Picked up one of these at the weekend and is by far the best price I've seen a GT 1030 both fan and passive cooled versions are available at this price. I know, its no GTX-1080ti monster but for a low end, entry level GPU its seen some impressive benchmarks and looks to be a good card for your lower end graphic needs.
If you're like me and building a cheap rig out of an office SFF case, its perfect as it comes with the low profile bracket and only draws 30 watts. Less thank 60 quid for a quality brand. Have used it over the weekend and can recommend it for PC gaming on a shoe string budget or if you're just starting out.
Impressively ignorant post, it all depends on what you want it for.
If want HDMI 2.0, 4k60hz, onboard h265, low profile, fanless and very lower power usage for an HTPC you won't do any better for any money.
If you want it for gaming, yes, you probably should be looking elsewhere.
Cruxis
10 Jul 174#4
I knew it would attract posts like this lol. This is not my only rig, nor is it my main one. Its so frustrating that comments like this put people of PC gaming all together and push people in to the console market. 28 years I've been a PC gamer and the attitudes never change (for some).
My main rig cost me just under £1200 in the past 2 years, I wouldn’t recommend a beginner spend that kind of money.
Get on ebay and buy an old HP or dell third gen or above i5 or 17 and you'll get a capable, all be it modest gaming PC for about £150. Less than a mid range GTX 1050ti.
Once you've discovered the fun of tinkering under the hood of a PC and found out it’s not quite as brutal as some make out, you'll realise why so many of us are hooked.
Voice of experience says start cheap, have fun then spend some real money.
chapchap to M1sterDeeds
10 Jul 173#13
That would be my dream but my ZX80 is still going strong.
M1sterDeeds
10 Jul 173#5
My main computer is a ZX81, no room for a graphics card upgrade.
All comments (24)
zizzles
10 Jul 17#1
It looks nice.
cut_my_life_into_pizza
10 Jul 17#2
Not worth at all, there is a one thing about getting any computer part, sweet spot.
If you bu too low end you will waste your money, if you will buy way tooooooooo high end it will get discounts as well (wasted money?). If you dont have money, dont go full cheap, this card is a waste of money, it's way better for performence/price ratio to invest into older generation 9XX of nvidia or go for radeon graphic card. Don't waste your time and money on this level of cards.
b1g1an to cut_my_life_into_pizza
10 Jul 174#3
Impressively ignorant post, it all depends on what you want it for.
If want HDMI 2.0, 4k60hz, onboard h265, low profile, fanless and very lower power usage for an HTPC you won't do any better for any money.
If you want it for gaming, yes, you probably should be looking elsewhere.
Cruxis
10 Jul 174#4
I knew it would attract posts like this lol. This is not my only rig, nor is it my main one. Its so frustrating that comments like this put people of PC gaming all together and push people in to the console market. 28 years I've been a PC gamer and the attitudes never change (for some).
My main rig cost me just under £1200 in the past 2 years, I wouldn’t recommend a beginner spend that kind of money.
Get on ebay and buy an old HP or dell third gen or above i5 or 17 and you'll get a capable, all be it modest gaming PC for about £150. Less than a mid range GTX 1050ti.
Once you've discovered the fun of tinkering under the hood of a PC and found out it’s not quite as brutal as some make out, you'll realise why so many of us are hooked.
Voice of experience says start cheap, have fun then spend some real money.
M1sterDeeds
10 Jul 173#5
My main computer is a ZX81, no room for a graphics card upgrade.
Cruxis to M1sterDeeds
10 Jul 171#7
My dad built one of those when I was a kid, I remember my brother and I writing simple programs for it. Those were the days, when the whole computer came ready to build, like an airfix kit. lol
chapchap to M1sterDeeds
10 Jul 173#13
That would be my dream but my ZX80 is still going strong.
MagicBoy
10 Jul 17#6
I've installed a GT1030 at full price (£70) into a Dell OptiPlex 790 which I use as an HTPC. That machine requires a low profile (half height) card, and has a stated 35W PCIe slot power limit so the GT 1030 is perfect.
If you've got the room and power then a GT 1050 is undeniably better bang per buck, but for a small HTPC that does a bit of undemanding gaming on the side this card is perfect. Performance is similar to the older 750Ti, but with added H.265 decode and half the power consumption.
M1sterDeeds
10 Jul 171#8
There wasn't really any "building". Came as a complete unit and just needed to hook up the cables to the telly. Although I remember a year or some later they brought out a RAM upgrade that just plugged into the back.
I remember seeing it in the high street shop window and I had no idea what it was capable of or what I would do with it but I just knew I needed it.
