Upgrading Graphics Card

[TFizz18]

I bought a prebuilt from Microcenter a while back (Specs) and I think I want to upgrade from the gtx 1650 that it currently has, as this is below the recommended speed for newer games. I was just wondering if there was any reason why I wouldn’t be able to upgrade to something bulkier like the rtx 3050, other than possible physical size limits. 

[RONOTHAN##]

1 minute ago, TFizz18 said:

I bought a prebuilt from Microcenter a while back (Specs) and I think I want to upgrade from the gtx 1650 that it currently has, as this is below the recommended speed for newer games. I was just wondering if there was any reason why I wouldn’t be able to upgrade to something bulkier like the rtx 3050, other than possible physical size limits. 

No, it should be fine with a beefier GPU. I'd probably slot in a 6650 XT or something like that rather than a 3050. Not saying a 3050 isn't a decent GPU, it's just a bit overpriced and performs quite a bit worse than the similarly priced 6650 XT in everything but ray tracing. 

 

The PSU in it (the only thing that's likely to prevent a GPU upgrade being possible) is a 650W according to the product page, and I'd put money on it being Micro Center's house brand of Powerspec PSUs. Those units can be a bit hit or miss, so it's probably would be worth checking the PSU model before buying a unit to make sure it's not completely terrible, though with a lower power GPU like a 6650 XT or 3050 it's not really likely to be too big a deal either way. I just wouldn't recommend going much above a 6650 XT or 3050. 

[Crunchy Dragon]

Just now, RONOTHAN## said:

The PSU in it (the only thing that's likely to prevent a GPU upgrade being possible) is a 650W according to the product page, and I'd put money on it being Micro Center's house brand of Powerspec PSUs. Those units can be a bit hit or miss, so it's probably would be worth checking the PSU model before buying a unit to make sure it's not completely terrible, though with a lower power GPU like a 6650 XT or 3050 it's not really likely to be too big a deal either way. I just wouldn't recommend going much above a 6650 XT or 3050. 

I'd probably replace the PSU entirely with the GPU, assuming OP has room in the budget for that.

 

Depending on where you look, you can get some pretty good cards on the used market for a good price as well.

 

If a PSU upgrade is out of the question and a GPU upgrade is needed, I would probably look around for a card at least on the same performance level as a 3060 for now and call it a day.

[TFizz18]

8 minutes ago, RONOTHAN## said:

No, it should be fine with a beefier GPU. I'd probably slot in a 6650 XT or something like that rather than a 3050. Not saying a 3050 isn't a decent GPU, it's just a bit overpriced and performs quite a bit worse than the similarly priced 6650 XT in everything but ray tracing. 

 

The PSU in it (the only thing that's likely to prevent a GPU upgrade being possible) is a 650W according to the product page, and I'd put money on it being Micro Center's house brand of Powerspec PSUs. Those units can be a bit hit or miss, so it's probably would be worth checking the PSU model before buying a unit to make sure it's not completely terrible, though with a lower power GPU like a 6650 XT or 3050 it's not really likely to be too big a deal either way. I just wouldn't recommend going much above a 6650 XT or 3050. 

Thank you for the help!