Looking for trashy GPU but less trashy than mine

[Mateusz_Zboj]

OK I might've talked about this in the other thread, but since it wasn't really conclusive and actually the other thread was about something else I'd like to mention my problem once again.
I'm writing it here because naturally its the greatest hub of savants gaming communities managed to assembly.

My trash computer is:
Motherboad: ACER Aspire M1920
PSU: 250W FSP Group ATX-250PA (1PF)
CPU: Intel Pentium E6700
RAM: 2x2 GB DDR3 1066Mhz
GPU: GeForce 405 on PCI-Express 2.0x16

What I am looking for is a used GPU that costs max $50 and is significantly better than my "405" piece of junk.
Prices vary on markets but I live in Poland and use allegro.pl to buy my used stuff.
I thought about 450GTS but people say I need extra plug from my PSU to use it. (100W draw vs 75W PCI limit)
Won't my CPU bottleneck it? And yeah inb4 new computer, I'm on a budget right now.
This?

[Atamzsiktrop]

I'm afraid nothing on your list is sufficient anymore. A new GPU is not gonna do a whole lot with that CPU (at least not in modern games, even the least requiring ones).

[Mateusz_Zboj]

I understand I won't run new games on medium, but will I be able to run battlefield 4 in 1024*1028 and would it impact games published prior to year 2014?

[Atamzsiktrop]

You should look for some videos on youtube, but I think that CPU could be able to run BF4.

Also 4 gigs of ram, even in dual channel, is probably not enough.

[Glorthan]

A 450 would be far above what you have now, and they're so old/bad as to be basically free. As you say, the issue with getting any gpu is that you don't have a powersupply designed for a gpu, even a super low end one. The ones that only take power from the motherboard are designed to be integrated graphics replacement cards, so anything you buy that doesn't have at least a single six pin power input is going to be extremely shit, especially cards old enough to be in your budget range.

[Mateusz_Zboj]

Can't i just limit the 450 slightly to get below the 75W or does it not work that way?

[shadyg0d]

I've got an extra HD5450 and 7650GS. If you want one for free let me know. Also RAM, and possibly a new duel core case/cpu if you really need it.

This shit has just been sitting here, might as well give it away

[MagicManICT]

The power supply isn't going to be sufficient to run any expansion cards reliably. If you find a "low end"/mobile type card that doesn't need an extra power cable to plug into it, you may be fine. Tons of weirdness can happen if your system makes it through the POST process, but odds are your system won't boot.

I think you should be able to find a good used 350-400W power supply for cheap-cheap... like $10-20 tops. New ones can be had for under $50 US. EVGA 400W PSU newegg.com (Not sure if you'll get the same links browsing from Europe as I get in the US.)

[Mateusz_Zboj]

Where do you live? PM me.

[loftar]

I'm afraid nothing on your list is sufficient anymore. A new GPU is not gonna do a whole lot with that CPU (at least not in modern games, even the least requiring ones).

I think the CPU is more grunty than the GPU, at least. Not that it isn't weak, but a Wolfdale CPU can only be so bad, while the GeForce 405 is truly bottom of the barrel. That GPU is surely the bottleneck of this system.

It might be a good idea to go for an AMD GPU, since they may be better bang for the buck, but I don't know enough about AMD GPUs to recommend anything. If you go for an nVidia GPU, I'd have the following recommendations:

• Go for at least one step above the absolute entry-level GPUs. The price difference isn't extreme, but the performance uplift can be very significant. Like, the GF 710 goes for ~$50 here, and the GF 730 goes for ~$80, while the performance is most likely more than twice.
• Watch out very dearly for nVidia's extremely confusing marketing. There are currently three products selling as the GeForce 730, and they are extremely different. One is an old rebranded Fermi GPU with 96 ALUs, one is a proper Kepler with 384 ALUs and DDR3 memory, and the third is the same Kepler GPU but with GDDR5 memory. Avoid the first like the plague, and if the prices are about the same (they are here), get the GDDR5 one, even if it has slightly less VRAM; the difference in bandwidth is very significant. I have no idea how nVidia get away with this, and the GeForce 630 situation was even worse.

I myself use a GeForce 750 in my main computer, which is very sufficient for my needs, and goes for ~$140 here.

As for the PSU, it is weak indeed, but I wouldn't be so sure that it can't drive an entry-level discrete GPU. Even my GeForce 750 only needs 55 W, and that Pentium CPU is listed at 65 W. Even with other power sinks, that does leave some margin. If I were you, I'd try the PSU you have and switch only if necessary. You're not likely to actually damage the computer by overloading the PSU (but that being said, if the PSU is a really shitty brand, it may start doing bad things if overloaded). If you have one of those socket-level power meters, though, now would be a good time to use it to see how much power your system actually uses. It was some time since I last checked, but IIRC my computer uses around 100-200 W depending on load.

Also, clean out your CPU cooler. You may very well be thermally limited by bad airflow.