Best GPU for Intel Quad 2 Core Q6600?

[SaturnAndTheMoon]

Hello! As I have said in previous posts, I am upgrading my cousin's old computer. I would tell them to get a new one, but their family is struggling financially right now. The new CPU I am putting in it is a Quad 2 Core Q6600, but it still needs a graphics card since the VRAM is extremely low with their current setup (256MB of VRAM). I was wondering what would be the best GPU for a CPU of this age, keep in mind this computer is going to be used for games like Minecraft and Roblox. I thank you all in advance.

Additional information about computer:

Chipset: Intel 945G
RAM: 4GB DDR2
PSU: Unsure of voltage, I assume somewhere from 150 to 250W. No cables to add extra power to a GPU.

[Moonzy]

a 3090, obviously

 

in more serious note, something like a 1050ti should work fine

i tested a gtx970 on it and it still runs rainbow 6 siege well, but i probably wouldnt go beyond this

though you may want to look into if you can get a new PSU

[LIGISTX]

6 minutes ago, SaturnAndTheMoon said:

Hello! As I have said in previous posts, I am upgrading my cousin's old computer. I would tell them to get a new one, but their family is struggling financially right now. The new CPU I am putting in it is a Quad 2 Core Q6600, but it still needs a graphics card since the VRAM is extremely low with their current setup (256MB of VRAM). I was wondering what would be the best GPU for a CPU of this age, keep in mind this computer is going to be used for games like Minecraft and Roblox. I thank you all in advance.

Additional information about computer:

Chipset: Intel 945G
RAM: 4GB DDR2
PSU: Unsure of voltage, I assume somewhere from 150 to 250W. No cables to add extra power to a GPU.

You really need more then a 250 watt PSU.... The Q6600 alone would want a 150 watt.

 

If you can get a larger power supply, you can look into things like a GTX 980, or maybe even a GTX 275, that would be about the fastest thing I would look for for a q6600, any more and it won't really be a benefit. Maybe a GTX 460 or 560? I just sold a 560 HD for 40 bucks 2 months ago on craigslist.

[LIGISTX]

Just now, Moonzy said:

a 3090, obviously

 

in more serious note, something like a 1050ti should work fine

i tested a gtx970 on it and it still runs rainbow 6 siege well, but i probably wouldnt go beyond this

That could work, but i don't know if OP will find a 1050i for cheap. A new low power card would be a good option, but price may be the limiting factor.

[flibberdipper]

I'd probably stop at a GTX750Ti, especially where you'd be stuck without any additional power. Still a bit on the expensive side however, at around $100 USD. Hell, that's probably one of the most reasonable pairings you could do with a Q6600 at this point. Mine was starting to get spread thin with a lowly GTX 480 in a handful of the games I played on it.

[BondiBlue]

Heads up - the Q6600 may not be supported by the BIOS of that ThinkCentre, even if the chipset can support it. 

[LamoidZombieDog]

29 minutes ago, LIGISTX said:

That could work, but i don't know if OP will find a 1050i for cheap. A new low power card would be a good option, but price may be the limiting factor.

go Lower Powered. a 1050 TI is selling for over $300-$400 right now. even a 1030 is going for $150+ Sometimes.

[SaturnAndTheMoon]

25 minutes ago, LIGISTX said:

You really need more then a 250 watt PSU.... The Q6600 alone would want a 150 watt.

 

If you can get a larger power supply, you can look into things like a GTX 980, or maybe even a GTX 275, that would be about the fastest thing I would look for for a q6600, any more and it won't really be a benefit. Maybe a GTX 460 or 560? I just sold a 560 HD for 40 bucks 2 months ago on craigslist.

28 minutes ago, Moonzy said:

a 3090, obviously

 

in more serious note, something like a 1050ti should work fine

i tested a gtx970 on it and it still runs rainbow 6 siege well, but i probably wouldnt go beyond this

though you may want to look into if you can get a new PSU

I don't think I can upgrade the PSU unfortunately, it appears to be a specialized OEM PSU. On the bright side though, it is in fact 225W! Not the best, but a improvement from what I thought was 150W. As for the GPUs, these are all great options! A little pricey, but anything for my cousin. Thank you all very much.

 

[Moonzy]

1 minute ago, SaturnAndTheMoon said:

I don't think I can upgrade the PSU unfortunately, it appears to be a specialized OEM PSU. On the bright side though, it is in fact 225W! Not the best, but a improvement from what I thought was 150W. As for the GPUs, these are all great options! A little pricey, but anything for my cousin. Thank you all very much.

I'd look at gtx 750ti, gtx 1050 or maybe 1650 if ones that doesn't use the pcie power exists

 

You can always lower the power limit if it's too high wattage, you'll lose some performance but the newer architecture should be more efficient so in the end you'll get the most performance per watt, which I think would matter the most to you

[LIGISTX]

1 hour ago, SaturnAndTheMoon said:

I don't think I can upgrade the PSU unfortunately, it appears to be a specialized OEM PSU. On the bright side though, it is in fact 225W! Not the best, but a improvement from what I thought was 150W. As for the GPUs, these are all great options! A little pricey, but anything for my cousin. Thank you all very much.

 

With a PSU that low powered, I doubt it has a PCIe power header… even if it does, yikes.

 

I’d look at a newer generation card that doesn’t require external power. The PCIe standard allows for 75 watts over the PCIe socket itself. You wouldn’t want to draw any more power then that anyways…. So don’t get anything that needs a 6 or 8 pin PCIe power cable. A 1050 would be a great option if you can find it for a good price. 

[0591ryan]

On 6/1/2021 at 9:52 PM, LamoidZombieDog said:

go Lower Powered. a 1050 TI is selling for over $300-$400 right now. even a 1030 is going for $150+ Sometimes.

jesus christ where? you CAN buy those new for $100 and ebay is cheaper than that

[0591ryan]

On 6/1/2021 at 9:13 PM, SaturnAndTheMoon said:

Hello! As I have said in previous posts, I am upgrading my cousin's old computer. I would tell them to get a new one, but their family is struggling financially right now. The new CPU I am putting in it is a Quad 2 Core Q6600, but it still needs a graphics card since the VRAM is extremely low with their current setup (256MB of VRAM). I was wondering what would be the best GPU for a CPU of this age, keep in mind this computer is going to be used for games like Minecraft and Roblox. I thank you all in advance.

Additional information about computer:

Chipset: Intel 945G
RAM: 4GB DDR2
PSU: Unsure of voltage, I assume somewhere from 150 to 250W. No cables to add extra power to a GPU.

somebody mentioned a 1050 being a good pairing, I have one and assuming a mod gives the go ahead, and you live in the US I'll be happy to send it to you- i no longer need it