I digress.
Back to this card. I have a cheap HP ex corporate machine that I was looking to put some graphics capability into. At the time I looked into it I was looking at a low profile GTX 750 Ti (I think at the time the most powerful card that didn't require extra power).
How does the GT 1030 compare to the GTX 750 Ti?
EndlessWaves
10 Jul 171#9
Well, arguably Intel's integrated graphics are ahead for HTPC use so a new CPU/Motherboard might be a better money-no-object choice.
These are finally coming down into the price range where they'd make sense as an upgrade for an existing system for those who want cutting edge video technology, especially those with more powerful CPUs that would be more expensive to replace.
b1g1an
10 Jul 17#10
Fair comment though a more expensive/extreme solution, this is for those that want a video card.
I'll be putting a 1030 in my Microserver Gen8 when my old GT520 finally dies, although it has a decent i5 the Microserver doesn't use the integrated graphics.
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Opening post
I know, its no GTX-1080ti monster but for a low end, entry level GPU its seen some impressive benchmarks and looks to be a good card for your lower end graphic needs.
If you're like me and building a cheap rig out of an office SFF case, its perfect as it comes with the low profile bracket and only draws 30 watts.
Less thank 60 quid for a quality brand. Have used it over the weekend and can recommend it for PC gaming on a shoe string budget or if you're just starting out.
All Priced at: £58.33
Fan Cooled LP Version
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-GT-1030-2G-LP/dp/B072BQ2JGS/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1499703320&sr=1-4&keywords=Gt+1030
Passive Cooling LP Version
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-GT-1030-2GH-LP/dp/B071NW37J8/ref=sr_1_5?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1499703320&sr=1-5&keywords=Gt+1030
AERO for ITX case Version
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-GT-1030-AERO-ITX/dp/B0716S9LZ3/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1499703320&sr=1-3&keywords=Gt+1030
Top comments
If want HDMI 2.0, 4k60hz, onboard h265, low profile, fanless and very lower power usage for an HTPC you won't do any better for any money.
If you want it for gaming, yes, you probably should be looking elsewhere.
My main rig cost me just under £1200 in the past 2 years, I wouldn’t recommend a beginner spend that kind of money.
Get on ebay and buy an old HP or dell third gen or above i5 or 17 and you'll get a capable, all be it modest gaming PC for about £150. Less than a mid range GTX 1050ti.
Once you've discovered the fun of tinkering under the hood of a PC and found out it’s not quite as brutal as some make out, you'll realise why so many of us are hooked.
Voice of experience says start cheap, have fun then spend some real money.
All comments (24)
If you bu too low end you will waste your money, if you will buy way tooooooooo high end it will get discounts as well (wasted money?). If you dont have money, dont go full cheap, this card is a waste of money, it's way better for performence/price ratio to invest into older generation 9XX of nvidia or go for radeon graphic card. Don't waste your time and money on this level of cards.
If want HDMI 2.0, 4k60hz, onboard h265, low profile, fanless and very lower power usage for an HTPC you won't do any better for any money.
If you want it for gaming, yes, you probably should be looking elsewhere.
My main rig cost me just under £1200 in the past 2 years, I wouldn’t recommend a beginner spend that kind of money.
Get on ebay and buy an old HP or dell third gen or above i5 or 17 and you'll get a capable, all be it modest gaming PC for about £150. Less than a mid range GTX 1050ti.
Once you've discovered the fun of tinkering under the hood of a PC and found out it’s not quite as brutal as some make out, you'll realise why so many of us are hooked.
Voice of experience says start cheap, have fun then spend some real money.
If you've got the room and power then a GT 1050 is undeniably better bang per buck, but for a small HTPC that does a bit of undemanding gaming on the side this card is perfect. Performance is similar to the older 750Ti, but with added H.265 decode and half the power consumption.
I remember seeing it in the high street shop window and I had no idea what it was capable of or what I would do with it but I just knew I needed it.
I digress.
Back to this card. I have a cheap HP ex corporate machine that I was looking to put some graphics capability into. At the time I looked into it I was looking at a low profile GTX 750 Ti (I think at the time the most powerful card that didn't require extra power).
How does the GT 1030 compare to the GTX 750 Ti?
These are finally coming down into the price range where they'd make sense as an upgrade for an existing system for those who want cutting edge video technology, especially those with more powerful CPUs that would be more expensive to replace.
I'll be putting a 1030 in my Microserver Gen8 when my old GT520 finally dies, although it has a decent i5 the Microserver doesn't use the integrated graphics.