Need low profile low power gpu

[JunkBear]

Just got a Lenovo Thinkcentre M73 i5 3gigs with 4gigs ddr3 and 500gigs WD blue 16m cache. Would like to put the gpu inside so i make it a small gaming computer. What would you suggest as title specs says?

 

[Toothless]

The strongest low profile GPU you can get because honestly any low profile will barely run 720p.

 

[CrackerJack]

Pretty sure, not possible for that machine

 

[JunkBear]

I dont plan playing more than original BF2 multiplayer, Path of Exile and World of tanks.

 

[Mussels]

I dont plan playing more than original BF2 multiplayer, Path of Exile and World of tanks.

first two not a problem, world of tanks can be pretty demanding.

why not see what low profile options you can find where you shop, and get advice on the ones you find?

 

[ne6togadno]

first two not a problem, world of tanks can be is pretty demanding.

why not see what low profile options you can find where you shop, and get advice on the ones you find?

fixed that for you

@JunkBear i think this is the best you will be able to get

 

[BiggieShady]

Power on PCIEx16 slot may be limited to 25W-30W max on this system, so GPU upgrades are extremely limited (and not worth it because all are very much in the range of the integrated GPU): http://psref.lenovo.com/PSREFUploadFile\Sys/PDF/ThinkCentre/ThinkCentre M73 Tower/M73 Tower.pdf

 

[Mussels]

that document seems to imply that a geforce 620 is about the best you can get.

humorously i actually have a 7750 and a geforce 620 here, but none of those games to test how they handle them (and WoT is too big a download for such a quick test)

 

[silentbogo]

I was recently trying to find something similar for my HTPC.
That's a hard quest - there are not that many low-profile cards on the market.
At the time I couldn't get past R7 240 or GT730, but today is your lucky day.

Both MSI and GIGABYTE now offer a low-profile versions of GTX 750Ti:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125680
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127836

I have a regular full-size dual-slot version of GTX750Ti in my current desktop and I do most of my gaming in 1080p.

Considering my previous posts in various threads, and how much positive stuff I told about this VGA already, people might've started thinking that I am a spokesperson for NVidia.
But I just can't help it - this little card kicks ass.


Additionally you should check the PSU inside that Lenovo - according to spec it has a 240W PSU, which is barely enough to run a GTX750Ti (NVidia actually recommends a 300W, but I successfully tested mine with 250W PSU)

If you want stable and reliable PC, you should also look for a 350-370W TFX PSU. 6-pin PCI-E connector not required.

 

[BiggieShady]

6-pin PCI-E connector not required.

2 issues ... those are not cards with brackets for SFF case and that PC has a propriatery motherboard not capable pushing 75W on PCIEx16 (25-30W max) ... 6 pin is not required but only if there is 75 watts on pcie

 

[silentbogo]

2 issues ... those are not cards with brackets for SFF case and that PC has a propriatery motherboard not capable pushing 75W on PCIEx16 (25-30W max) ... 6 pin is not required but only if there is 75 watts on pcie

Gigabyte does, MSI does not, but you can easily find an aftermarket bracket on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Low-Profile...106148?hash=item3d03768d64:g:bH8AAOSw3ydV4GnA

$2 is an okay price for a bit of aesthetic improvement.

75W is a max TDP for such type of card (which includes a 6-pin PCI-E powered versions). Most OC versions, like my MSI Gaming are capped at 70W, while non-OCed cards don't go over 65W.
While some proprietary boards do not allow such power on a PCI-E port, this PC definitely does not impose those limits. Would they offer a 60W Radeon HD 8570, if it didn't?

 

[Tuna Yücer]

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/thinkcentre/m-series-tiny/m73/
Are we talking about this? This pc is too small for discrete gpus. Even for low profile ones.

 

[silentbogo]

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/thinkcentre/m-series-tiny/m73/
Are we talking about this? This pc is too small for discrete gpus. Even for low profile ones.

I believe it's this (an SFF M73 version):
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/thinkcentre/m-series-sff/m73-sff/#tab-tech_specs

 

[BiggieShady]

Would they offer a 60W Radeon HD 8570, if it didn't?

