Nvidia GeForce GTX 1630 Review: An Insult to Gamers?

Nvidia’s new GeForce GTX 1630 is a cutdown model of the GTX 1650, that is the identical GPU that was launched manner again in April 2019. To put issues in true perspective, we’re speaking about 3-year-old silicon that to place it mildly was fairly pathetic again then, typically dropping out to then 2-year older Radeon RX 570.

This GeForce GTX 200mm2 die codenamed TU117 is again, however this time with 42% fewer cores (512 cores), 42% fewer texture mapping models, and half as many ROPs at simply 16. The core clock frequency has been bumped up by 7% to 1,785 MHz, however we’re getting an embarrassingly small 64-bit broad reminiscence bus with 4 GB of GDDR6 reminiscence for a bandwidth of simply 96 GB/s, a 25% discount from the outdated GTX 1650.

Based on these figures, the GTX 1630 goes to value like… $50? What we imply to say is, the unique GTX 1650 represented poor worth at $150 at launch three years in the past, and AMD’s lately launched Radeon RX 6400 type of sucks at $160, so for certain one thing as weak because the GTX 1630 might be priced effectively underneath $100 in 2022.

Well, apparently no. Rumor is that this mannequin will value no less than $150, with many fashions mentioned to value between $170 and $200. In reality, EVGA is at present itemizing their SC Gaming twin fan mannequin for $200, which is full insanity.

We type of understood the nonsense pricing for dangerous merchandise just like the Radeon RX 6500 XT through the top of the mining increase, however now that the increase is over and graphics card gross sales have slowed to a crawl, we do not get what Nvidia’s enjoying at right here.

Anyway, we’ll speak extra about pricing quickly, for now let’s go over the check system specs. We’re utilizing our Ryzen 9 5950X GPU check system — and sure, we all know nobody goes to pair a finances graphics card with this CPU — however the level is to check GPU efficiency and due to this fact want to keep away from introducing a CPU bottleneck which might skew the information.

For our low-end to entry-level testing we sometimes use medium high quality settings, or settings that make sense for a given title. We’ve examined video games at 1080p and 1440p, although on this occasion we’ll focus extra on the extra related 1080p outcomes.

Benchmarks

Starting with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla utilizing the medium high quality preset, we see that the GTX 1630 was good for simply 32 fps on common, that is a very depressing end result.

For comparability, the outdated GTX 1050 Ti was 22% sooner and AMD’s virtually ineffective RX 6400 was 53% sooner utilizing PCIe 3.0, or ~70% sooner in a PCIe 4.0 system, a very embarrassing end result for Nvidia.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider was launched again in 2018, so it is older than even the TU117 silicon the GTX 1630 relies on, so we check this title utilizing the very best high quality preset. The outdated GTX 1650 was good for 47 fps whereas the RX 6400 managed 53 fps utilizing PCIe 4.0, the GTX 1630 although was good for simply 30 fps. A depressing end result for this new GPU.

Watch Dogs: Legion has been turned all the way down to medium, however even right here the GTX 1630 was solely good for 35 fps on common making the outdated GTX 1050 Ti virtually 10% sooner, whereas the RX 6400 utilizing PCIe 3.0 was a whopping 51% sooner, and we will not stress sufficient how uninspiring AMD’s providing is at $160. So what does that say in regards to the 1630?

Rainbow Six Siege is the one sport we have been capable of play at over 60 fps and we’re doing it with the extremely high quality preset. Performance was really similar to the RX 6400, although the GTX 1050 Ti was nonetheless 18% sooner.

F1 2021 followers can sit up for sub-60 fps efficiency utilizing the dialed-down ‘excessive’ high quality preset. Here the GTX 1630 was virtually 10% slower than the RX 6400 utilizing PCIe 3.0 and over 30% slower than the finances Radeon GPU when utilizing PCIe 4.0. It’s additionally price noting that the GTX 1050 Ti was once more a lot sooner, this time delivering 24% better efficiency.

Horizon Zero Dawn is fairly reminiscence intensive and because of this the GTX 1630 falls off a cliff, or extra of an anthill actually because it by no means had far to fall to start with. Shockingly, the GTX 1050 Ti was 31% sooner whereas the RX 6400 utilizing PCIe 3.0 was an insane 66% sooner.

The Far Cry 6 efficiency was weak as you may count on, although it did no less than match the GTX 1050 Ti and that meant the RX 6400 was no less than 38% sooner, or 81% sooner when utilizing PCIe 4.0.

Interestingly, the GTX 1630 really carried out “okay” in Doom Eternal, spitting about 57 fps on common. Still a weak end result general, however respectable relative to the Radeon competitors, which could be very weak. The GTX 1630 did fall in need of the GTX 1050 Ti and was slower than the traditional expertise that’s the Radeon RX 570.

