[REQUEST] Good, Cheaper GPU for Testing Purposes?

[Appletax]

Want a good, cheaper GPU (<$100) that I can put in computers for testing purposes.

Would need to be low profile and full length so it can accomodate different PC sizes.

Must run solely off the PCIe slot.

Must work with Windows 11, so something newer would be nice.

2GB VRAM would be nice. Anymore would be overkill.

Must have HDMI or DisplayPort.

 

[NviGate Systems]

The Quadro 600 is a low profile GPU, has a max TDP of 40W, uses only PCIe power, and as far as I can see will be Windows 11 compatible. It's only 1GB VRAM, but it does have DP & DVI. I've seen them locally for $30 or less depending on site.

 

[sapphirescales]

I still use a GT 710 for testing purposes. There's nothing wrong with that card for basic users. I even have clients out there with multi-monitor setups using a GT 710. You can't game on it but you can do regular office work just fine and even watch videos. For testing, anything beyond a GT 710 is just overkill IMO.

 

[Diggs]

I was going to suggest the GT1030 (low profile, silent, etc.) but it's not so cheap anymore.

 

[Appletax]

I still use a GT 710 for testing purposes. There's nothing wrong with that card for basic users. I even have clients out there with multi-monitor setups using a GT 710. You can't game on it but you can do regular office work just fine and even watch videos. For testing, anything beyond a GT 710 is just overkill IMO.

For the GT 710, Nvidia has driver version 472.12 from 9/20/2021.

For the 1030, Nvidia has driver version 497.29 from 12/20/2021. That's also the same version used for the 3090.

So, I think the 1030 would have a longer life.

Edit: ugh, the price...

It would be nice if they made something new like a 3010!

 

[sapphirescales]

So, I think the 1030 would have a longer life.

It's for testing, not for actual use. Who cares if it uses an outdated driver?

It would be nice if they made something new like a 3010!

Tell me about it. Nvidia doesn't make low end graphics cards anymore. Even the 1030 is overkill for 99% of people. I just want a good, cheap sub $50 graphics card that was made in the last decade.

 

[Diggs]

I just put a Radeon 6450 ($29?) in a desktop. I seem to have a few of those around. One of the cheapest ways to get multiple monitors if not already on the MB.

 

[sapphirescales]

I just put a Radeon 6450 ($29?) in a desktop. I seem to have a few of those around. One of the cheapest ways to get multiple monitors if not already on the MB.

That's a 10+ year old card. Comparable to an Nvidia 210. That doesn't meet the needs of people who just need a cheap graphics card that wasn't released when Windows XP was still a viable operating system.

 

[Diggs]

That doesn't meet the needs of people who just need a cheap graphics card

No, but it does do up to three monitors and handles the basics. It's about equal to the Intel HD3000 graphics that are built in to their Dell. I should have prefaced my earlier statement in that I have these from the past when most MBs had one or no VGA. It was at the bottom on my parts box in the trunk. Win10 immediately updated its driver and away it went. For Outlook, Word and Internet browsing at a municipality it is fine. You'll notice I didn't recommend it to @Appletax . I personally have a couple of fanless 1030s around on the bench for testing but I got them when they were dirt cheap.

 

[frase]

@sapphirescales it does the job though for testing as proposed by the OP, I generally use the GT 730 as has VGA native.
@Appletax you wil be hard pressed to find a budget card running DPort.

 

[Appletax]

I have been using an older low profile AMD Radeon HD 7450 1GB for testing. It has DisplayPort and DVI. It works fine. Guess there's no need to upgrade it.

Eventually, I think I would like to get a 1030 !