I cannot decide which GPU to buy... Is 8GB VRAM so underwhelming for the future as people say?

Posted by tinyspeckinspace@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 14 comments

So I would like to upgrade my PC for the upcoming games like Starfield etc. I am thinking of upgrading both my CPU and GPU and as well as my monitor.

Current CPU: Ryzen 2600

Current GPU: Nvidia 1660S 6GB

And the thing is my budget is very limited.

I slant againts AMD gpus because I work 9-6, so I don't want ANY problems regarding the driver, the software, the watt etc. I just want to click and play.

I am thinking about buying 4060Ti 8GB, been searching online for weeks for reviews. I saw ALL the criticism towards the card. Having 8GB of VRAM kinda scares me away. I dont want to be looking to buy another GPU in 2-3 years time again after I buy a new one. You might say; save some and buy 4070 or above. But that is out of the question for me considering I also have to buy a new CPU+monitor(and also a new PSU for a stronger GPU), it will be way out of my budget.

I am also thinking about going very budget friendly and buying 3060Ti, this way I can have both 3060Ti+a new CPU for the same amount of money I'd spend on a 4060Ti. Maybe I dont have to upgrade my CPU at all if I buy 3060ti. Ryzen 2600 might just manage. There is only %10 FPS increase between 3060ti and 4060ti anyway but I will be leaving DLSS3 at the table, so that is another concern.

I just heard that AMD will make FSR3 available for older NVIDIA gpus as well, so I might be happy getting 3060Ti after all without being left out of AI technologies for gaming.

Or should I go for 4060, at the same price for 3060Ti?

Please guide me people,

Thanks.

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Witch_King_@reddit

Oh yeah for 1440p you definitely need more these days. 8gb is absolutely fine for 1080p-targeting cards

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Any-Top-5659@reddit

just asking, but with 8gb ram, I would still be set for some years with medium/average settings, right? 1080 sounds great to me and my budget

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Witch_King_@reddit

VRAM, not system RAM, right??

The power of the card is important too, and the games you're trying to play.

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Any-Top-5659@reddit

yes, vram. I know nothing about making and anm ust roaming here and there to figure things out. Rn I have around 800$ of money I can spend on this. I am hoping to make a basic pc in which I can add more ram/other things that serve to boost performance so I can do some gaming later, while making just a working pc for now that can do basic browsing and stuff.

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Witch_King_@reddit

The most cost-effective option for you is going to be to buy something used on Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist. There are many videos on YouTube about converting a used office PC into a gaming rig.

Overall, used parts will save you a ton. On an extreme budget, you'll be hard-pressed to build anything decent with all new parts.

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Any-Top-5659@reddit

Cant I like skip gpu and much ram in favour of rest of the important stuff that cant be upgraded easily? Like work with 8 or sixteen gigs or ram and then later add to it? I can stretch my budget, but not by much. I have no use of heavy use PC rn, at least for a year.

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Witch_King_@reddit

16gb of system RAM is fine in a pinch. But I do NOT recommend going with 8. Not even just for general use these days, unless you're using Linux instead of Windows. RAM is upgradeable, but not always as simple as just adding a few more sticks. It usually works best if you have a matched set, and DDR5 RAM is especially picky about not using more than 2 sticks. It is a bit easier to upgrade DDR4 or DDR3 by just adding a few more mis-matched sticks, but it will make the RAM run slower, and could lead to system instability so be mindful.

Note: if you didn't know, the RAM type you must use (DDR3, 4, 5) is determined by which CPU/motherboard you have. There a re a fee generations of Intel CPUs (12th-14th generations) that have motherboards for one or the other.

As far as skipping GPU... maybe. Some CPUs have integrated graphics, which will make the computer perfectly usable for general office tasks, web surfing, and even some light gaming. Intel CPUs with no "F" suffix and AMD socket AM5 CPUs with no "F" or "G" suffix fit into this category.

There are also CPUs that have beefier integrated graphics (we call these "APUs") which will perform similarly to a low-end GPUs. These are the AMD CPUs with the "G" suffix. However, pretty much any desktop GPU will outclass these in graphical performance. For example, the Ryzen 8700G's integrated GPU is roughly similar to an Nvidia 1650 or 1050ti. And that's the very newest, highest-end one you can get.

Keep in mind that AMD socket AM4 CPUs do NOT have integrated graphics with the exception of the "G" CPUs.

Imo with budget gaming as an ultimate goal, it is usually better to spend a bit less on a CPU (the APUs are expensive) and then use more of your budget to get a discrete GPU.

I could give build advice, but I haven't been keeping up with the market lately. You may be better served by making a new post, or maybe asking in a megathread. You'll get more answers from more people that way.

You could also ask r/buildapcforme if you want a complete list.

Without getting into technical recommendations, here are a few shopping tips, assuming you live in the US:

• Check r/buildapcsales frequently. There are often great deals on there.

• Also check and see if you live anywhere near a Micro Center (www.microcenter.com). They have some great deals, but don't typically ship.

• Used parts are absolutely a viable avenue, and will save you a ton on a budget, but carry a whole set of additional caveats around purchasing discretion. Ebay is a great place for used parts, and typically takes the side of the purchaser in disputes (but not always). Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Overall, I THINK what you want for $800 should be possible, provided you shop around for good deals, buy used parts, and are ok with compromising some aspects of your build. Good luck.