What is the best budget PCIe graphics card for Minecraft?

Manec · Jun 30, 2015

Got my daughter a computer (HP Pavillion a1730n). It won't run Minecraft without rolling it back to an earlier version. It has an open PCIe slot. I think an upgrade of the graphics adapter might help. Can you recommend one? I don't mind upgrading the processor also if that would be more useful. Here are some specs from Belarc if that helps:

2.40 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core
128 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (2 total)
Not hyper-threaded
Board: ASUSTek Computer INC. NODUSM3 1.05
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 5.04 12/15/2006
1920 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1 (build 7601)

Thanks!

jimmysmitty · Jun 30, 2015

What is the screen resolution she will be playing at?

JoeDaDerp · Jun 30, 2015

what is your power supply?

JoeDaDerp · Jun 30, 2015

I would go with a GT 620 it is fairly cheap at 60$ and gives good performence. On games such as minecraft and roblox, maybe even some steam games. I recomment msi http://www.amazon.com/MSI-GeForce-PCI-Express-N620GT-MD2GD3-LP/dp/B0089KJQKI. And you don't need a extra caponent to connect to it, just install it in and then install the drivers.

Manec · Jun 30, 2015

jimmysmitty :

1440x900

Manec · Jun 30, 2015

JoeDaDerp :

Bestec ATX-300-12Z (300W Max)

Sensei Gamer · Jun 30, 2015

Manec, Get an Radeon R7 240 2GB DDR3, It only cost around $70. No PCI-E Pins needed just plug in the card, install drivers and you're good to go. Link below for more details.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121799
http://www.amazon.com/MSI-R7-240-Profile-PCI-Express/dp/B00FRHIIPK

Video of minecraft and other gameplays:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzXjHcEiHLY - Battlefield 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGb867s3EUY - Minecraft
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scVabO0oprE - ARMA III

jimmysmitty · Jun 30, 2015

If you want decent performance you can get something like a R7 240 2GB. That should be more than enough for that resolution and wont require a different PSU or PCIe plug.

In all honesty the entire PC needs to be upgraded but you would need a new motherboard as well, that CPU is a very old socket design.

Sensei Gamer · Jun 30, 2015

jimmysmitty :

Tru Dat

Manec · Jul 1, 2015

jimmysmitty :

Yeah, I know it could be better, but I got it for $20 for the main purpose of giving my daughter something to do schoolwork on (look up stuff on the web, write papers, YouTube, etc). For that purpose, it does fine. Minecraft is the only thing that she cares about that stretches the thing beyond its capabilities.

Manec · Jul 1, 2015

Sensei Gamer :

When I look up "Radeon R7 240 2GB", I see several different graphics cards from several different manufacturers. So I assume that "Radeon R7 240 2GB" describes a chipset rather than one particular graphics card. If so, does it make a difference which manufacturer I go with (assuming it has the correct pin configuration and video output for my needs)?

Gmesh · Jul 1, 2015

70 bucks for a 240 is way too much to have to pay to run mine craft. I picked up a gt 720 for 30 on newegg and a used HD 7770 for 40 off eBay. If you look around there are options that will run mine craft for around half the cost of a 240.

rcald2000 · Jul 1, 2015

Manec, I have a spare card from five years ago, a used HD 4670. It's a dual slot card, and will run on your current power supply wattage. If your daughter's computer has the space for a two slot card, and you want it, it's yours. If you're in the US, I'll happily ship it to you, but if you're out of the continental US, then I'd respectfully ask that you pay the shipping. Up to you. I can send you pictures if you might be interested, but please let me know within the next hour.

Sensei Gamer · Jul 1, 2015

Manec :

In this, I am stating the R7 240 in general. Sapphire and asus in my opinion is the best graphics card manufacturer in this case. They provide a good price point and excellent quality. all of the manufacturers that manufacture this card would all have the same pin configuration and exactly the same video output. It has an HDMI port, VGA port(D-SUB), and DVI-D Dual link.

ASUS R7 240 Video output :http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/14-121-799-TS?
Sapphire R7 240 Video output : http://content.hwigroup.net/images/products_xl/210391/sapphire-radeon-r7-240-1gb-v2-ddr3.jpg

jimmysmitty · Jul 1, 2015

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202055&cm_re=r7_240-_-14-202-055-_-Product

I Would go with that one. Sapphire is a good brand.

Sensei Gamer · Jul 1, 2015

Gmesh :

But the GT720 is a weaker card than the R7 240 by about 30%. I picked the R7 240, considering that the CPU isn't a strong one. I am viewing through a long term use. I think that used cards might be an option too and the HD 7770 = R7 250X is a strong card even though a bit old, If buying it from a responsible owner who doesn't throw around and mistreat the graphics card, Maybe buying a used card could be the way.

beyondlogic · Jul 1, 2015

Manec :

honestly around the price point of 72 dollars

a gt 730 ddr5 64 bit would be alot better then alot of ddr3 alternatives mine craft isnt massively heavy

N730K-2GD5LP/OC
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R2M10SU/?tag=pcpapi-20

while the power supply in the machine is ok consider this as a option
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139058&cm_re=450w-_-17-139-058-_-Product

Sensei Gamer · Jul 1, 2015

2 versions of R7 240

1) Sapphire R7 240 1GB GDDR5 - $70
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11216-01-20G/dp/B00FLMKHLO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1435775927&sr=1-1&keywords=r7+240+gddr5

2) ASUS R7 240 2GB DDR3 - $70
http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-2GB-Graphics-Cards-R7240-2GD3-L/dp/B00FW5B3ZO/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1435776235&sr=1-3&keywords=r7+240+ddr3

- The 1GB GDDR5 version however performs better than the DDR3 version that I reccomended before

What is the best budget PCIe graphics card for Minecraft?

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