In modern realities, a gaming computer can do a tidy sum. However, not everyone is ready to fork out for a top-end PC. Regardless of the budget, people want everything to work perfectly, games give a high FPS, and the beauty of virtual landscapes is displayed on the screen. You can achieve such results by purchasing a powerful gaming graphics card, the price of which is sometimes frightening. Manufacturers know that not everyone can afford expensive components, and go to meet people, releasing budget options for their products. The NVIDIA GTS 450 graphics card , whose characteristics are encouraging, is just an inexpensive gaming solution for a home computer.
Supported Technologies
Most games today run on DirectX® 11 technology using Shader Model 5.0. This allows you to achieve maximum performance without losing image quality. The GTS 450 video card has support for these technologies, which makes it a worthy competitor in the component market.
PhysX technology allows you to achieve incredible results in the implementation of the physical model. In the modern gaming industry , a lot of attention is paid to this. The GTS 450 fully supports this technology and provides an unforgettable gaming experience.
Connection
Connecting a monitor or TV using an HDMI cable makes it possible to achieve the highest image quality. The main thing is to choose a good wire with shielding and gold-plated contacts for connecting the GTS 450. The characteristics allow it to transmit both image and sound at the highest level via HDMI. It is possible to connect a computer to the display using DVI connectors.
Cooling system benefits
Having good performance, the GTS 450 practically does not heat up, and, as a result, has a low noise level. This is due not only to the feature of the chip, but also to a good cooling system. Of course, each manufacturer has its own methods of reducing the temperature of the processor, but in the case of the GTS 450, this difference did not affect the quality. You simply cannot find the best option in this price category.
Games
Of course, discontinued, the budget video card will not give the highest performance indicators in games of 2015, but it is worthy of attention. Support for all necessary technologies is a distinctive feature of the GTS 450. The video adapter's specifications satisfy the minimum system requirements of most games, and a reliable cooling system will save you from overheating. In addition, the video card lends itself well to overclocking, which allows (at your own peril and risk, of course) to get a significant performance boost.
Specifications
When choosing a video adapter, an experienced gamer first of all looks at the main parameters of the video card. These include: video memory, core and processor frequencies, bus width (memory interface), memory frequency, maximum resolution (for compatibility with the monitor) and support for modern technologies. Connoisseurs and connoisseurs also pay attention to power consumption, maximum temperatures, bandwidth and more. Let's take a closer look at our example from the MSI manufacturer - NVIDIA GTS 450. The technical specifications of this video card are impressive.
Connecting to the motherboard is via the PCI-Express connector, which provides high- speed data transfer. The manufacturer’s graphics chip called GeForce GTS 450 has no analogues in the world. The maximum memory capacity is 1 gigabyte, which is not so small. GDDR5 memory operates at a frequency of 3.6 GHz, this corresponds to the standards of a gaming video card. The core has a clock frequency of 783 MHz, which provides high-performance video adapter. The memory bus has a capacity of 128 bit, which is quite worthy for the money. The maximum resolution of the supported display is 2560x1600. To work, you need at least 400 watts of power from the power supply and an additional 6 pin power supply.
The Asus GTS 450 video card, the characteristics of which are no different from MSI, has a slightly different design, a better cooling system and is better amenable to overclocking. As a leader in the market for components, Asus always produces the highest quality products than competitors, but the price for its products is corresponding.
The next manufacturer is less known, but still could stand out. Consider the Zotac GTS 450. The characteristics are largely similar to their counterparts, but differences are observed:
- Connection is via a PCI-Express x16 2.x connector on the motherboard.
- The video chip GeForce GTS 450 is responsible for the processing of information.
- The maximum memory capacity is 1 GB.
- The minimum memory frequency is 3608 MHz.
- The type of memory installed in the video adapter is GDDR5.
- The core clock speed is 810 MHz.
- The cooling system uses both a radiator and a fan.
- The cooling system is classified as active.
- The memory interface (bus width) is 128 bits.
- The frequency of RAMDAC is 400 MHz.
- One VGA (D-Sub) connector .
- Two DVI outputs.
- Maximum supported resolution: 2560x1600.
- 3D API technologies supported by the video card: DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.1.
- The power consumption of the power supply is at least 400 watts.
- An additional 6 pin power supply is required.
Featuring a high core frequency, this video adapter has the best performance among competitors. The second distinctive feature is 2 DVI ports. The ability to connect two monitors without the use of adapters is convenient.
The time has come for the most powerful option. The last video adapter on the list is the GTS 450 Palit. The characteristics of this model will be considered in more detail.
Based on the GeForce GTS 450 chip, the video card has a large core frequency of 880 MHz. Otherwise, it is completely similar to its analogues. It requires the same 400 watts, it has 1 GB of memory with a frequency of 3.6 GHz and a bus width of 128 bit.
What is the reason for the increased frequency? Everything is simple here. Very much in Palit they like to overclock the core in the factory. Naturally, this is still the same chip, and its maximum overclocking limit is the same as the rest. Just overclock done for you. Well, two DVI ports, as in Zotac, will allow you to not use adapters. The manufacturer’s design has always been original, so the device looks beautiful and expensive.
Is there an alternative
In this price category there are several video cards that have similar parameters. AMD Radeon HD 6770 is the main competitor to the GTS 450.
The characteristics of this model are as follows:
- Interface: PCI-Express x16 2.x.
- Graphics chip: Radeon HD6770.
- The amount of memory: 1 GB.
- Memory frequency: 1200 MHz.
- Memory Type: GDDR5.
- Core frequency: 850 MHz.
- Cooling system: fan and radiator.
- Type of cooling system: active.
- Memory bus width: 128 bits.
- Number of Outputs: VGA (D-Sub) 1.
- Outputs: DVI 1.
- The maximum supported resolution is 2560x1600.
- Supported 3D APIs DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.1.
- Minimum required power: 450 watts.
- Extra power: 6 pin.
- Dimensions: 182x111x38 mm.
Based on this information, we can conclude that the Radeon HD 6770 is not the best option compared to the GTS 450. The players compared the characteristics of both adapters, and the tests, as it turned out, say the opposite.
Consuming more power and having a lower frequency, AMD shows good results, and in some ways even surpasses the competitor. And the cost of brand products is much lower than that of NVIDIA, which adds another point to its piggy bank.
Customer reviews
Having thoroughly studied the catalog of computer components, we can conclude that the GTS 450 video card is the best budget option. The characteristics of this adapter pleased many customers. Thousands of gamers are flattering about this product, attaching test results and screenshots from games to reviews. Most often mentioned are low cost and high performance. NVIDIA engineers did an excellent job again.
Market leadership
Over the long years of its existence, NVIDIA has firmly entrenched in the market for computer components. Using the most advanced technologies allowed her to break ahead and earn the trust of millions of gamers. Own developments in the fields of gaming physics and graphics have launched a long-term cooperation with most representatives of the gaming industry. The company also received support from major developers of virtual entertainment. Despite the fact that the prices for its components are higher than those of the main competitor - Radeon, the products of this brand remain the leaders in sales.
NVIDIA today
Popular gaming innovations promote NVIDIA technology, leaving no chance for competitors. A detailed study of hair, game physics, indistinguishable from reality, excellent graphics - all this is provided by players developed by professional engineers of the company. The best products from NVIDIA incorporate all the best. The next step will be support for virtual reality helmets and DirectX 12. Already in 2016, everyone will be able to try out these innovations. And what will happen in 5 years? Or in 10? One can only guess. But now you can plunge into the game with your head, because thanks to new technologies they have become almost indistinguishable from life.