Purchased a GT 1030 for desktop 4K use - right choice? Or could I have done better?

planetf1

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I'm after a little advice. I bought a GT1030 last week. Let me explain why:

- I have a Gigabyte Z97X-SLI board with a Intel 4790k cpu (not overclocked), 16 GB ram. PSU is decently beefy but I'd have to check what (novatech prebuild).
- PC is mostly used for "desktop" apps, some coding, music, videos, writing docs, lots of web browsing, a little virtualization. Also photo cataloguing/editing in lightroom, occasional photoshop
- I had a new 4k display (LG 27UD88) arrive last week
- The built in Intel 4600 display struggled with even a 4K desktop. Refresh was capped at 30 Hz and everything felt very laggy, even with max "video ram"
- I searched on amazon, but confused at the sheer number of options went with something at the cheaper end, 4K support, passive - quite happy with not getting more fan noise, though existing PSU and to a lesser extent processor fan are audible!
- noticed 1030 just released, and amazon was telling me "order in next 5 mins to get tomorrow" .. so I did
- actual card is GT1030-SL-2G-BRK GDDR5

Desktop seems to work "just fine" at 4k/60Hz over HDMI 2 & is smooth and snappy, a way away from the intel's performance

So that's the back story, but I can return within 30 days, so I'm now wondering if I made a sensible choice. For desktop, video use would the experts here recommend other options. I'm not totally against a fan design if not too loud under desktop use . I spent ~ 70 ukp on the asus passive gt1030 card, I wouldn't want to go much above this. 90 perhaps? I did read the ATI RX550s were decent, but years ago ati drivers were abysmal, and that's what I remember, whilst nvidia seem decent (that being said the LG monitor I think has freesync, nothing nvidia though since I don't game I guess who cares!). 2GB feels a little tight, but it seems quite a big step up in price to get 3GB/4GB (I notice netflix want 3GB for their 4k pc service)

Feedback/comments welcome :)
 
Solution
Your GTX1030 seems to be doing all you asked of it.
I would not bother to change it out until you play fast action games and need more graphics power.
You got 30hz because the older integrated graphics was not capable of more.
To get 60hz at 4k resolution, you typically need displayport or HDMI 2.0 I think.

Do not worry about vram, it will be appropriate to your card.
And, vram is used differently in nvidia drivers vs. amd drivers, so such a spec comparison is not much valid.

FnaticMeister

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planetf1

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Jun 5, 2017
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Thanks for the reply. I did look at that card as a next step up, but currently on amazon it's going for £140 vs the £70 I paid for the 1030, so it's a very significant step up :-( [if I was gaming, no worries, but it's hard to justify for basic use ... an extra £10 indeed would be fine!]

(Oh the prices I mention are including VAT @ 20% - I notice the newegg price is ex vat]
 
Your GTX1030 seems to be doing all you asked of it.
I would not bother to change it out until you play fast action games and need more graphics power.
You got 30hz because the older integrated graphics was not capable of more.
To get 60hz at 4k resolution, you typically need displayport or HDMI 2.0 I think.

Do not worry about vram, it will be appropriate to your card.
And, vram is used differently in nvidia drivers vs. amd drivers, so such a spec comparison is not much valid.
 
Solution