I recently got an older desktop and want to improve it gradually, mainly for gaming. It has an Intel Core i5-6500, GeForce GT 720, 12 GB of DDR4 RAM, a 1 TB SATA hard drive, and Windows 11. The power supply is a VulTech VPS-A500ER rated at 500W, but it has no PCIe 6-pin or 8-pin connector. Even Roblox can drop to around 10 FPS or lower in some experiences. My budget is roughly €60–80, and I'm willing to buy used. What is the best graphics card I can install that draws all its power through the motherboard's PCIe slot? I've been considering a 4GB GDDR6 GTX 1650, but I'm unsure which versions are suitable with this power supply.
3 Answers
Check the actual connectors and label on the power supply before buying anything. SATA-to-PCIe adapters are generally not a good solution, especially with a low-quality or unknown PSU, because the cables and connectors may not be designed for the required current. It would be safer to use a card that genuinely needs no auxiliary power, or replace the PSU with a reputable model that includes the proper PCIe connector.
Try not to focus only on the amount of video memory. An 8GB card would be nicer for newer games, but cards with that capacity usually need more power or cost considerably more. At this budget, a clean, slot-powered GTX 1650 is a reasonable upgrade, although a used GTX 1650 Super or similar card could require an extra power connector.
A GTX 1650 is probably the most sensible target, provided you confirm that the specific model has no 6-pin connector. It is much faster than the GT 720 and fits the slot-powered requirement. A slot-powered RTX 3050 6GB would also work, but it is very unlikely to fit a €60–80 used budget. An RX 6400 is another low-power option, though it loses performance on your system because the i5-6500 only provides PCIe 3.0, so I’d prefer the GTX 1650 if the prices are similar.
Do you think it’s still worth spending money on this computer, or would the old platform and power supply make the upgrade pointless?