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The i5 8400 is a solid PC, especially for gaming, and if you happen to be looking for a competent GPU for it, then you’ve come to the right place.
We have only the best options for you, along with a buying guide and everything else you need to know.
So, read ahead to know more!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for GPU For i5 8400
- OUR TOP PICK: MSI RX Vega 8G OC
- RUNNER-UP: MSI GTX 1070 GAMING X 8G
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Gigabyte Radeon RX 580
Comparison of the Best GPUs For i5 8400
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Can You Really Find a Quality GPU For i5 8400 That’s Affordable?
Every passionate gamer knows this passion doesn’t exactly fall lightly on the pocket. People are often discouraged by thinking of the high costs of supplementary products that you need to buy when it comes to tech stuff.
While this anxiety might not be rooted in absolute conjecture, that doesn’t mean you can’t find quality products at a reasonable price. You just need to know what to look for and that you are not only paying for the brand name.
You will find that many options on our list are not the most expensive ones in the family. Yet, their reviews will tell you that they function really well, keep your PC out of trouble, are fast and efficient, and allow for a superb gaming experience.
MSI RX Vega 8G OC
What to Look For When Buying a GPU
Before we get into the actual list of the products, it is important that we first take you through something else. Buying a GPU can be a little tricky only if you don’t know what to look for. This section helps you with just that and highlights some key aspects that you should know before you start shopping.
Monitor Resolution
The higher the resolution of your monitor, the more load it will put on your GPU. Hence, if you have a 1440p or higher resolution monitor, then you need a powerful GPU. If you buy a weak GPU for a high-resolution monitor, that means you are not allowing your i5 8400 to function at its full capacity as the GPU will be holding it back.
Refresh Rate
You want your CPU and GPU to work together to maximize your FPS (Frames Per Second). However, if your monitor has a lower frequency like 40Hz and you get a GPU that can handle higher FPS, you’re wasting your money since your monitor can’t display it. In such a case, buy a lower-end GPU.
However, if you are planning to upgrade your monitor, then invest in a high-end GPU so that you can get a good FPS.
Games
Some games put more strain on the CPU, while others prove to be more intense for GPU. If your games, like most esports games, are from the former category, then you need not spend extra money on a GPU. However, if they are more GPU-centric, then ensure that you have sufficient power in your chosen unit.
Review of the Best GPUs For i5 8400
Covering some essentials before coming to our selected list was important. However, now that it is out of the way, let’s check out what we have in store for you. These items have been chosen from a profuse amount of products based on several factors. Rest assured that the following reviews are of some of the top-of-the-line products.
Best Overall:
MSI RX Vega 8G OC
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Many customers who bought this card did so after reading the many positive reviews on the internet and then left their reviews. They loved it for gaming and reported that it did not cause any trouble in the system. However, make sure that you have the right cable and do the initial bootup properly.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The overall performance and consistency of this product are what make it stand out from the bunch. First of all, it doesn’t create any lag or speed issues. It keeps the system's temperature at decent levels and allows proper and efficient functioning of the system.
Moreover, you get a much more immersive gaming experience as it enables you to play on several screens for a truly eye-popping gaming experience. It also features an aluminum core, which ensures the stability of the device. Lastly, the display refresh is synchronized with your Radeon RX Series GPU. This allows for smooth and uninterrupted gaming.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a decent GPU that is not a rip-off and gives you excellent performance, then the MSI RX Vega 8G OC is a superb option. It is fast and efficient, and it will keep you happy and your system healthy.
Runner-up:
MSI GTX 1070 GAMING X 8G
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Gamers have had a great time with this GPU. They have tried it with max settings on many games, and it didn’t give up or went below 110 fps on average. While there were some comments on it being pricey, many added that it gives you great performance for that money.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The overall construction quality of this unit is commendable. Its internal components are easily some of the top-quality ones on the market. This allows it to give its user a smooth and well-paced gaming experience with no excessive noise during functioning.
This card's fans have double ball bearings that give it a strong and durable core, which allows for smooth gaming. These fans keep the system cool for lengthy and intense gaming sessions. Furthermore, every LED is controlled individually by the user, giving it a cool customized look.
Bottom Line
This is a high functioning GPU that gives its user trouble and hassle-free experience. It ate up whatever it was thrown at it, which resulted in a plethora of satisfied customers around the world.
Best for the Money:
Gigabyte Radeon RX 580
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Due to its price, many people ordered it but didn’t expect a lot. However, they were pleasantly surprised when they set it up and found it to be functioning so well. As reported by many customers, it doesn’t heat up or draw much power. The 4GB VRAM also proved to be sufficient for most people.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is one of those very rare low-end graphics cards that do not cost a fortune but still manage to give a pretty decent output. For 1080p, this would actually be one of the best graphic cards you can find in this price range or even a little higher than this.
The cooling mechanism is one of its great features and has been designed very meticulously. It has three pure copper composite heat-pipes, a 90mm unique blade fan design, a heat-pipe direct touch GPU, and other internal components. This ensures that it doesn’t just run your game smoothly for long hours but also does not produce any overheating problems in your system.
Bottom Line
Everyone who wants to do gaming at 1080p but doesn’t have a lot of money to spare should seriously consider this GPU. Its efficiency, speed, quietness, and overall performance have managed to satisfy many customers, and we hope it can satisfy you as well.
4. ASUS GTX 1060 3GB
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
An overwhelming majority of the users have loved using this GPU and commented that it made gaming a lot more fun. They found the installation process simple enough. It was used for a variety of games on maximum settings yet did not run into any overheating or lag problems.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The design and construction of this GPU are actually smart and what drew us towards it. The powerful dual fans with patented wing-blade design deliver 105% more air pressure over the heat sink, greatly improving airflow. Moreover, the GPU Tweak II lets you regulate clock speed, fan speed, and voltage to adjust your graphic card in a manner you desire.
