I bought a renewed Dell OptiPlex 5060 Small Form Factor desktop with an 8th-generation Intel Core i7-8700, 16GB of DDR4 memory, a 512GB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro. I'm looking for a graphics card that fits the small-form-factor case, uses no external power connector, stays at 75W or less, and preferably takes up only one slot. My budget is around $150, with $200 as the absolute maximum. I'm currently considering an HP AMD Radeon RX 6400 4GB low-profile card. The main games I want to play are relatively light titles such as Minecraft and Terraria. Is the RX 6400 the best option, or is there another card worth considering?
3 Answers
The main drawback of the RX 6400 in this computer is that the OptiPlex platform uses PCIe 3.0, while the card only has a PCIe x4 connection. Depending on the game, that can reduce performance compared with running it on PCIe 4.0. It still makes sense for lightweight games, but it is not an ideal long-term gaming upgrade. If you want demanding games, selling this system and moving to a more upgradeable custom PC may provide better value.
If you absolutely need a single-slot, low-profile card with no power cable, the RX 6400 is probably the easiest option to find. It should handle Minecraft, Terraria, and similar games well at 1080p. Just make sure the listing is specifically the low-profile version and that it includes the correct bracket.
That sounds like what I need. I’m mainly trying to build an inexpensive system for basic games now, so I can upgrade to something more capable later.
A low-profile RTX 3050 6GB would generally be faster and is also designed to run without an external power connector, but single-slot versions are uncommon and can be difficult to find within your budget. If you can use a two-slot low-profile card, you’ll have better choices, though many of them cost more than $200.
The PCIe limitation is real, but for Minecraft, Terraria, and other basic games, the RX 6400 should still be perfectly usable. I’d only avoid it if the goal is to play newer, graphically demanding titles.