1080p Recommended GPU

AwesomeMarioFan · (This post was last modified: 04-07-2020, 03:57 PM by AwesomeMarioFan.)

I have upgraded the CPU, motherboard, and RAM in my computer last week and was wondering whether or not I should upgrade the GPU. Mostly the only graphics intensive application I run is Dolphin (at 3x IR), so I wanted to ask if a GT 1030 (GDDR5 version) is still sufficient for 1080p in most/all GC and Wii titles? If not, what would a good budget upgrade card be that doesn't require a 6-pin connector?

**mbc07** · 04-07-2020, 05:38 PM #2

The GDDR5 version of the GT 1030 (avoid the DDR4 version, it's garbage) is roughly on par with the old GTX 750 Ti, and that card could easily push even 4k on Dolphin, so the GT 1030 should have no trouble either (as long as you also have a powerful enough CPU).

About other GPUs that doesn't require external power and that are more powerful than the GT 1030 (but also more expensive), GTX 1050, GTX 1050 Ti and GTX 1650 (apparently there's a new GDDR6 version of this card showing up on some stores) comes to my mind right now...

AwesomeMarioFan · 04-09-2020, 05:30 AM #3

(04-07-2020, 05:38 PM)mbc07 Wrote: The GDDR5 version of the GT 1030 (avoid the DDR4 version, it's garbage) is roughly on par with the old GTX 750 Ti, and that card could easily push even 4k on Dolphin, so the GT 1030 should have no trouble either (as long as you also have a powerful enough CPU).

About other GPUs that doesn't require external power and that are more powerful than the GT 1030 (but also more expensive), GTX 1050, GTX 1050 Ti and GTX 1650 (apparently there's a new GDDR6 version of this card showing up on some stores) comes to my mind right now...

Ok great. I didn't know about the GTX 1650 GDDR6 version actually, thanks for mentioning that. I may wait until that one gets released on eBay/Amazon and upgrade then. Would you say upgrading would be worth the cost if I am mostly using Dolphin?

themaster123 · 04-09-2020, 05:33 AM #4

Mostly likely no. If dolphin is your main concern and you don't play modern games then it wouldnt make a difference in all likelihood.

**mbc07** · 04-09-2020, 08:03 PM #5

If you don't plan on running anything else but Dolphin, it's definitely not worth getting a more powerful card as you won't notice any difference. The GDDR5 variant of GT 1030 is already enough for Dolphin...

AwesomeMarioFan · (This post was last modified: 04-11-2020, 08:57 AM by AwesomeMarioFan.)

(04-09-2020, 05:33 AM)themaster123 Wrote: Mostly likely no. If dolphin is your main concern and you don't play modern games then it wouldnt make a difference in all likelihood.

(04-09-2020, 08:03 PM)mbc07 Wrote: If you don't plan on running anything else but Dolphin, it's definitely not worth getting a more powerful card as you won't notice any difference. The GDDR5 variant of GT 1030 is already enough for Dolphin...

Ok thanks. In most games I tried everything runs fine at 3x. I tried Wii Sports Resort however, and at the menu screen (where you select a game) I am getting ~80 GPU load just at the menu. Is this known to be an intensive game to emulate? (Checking the box "Ignore Format Changes" did drop the usage down some but it is overridden to off in the game's INI.) This is the highest usage I've seen with a game in Dolphin, even including Super Mario Galaxy.

**mbc07** · 04-11-2020, 09:04 AM #7

If an option is overridden by the game INI, it's because that game will have graphical glitches or other issues otherwise, don't change them. Also, don't worry about GPU usage, just enjoy Dolphin. As I said before, the GT 1030 can push 1080p on anything you can throw at Dolphin, on less demanding games it should push even 4k. However, if you want constant 4k performance on everything, then consider the GTX 1050 or GTX 1650 instead...

AwesomeMarioFan · 04-18-2020, 07:26 AM #8

(04-11-2020, 09:04 AM)mbc07 Wrote: If an option is overridden by the game INI, it's because that game will have graphical glitches or other issues otherwise, don't change them. Also, don't worry about GPU usage, just enjoy Dolphin. As I said before, the GT 1030 can push 1080p on anything you can throw at Dolphin, on less demanding games it should push even 4k. However, if you want constant 4k performance on everything, then consider the GTX 1050 or GTX 1650 instead...

Ok I will haha, thanks for your help!

coolhardy100 · 04-18-2020, 08:48 AM #9

AMD GPU Side:all of these cards will run well on the Vulkan API at 1080p.

AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT, AMD Radeon RX 590. AMD Radeon RX 580

Nvidia GPU Side some gamecube games only work with the open gl api which Nvidia has way better support for then AMD so that might be a Factor

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super, 2070, 2060, Nvidia Geforce GTX 1660 Super, 1660, 1060,1070, 1080, 1080 ti

all those cards will shred 1080p and might get you playing at 1440p in dolphin. but ultimately its down to your wallet and power supply.

**ExtremeDude2** · 04-18-2020, 08:57 AM **#10**

(04-18-2020, 08:48 AM)coolhardy100 Wrote: AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT, AMD Radeon RX 590. AMD Radeon RX 580

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super, 2070, 2060, Nvidia Geforce GTX 1660 Super, 1660, 1060,1070, 1080, 1080 ti

all those cards will shred 1080p and might get you playing at 1440p in dolphin. but ultimately its down to your wallet and power supply.

These will all do 4k without breaking a sweat.