ASUS has taken construction very seriously; hence it is the first manufacturer in the industry to have a fully automated production process. Lastly, its internal components are made up of premium Super Alloy Power II that greatly reduces any risk of overheating, power loss, and component buzzing.
Bottom Line
ASUS has a great reputation in the market, and it didn’t get that for anything. It has introduced many quality motherboards and other tech products over the years, and this GPU did not fall short of the standard. It is reliable, fast, and gives the gamer a fun and immersive experience.
5. EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XC
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This GPU has received exceptionally high ratings by countless customers and users. Buyers have been very generous with praise and reported that they could run any games on it, even on the highest settings, and it doesn’t disappoint. Many used it as an upgrade from other manufacturers and reported that it is worth every last penny of its cost.
Why it Stands Out to Us
EVGA GPUs are known for their durability, and this one is no different. It can handle long hours of intense gaming at high settings and still wouldn’t overheat. While most of our options are not loud, this one does an exceptional job of being silent and is loved by many customers for this reason.
This is also a great option for those on a budget. Just make sure you have ample power supply, ports, and you can tweak the settings to anything and leave the rest to this beast. Lastly, this is an excellent video card, and the photos taken with it mid-game were pretty impressive.
Bottom Line
EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XC is a phenomenal GPU. It has cool features like video and screenshot-capturing modes, but it doesn’t compromise speed or construction quality. This is a high performing card for those who like to keep their spending in check.
Benefits of Investing in a Quality GPU for a i5 8400
For every passionate gamer, buying a GPU is one of the most important and experience-altering products. Here’s how a quality GPU for the i5 8400 will enhance your gaming experience:
Frame Rates
The whole point of installing a graphic card is to improve the frame rate of your PC. Hence, you want a good combination of monitor and GPU to achieve that. A graphic card will allow your monitor to reach its full potential and have a higher FPS. This means that the frames of the images on your display will change at a higher rate, giving you a much better and smoother video quality. This will significantly improve your performance in games.
Reduce Input Lag
You do not want to invest in a high-quality CPU but still, experience lag and lose precious seconds in a competitive game. A good GPU will allow you to experience a smooth game without any jerks or lag.
Visuals
Play your games in a manner that they were intended. A graphics card will greatly improve your game's overall look on the screen and display it at a higher resolution. Even users who felt like they didn’t need one felt a huge difference after installing one.
Gigabyte Radeon RX 580
Cautious Considerations to Keep in Mind
While graphic cards are generally required by gamers and add great value to your gaming system, some things are important to know. Some cautious considerations to be mindful of are:
Cost
Graphic cards are not exactly cheap products and can even knock up the price of a laptop. They generally start from $200-$250 and can even cost more than $1000. Hence, make sure that you have done proper research before you spend your hard-earned money. You do not want to buy a pricey card only to find out it is not what you were looking for, or it isn’t compatible with your system.
Power Consumption
Since graphic cards bear a lot of load of the game that you play, they draw considerable power to run. Therefore, you should expect to see some rise in your electricity bills if you update your laptop with a graphic card and play on it for long hours.
Overheat
Laptops with a graphic card can run into problems like overheating, which is why many laptops feature an in-built fan.
How to Install a GPU
Like most people, if you are not tech-savvy, and this is your first time installing a graphics card, there is no need to feel anxious. We have that sorted out for you. Listed below are steps that you need to take in order to install your GPU properly.
- For the preparation, see what specifications your PSU has and the cable it uses. This determines the power supply and the amount of juice it can give to the GPU.
- Ensure that the graphic card you are going to be using can fit into the power supply recommendations of the computer. Otherwise, you will have to change the entire power supply and internal connections.
- You need the appropriate cables or adapters, which can be found in the box of your GPU.
- Connect the adaptor/GPU cable with the power supply of the computer.
- Clean the driver so that you can opt for the fresh restart. For this, download the software called ‘display driver uninstaller,’ which will help you get rid of all files of the existing drivers and allow you a fresh installation process.
- Install this software, run it in safe mode, and delete the preexisting driver. It will restart your PC.
- Unplug all connections from your PC. Take it off the power supply and press the power button for a few seconds to get rid of any residual power.
- To take the old card out, unscrew the retaining bracket and remove the screws that keep the card in place in the bracket.
- Remove the card gently and fit the new one in its place carefully.
- Connect the power cable with your graphics card.
- Get all the cables out of the fan’s way and screw back everything.
- Boot up your graphic card, install the new driver (AMR or NVidia), and run it to see there are no problems.
Everything that we have described might seem a little complicated. Therefore, be sure to watch the video below. It will not only give you a visual representation but also other important tricks and tips.
Conclusion
A graphic card is one of the things that can change your entire gaming experience. It doesn’t just improve the visuals and resolution but also your performance as a gamer. We have highlighted everything that you would need to know before buying or installing a new GPU. We hope you found this helpful.
People Also Ask
This section has been added because some things might have popped into your head, and they might not have been directly addressed in the article. Here are answers to some of the most common questions.
Does i5 8400 Have Integrated Graphics?
Most core CPUs have Intel’s UHD Graphics 620 or 630. These are classified as integrated graphical processing units (GPU). However, they might not be sufficient for fast gaming and are only designed for casual gaming or video encoding. This is why many people opt for an independent graphic card for gaming purposes.
Can an i5 8400 Be Overclocked?
Intel core takes extra care for their processors. The i5 8400 has a Hexa-core processor without hyper-threading. Its clock speed is 2.8GHz and can boost up to 4.0 GHz. Even though it isn’t unlocked, it can’t be overclocked.
