i5-6500 graphic

[Chaos27]

Hi Guys,

Im planing on buying a PC for my dad that just used it for Microsoft Office work and internet browsing. Now he would use it for the odd game here and there. For example games like Total War and games like that.

The Specs in this PC is :

HP 400G3
Windows 7
Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz
8 GB DDR4 Ram (originally comes with 4 but upgraded to and extra 4)

Intel HD Graphic 530

What I would like to know is if the inbuilt Graphics that comes with the i5-6500 thats Intel HD graphics 530 is good enough? Obviously with the help of 8GB of DDR4 Ram.

Or would it be recommended to buy a graphic card?

He is not a hard core gamer either.

Please move if its not int he right thread.

Thanks

[kalniel]

It's marginal. You'll get frame rates around 20-25fps in the total war games, on the lowest settings and with reduced resolution which might not look great. But it's better than nothing, and he may find it still playable given the lack of need for input precision. Ideally you'd want to be able to hit 30fps at the native resolution of the monitor.

But you can always try it first, and add a GPU later if it's not good enough.

[Chaos27]

Ok perfect thanks for the reply. Driver updates Im guessing wont improve on this at all hehe.

I will try it like that and if needs be I will buy a graphic card in the future. The thing is i dont know what connection the HP400G3 has and which graphic card would be a good one. That will be a question for the future then thanks.

[EndlessWaves]

The thing is i dont know what connection the HP400G3 has

That depends on which one you're getting. A quick check shows HP do a 400 G3 model in at least Tower, Small Form Factor, MiniPC and All in One systems

I wouldn't expect the MiniPC and All in One to take an additional graphics card, the small form factor looks like it supports low profile double slot cards and the tower supports full height double slot cards. Both have a 180W power supply that may not easily be replaceable though (system builders are mostly dumping the antiquated ATX standard these days) so don't assume you will be able to add a graphics card.

[kalniel]

Ok perfect thanks for the reply. Driver updates Im guessing wont improve on this at all hehe.

I will try it like that and if needs be I will buy a graphic card in the future. The thing is i dont know what connection the HP400G3 has and which graphic card would be a good one. That will be a question for the future then thanks.

It has a low profile PCI-E slot, so you're very limited in upgrade potential anyway. Certainly not really worth buying any of the current low profile cards, but the ones coming out in the rest of the year are more likely to be an improvement should you need it (look for the AMD 460 for example).

[scaryjim]

... The thing is i dont know what connection the HP400G3 has and which graphic card would be a good one. That will be a question for the future then thanks.

From a quick google is has a PCIe X16 so slots aren't a problem. However, it looks like the case is low profile, and the PSU is only 180W. They're both going to seriously limit the choice of discrete GPU; GPU manufacturers seem to have gone right off low profile cards, and as a result they're a) rare, and b) expensive when you can find them.

[Chaos27]

So is this PC not worth it then? I would have to be careful? As low profile GPU are not that good. Though the AMD 460 doesn't seem that bad right? I looks like it could take a fair share of games.

Though the power supply could be an issue right?

Thing is I want to get a skylake processor to have a new one. But dont want to spend to much money on a new PC.

[scaryjim]

IF someone does a low profile AMD RX 460 it'll be good. But that's a big if.

Small form factor PCs are always a compromise between size and function - one of the things you trade off is less capacity for future expansion. if the computer hasn't been bought yet and you think you're likely to want to stick a dGPU in it in the future, then I'd look for something in a conventional mid-tower case. What's your budget, and does it have to be pre-built or would you be willing to build from scratch?

[Chaos27]

I dont mind building from scratch. I would like a skylake the i5 6500 looks fine. Motherboard no idea and ram would like ddr4 as well.

[scaryjim]

... I would like a skylake....

Any particular reason? For office/internet and light gaming an AMD A10 APU would make far more sense and be a lot cheaper; you can probably put together a £300 build that will do everything he needs, and negate the potential need for a discrete GPU in the future.

For instance:

A10 7860k: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/745518
ASRock FM2+ mobo: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/743840
8GB DDR3-2400: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/643761
Cheap case: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/630130
Good 350W PSU: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/726364
1TB HDD: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/726222

Total build cost £260, then add a Windows license for ~ £80.

[Chaos27]

To be honest I thought that Intel was winning in the processors. So I thought Skylake would be the best processor to get as of now.
But reading a bit it seems the built in graphics is better on the AMD compared to Intel.
But the intel processor is better than an AMD.
And i thought having DDR4 as its faster and its the new technology and not over priced I dont think.

[kalniel]

To be honest I thought that Intel was winning in the processors. So I thought Skylake would be the best processor to get as of now.
But reading a bit it seems the built in graphics is better on the AMD compared to Intel.
But the intel processor is better than an AMD.
And i thought having DDR4 as its faster and its the new technology and not over priced I dont think.

Forgive the analogy, but that's a bit like going for an interview in jeans and t-shirt, and proudly claiming you didn't need a suit because your left shoelace is a designer brand.

Intel may make the fastest CPUs, but your usage doesn't need the fastest CPUs, it needs a fast enough CPU for office work and internet browsing. Meanwhile you do need likely need a bit more graphical oomph, which the AMD chip provides. As long as the AMD chip isn't limiting you for your CPU needs (it isn't) then it makes no sense to ignore the GPU power that you do actually need

[EndlessWaves]

So is this PC not worth it then? I would have to be careful? As low profile GPU are not that good. Though the AMD 460 doesn't seem that bad right? I looks like it could take a fair share of games.

The HP ProDesk 400 G2 comes in two form factors with the specs you list:
Microtower:
http://www.uk.insight.com/en-gb/prod...60523-00000001
Small Form Factor:
http://www.uk.insight.com/en-gb/prod...23264-00000001
(ignore the first picture on the SFF page).

The Microtower comes with four full height PCI-Express slots and what looks like a standard ATX PSU. Some models even come with a 300W PSU which wouldn't even need replacing.

The SFF only has two low profile slots and a non-ATX 180W PSU. If the PSU is FlexATX or TFX you would be able to replace it with a higher capacity model but it's difficult to tell. I would suspect they'll probably be a low profile double slot 460 eventually and the GTX 750 are decent enough if they're aren't.

[Chaos27]

Thanks for the info.

The second link you sent me EndlessWaves looks more future proof. Able to put a descent Graphic card.