Moving on to Resident Evil Village, we examined utilizing the ‘balanced’ high quality preset which is a medium-type possibility. The GTX 1630 was able to simply 32 fps on common making the GTX 1050 Ti 22% sooner, whereas the RX 6400 was an absurd 88% sooner utilizing PCIe 3.0.

Things could not enhance in Death Stranding, the place the GTX 1050 Ti was 20% sooner than the GTX 1630, whereas the RX 6400 was 75% sooner. More really appalling outcomes for Nvidia’s new, however probably not new, entry-level graphics card.

As we have come to count on, the GTX 1630 is horrible when testing Hitman 3 because it managed simply 27 fps on common with the medium high quality settings, making the GTX 1050 Ti 52% sooner and the GTX 1650 111% sooner.

Lastly, now we have Cyberpunk 2077 and this time the GTX 1630 is ready to match the 1050 Ti, however with simply 22 fps on common at 1080p utilizing the medium high quality settings, it was utterly unplayable.

Power Consumption

The GeForce GTX 1630, just like the 1650, is a 75W graphics card, that means it will possibly eliminate exterior energy and simply pull what it wants from the PCIe x16 slot. However, for causes unknown Gainward has caught a 6-pin PCIe energy connector on their ‘Ghost’ mannequin, that means exterior energy is necessary to be used with this mannequin.

Basically no GTX 1630 ought to have exterior energy, although just like the GTX 1650, it is potential PCIe slot-only fashions might be even slower, although absolutely the 1630 is bloody sluggish sufficient. Anyway, the GTX 1630 solely makes use of barely much less energy than the GTX 1050 Ti, that means efficiency per watt is in some way worse.

12 Game Average

Moving on to the 12 sport common knowledge, we see simply how insufficient the GTX 1630 is for gaming, delivering 37 fps on common, which suggests the GTX 1050 Ti is often 16% sooner and the RX 6400 virtually 40% sooner utilizing PCIe 3.0, or a little bit over 60% sooner utilizing PCIe 4.0. The GTX 1650 can be sometimes 65% sooner and the outdated RX 570 virtually 80% sooner.

Cost per Frame

Given the information we have simply seen, the price per body appears a bit pointless as you clearly should not purchase the GeForce GTX 1630, however let’s have a look anyway and have a fast dialogue. It’s uncommon {that a} new entry-level GPU scores so poorly, however the 1630 is one thing fairly particular — and clearly not in a great way.

Should this new GPU develop into out there for $150, it will likely be a catastrophe, representing the worst worth we have seen in a very long time. This value sees it are available at a value of simply over $4 per body, an 18% premium over the already ineffective GTX 1650 and 22% over the RX 6400 utilizing PCIe 3.0, or 43% dearer than the PCIe 4.0 configuration.

Right now we suggest avid gamers spend no less than $330 on the Radeon RX 6600. Yes, that is simply over twice the worth, however that is really a usable GPU that gives an incredible gaming expertise with virtually 4x the efficiency of the GTX 1630. What’s scary is the truth that some GTX 1630 fashions may promote for as a lot as $200, leading to a value per body of $5.40, a 90+% premium when in comparison with the RX 6400 utilizing PCIe 4.0.

Working out how a lot the GTX 1630 must value with a purpose to match the already underwhelming RX 6400 utilizing PCIe 4.0, the reply to that’s $105. Then with a purpose to match the RX 6600 it will possibly’t value greater than $87. But given you’d must play most video games utilizing low high quality settings, the GTX 1630 must be even cheaper, not more than $70 appears affordable to us.

What We Learned

The GeForce GTX 1630 is an utter embarrassment if marketed as a gaming graphics card. We do not see a single redeeming function to talk of, and until it goes on sale for lower than $100, it needs to be accomplished ignored or used creatively for some Nvidia memes.

If you are after a sub-$200 graphics card, you might be much better off turning to the second hand market in the meanwhile. Checking out eBay, you will discover GTX 1650 Super playing cards usually promoting for round $150. That’s as low-cost as we think about the GTX 1630 might be out there for and the 1650 Super affords about 125% extra efficiency.

Those not eager to go second hand are higher off digging deep and coughing up the money for the Radeon RX 6600, which as we simply confirmed is considerably higher worth regardless of costing a little bit over $300.

Finally, in case you should purchase model new and also you wish to spend lower than $200, get the Radeon RX 6400. It’s a considerably higher product regardless of it is crappy nature in its personal proper. Nvidia has completed the seemingly unimaginable with the GTX 1630, making the horrible Radeon product look considerably good as compared.

We cannot watch for the DDR4 model of the GTX 1630 that may little question get quietly pushed out in a couple of months. Until that point, that is the worst GPU we have checked out in fairly a while.