more efficient.

      EDIT: just saw you were looking more at a GPU upgrade, the market sucks everything is expensive.

  • Exprise on 20/06/2024 - 19:32
    -1

    GTX 980
    GTX 1070/80

  • Soundwave on 21/06/2024 - 09:20
    +1

    If you're not doing any gaming or video editing. The Intel Arc A380 6GB is $200-$250 brand new.

  • OMGJL on 21/06/2024 - 10:02
    +1

    I don’t do any gaming or video editing. The most would be watching 4K video in full screen.

    don't know which exact model of rx550 you've got, but see below

    You sure you've used the right port and right cable??

    Gigabyte Radeon™ RX 550 Gaming OC 2G

    Dual-link DVI-D *1
    HDMI-2.0b*1 (Max Resolution: 4096x2160 @60 Hz)
    Display Port-1.4 *1 (Max Resolution: 7680x4320 @60 Hz)

  • Dauphin on 26/06/2024 - 19:58

    Why not this one? does what you need for under $100

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/853379

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