Indeed, I see that offer on their web now ... either way, I agree getting a low profile 750ti would be best option if a board supports full pcie spec, but that's a big if ... it's not uncommon for OEMs to cheap out in these areas

 

[PLAfiller]

What is your budget? IMO low profile GPU with DDR3 is pointless. My suggestions: 1.) second hand GT640 DDR5 ; 2.) Brand new GT 730 DDR5 or GT740 DDR5 . If you really have the cash low profile GTX750 / 750 Ti -> Gigabyte/ Zotac and KFA2 make those.

 

[silentbogo]

The most worrisome part is a PSU.
I've tested a 250W PSU from the similar ACER slim desktop, but the entire rig was less power-hungry: Pentium G3250, 2x2GB DDR3, 2.5" HDD, no ODD, GTX750Ti Gaming.
With Core i5 in the picture it might not be enough (84W vs 53W TDP).

 

[JunkBear]

YUP you are right. 240W psu with a 84W cpu. Doesnt leave much space for gpu.

 

[RealNeil]

NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 4GB

The 4GB of memory will help out quite a bit.

 

[GoldenX]

Isn't a lp R7-250 GDDR5 a better option? Is in the range of 45w.

 

[JunkBear]

Still looking but I dont need super performance since most of time i play in 1024 x 768. strange that resolutiom fit better on my 1080p 32" tv than 1080p itself. At the limit it will be 720p depending of the game.

 

[silentbogo]

At that resolution you'll get by with a GT730. Just look for DDR5 version, because they are a bit faster and more efficient than GDDR3 version. Only 25W max TDP =)
eBay prices are kinda rough, but where I'm from they usually go for no more than $45-50. You can buy a new one on Newegg for $60.
Anything older or lower than that is not worth it. And avoid Zotac like a plague!

With GTX 750 Ti you can play almost anything at native 1080p, but it costs twice as much and most likely will require a 300W TFX power supply.

 

[Mussels]

Still looking but I dont need super performance since most of time i play in 1024 x 768. strange that resolutiom fit better on my 1080p 32" tv than 1080p itself. At the limit it will be 720p depending of the game.

you most likely dont have a 1080p hdtv. lots of older/cheaper ones were 1024x768 (certain plasmas) or 1366x768 (varies LCD). They may support 1080 inputs, but thats different to the panel resolution.

 

[JunkBear]

you most likely dont have a 1080p hdtv. lots of older/cheaper ones were 1024x768 (certain plasmas) or 1366x768 (varies LCD). They may support 1080 inputs, but thats different to the panel resolution.

Its a LED tv.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Power on PCIEx16 slot may be limited to 25W-30W max on this system

I don't claim to know it all, but this is the first that I've heard of this. The specification for a PCI-e X16 is that it is to supply up to 75 watts. BTW, the GT 620 is a 49 watt GPU according to Nvidia.

that document seems to imply that a geforce 620 is about the best you can get.

Just because that's the best GPU they ship it with does not determine what it will support.

those are not cards with brackets for SFF case

Gigabyte does, MSI does not

Actually, a reviewer @ newegg mentioned that it does for the MSI. I can't fathom MSI shipping a card that is meant for LP, has LP in the P/N, and not including a LP bracket.

With Core i5 in the picture it might not be enough (84W vs 53W TDP)

YUP you are right. 240W psu with a 84W cpu. Doesnt leave much space for gpu.

240W-84W=156 watts Do you really think that 156 watts isn't enough to run a 75 watt (MAX) GPU and all of the rest of the computer? And that's assuming a 100% load on the CPU and GPU at the same time. Now the OP should stay away from running MAX CPU benchmark AND MAX GPU benchmark - at the same time.

The 4GB of memory will help out quite a bit.

No, it won't.

Those LP GTX 750 Ti's are the way to go, as long as there's no shady low powered PCIEX16 that @BiggieShady alluded to.

 

[GoldenX]

Those are custom-made motherboards, it wouldn't be strange to have a crippled port.