MSI GTX 1650 SUPER Gaming X Review

Earlier this year, we reviewed the new budget gaming cards from Nvidia. The GTX 1650 was mighty impressive for the size, power efficiency and cost, and you can check out those reviews below. However, Nvidia thinks they can beat themselves at their own game with the GTX 1650 SUPER. A tuned up, refined and apparently much faster take on their budget gaming card. ASUS RoG STRIX GTX 1650 OC Edition Graphics Card ReviewPalit GTX 1650 StormX OC Graphics Card ReviewMSI Gaming X GTX 1650 Graphics Card ReviewASUS GTX 1650 Phoenix Graphics Card ReviewGigabyte GTX 1650 Gaming OC Graphics Card Review MSI GTX 1650 SUPER Gaming X Seven months ago we put the MSI Gaming X GTX 1650 through its paces. It's a great little card that looks just as sexy as its more expensive counterparts. However, both Nvidia and MSI think they can beat that. The new GTX 1650 SUPER Gaming X is tuned up and promises much more performance for a very reasonable price. Will it take down even the GTX 1660 or even the current offerings from AMD, or even the past offerings from AMD? Let's find out! Features Turing architecture1530MHz Base Clock & 1725 MHz Boost Clock Reference4 GB GDDR612 Gbps memory 128-bit busNvidia NVENC Encoder Specifications For in-depth specifications, please visit the official product page here. Turing Architecture "Featuring concurrent execution of floating point and integer operations, adaptive shading technology, and a new unified memory architecture with twice the cache of its predecessor, Turing shaders enable awesome performance increases on today’s games. Get 1.4X power efficiency over previous generation for a faster, cooler, and quieter gaming experience." - Nvidia A Closer Look If I can say one thing about MSI's graphics cards it's that they're consistent with their designs. Despite being basically the lower-tier GPU in their current range, the GTX 1650 SUPER Gaming X features a cooler design that you can still find on even their RTX series cards. Of course, you do pay a little more for this, but just look at it! The cooler features two massive fans which should move more airflow than this card could ever need. Of course, I expect that to translate to lower temperatures and lower noise in high-GPU load scenarios. Down the side of the card, you'll find a little bit of branding, but nothing too over the top. Furthermore, towards the back of the card is a single 6-pin GPU power connector. While the card doesn't feature a backplate I love that MSI still jazzed it up with their dragon logo. The card doesn't really need a backplate though, not at this price range or performance level. Finally, the rear of the card, which features some airflow, as well as a good selection of display connectors. There are three DisplayPorts as well as a single HDMI port. How We Test We continue to update our testing methods around once per year. As such, we re-test older hardware to reflect changes over time. These can be driver updates, Windows updates, game patches, and more; all of which have an impact on performance figures. Furthermore, we update our test bench to newer and more relevant hardware. This means that our new reviews aren’t always comparable to those of older reviews, so please compare the testing methodology on older reviews should you be trying to compare them with newer ones. Replicate Our Results When it comes to our benchmarks in our reviews, the benchmarks are pretty self-explanatory and kept as simple as possible, although there are a few exceptions. Remember that your choice of a graphics card, CPU, the silicon lottery, and other factors can yield different numbers, and there’s always a margin for error when using any software. Links are provided below, as well as the settings we use. We encourage you to not just look at how one product compares to any other, but how it compares to your own. If you’re looking to build a new system, you should benchmark your current PC using the benchmarks available to you. You should then look at the percentage improvement from your current hardware to the hardware tested here to give you a ballpark figure of how much of an upgrade this will provide you with. Graphics Card Test System Motherboard – Aorus Z390 Gaming MasterProcessor – Intel Core i9-9900K (Stock)RAM – Crucial Ballistix Gaming 32GB (4 x 8GB) 3000 MHzCPU Cooler – Noctua NH-D15SPower Supply – Be Quiet Power Zone 1000WMain Storage Drive – Toshiba OCZ VX500 500GBChassis – Thermaltake Core P5 TGOperating System – Windows 10 64-bitMonitor – AOC 28-Inch 4K Gaming Monitor Additional Hardware Killawatt style electricity usage meter wall plugPrecision Gold N05CC Decibel meter Gaming To gauge performance levels which are easily reproduced time after time, by both ourselves and our readers, we now stick strictly to games default profiles. We now use the “High” profiles for all games or their respective equivalent at all resolutions. V-Sync is always disabled in our testing, as are FreeSync and G-Sync technologies or similar. Graphics card power usage is set to optimised or balance, and the system power mode set to High Performance within Windows and the available GPU driver software. Identical settings are used for all resolutions unless otherwise stated. Games and Settings Used Shadow of the Tomb Raider DX12 High Preset1080p1440p2160pDeus Ex: Mankind Divided DX12 High Preset1080p1440p2160pGhost Recon: Wildlands High Preset1080p1440p2160pBattlefield V DX12 High Preset1080p1440p2160pBattlefield V DX12 High Preset (DXR Enabled) NVIDIA RTX Cards ONLY1080p1440p2160pMetro Exodus DX12 High Preset1080p1440p2160pMetro Exodus DX12 High Preset (RT, then RT and DLSS Enabled) NVIDIA RTX Cards ONLY1080p1440p2160pFar Cry New Dawn High Preset1080p1440p2160p The Division 2 High Preset1080p1440p2160pGhost Recon: Breakpoint1080p1440p2160pBorderlands 3 High Preset1080p1440p2160p Software Used 3DMark Fire Strike (download)FireStrike Ultra BenchmarkUnigine Superposition (download)4K Optimised BenchmarkHWMonitor (download)GPU-Z (download)MSI Afterburner (download) Noise Everyone has a reasonable noise level preference when it comes to components on a computer. Some can handle all fans at 100% load to keep temperatures down; some want an entirely silent computer. To accurately gauge the noise output of a graphics card, we position a Precision Gold N05CC one meter above our open-air test bench and take an average reading at idle and load. Power Consumption We take power readings during the idle state with no background applications running. Then again at 50% completion of the Unigine Superposition benchmark, using the average as the final published result. Temperatures We take temperature readings after 10 minutes of desktop idle with no background programs running, then take the recorded maximum delivered from Unigine Superposition after a 4K optimised run, confirming the numbers are accurate with HWMonitor. Furthermore, the ambient temperature is always kept +/- 1c from 21c. Synthetic Benchmarks MSI has certainly helped put the SUPER into this card, as it boosts to 2279 points in FireStrike Ultra. That's a big step up from the 1836 points from the non-SUPER variant of the card; it's also around 2.5x the performance of the older GTX 1050 G1 Gaming. TimeSpy and Unigine faired rather well too, as the MSI card beat out the RX 580 by a small margin, and was close to the performance of the Radeon Vega 56. However, the Vega 56 pulled ahead further in Unigine as the faster memory deals with 4K much better. Of course, the GTX 1650 SUPER is not a 4K gaming card, so let's dive into the gaming performance figures next and see some real-world performance. 3DMark FireStrike Ultra - 22793DMark TimeSpy - 4970Unigine Superposition 4K Optimised - 3716 3DMark FireStrike Ultra 3DMark TimeSpy Unigine Superposition Experience Lara Croft’s defining moment as she becomes the Tomb Raider. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour. As she races to save the world from a Maya apocalypse, Lara will ultimately be forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be. Available now on Steam. Shadow of the Tomb Raider Performance 1080p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 661440p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 432160p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 21 Now an experienced covert operative, Adam Jensen is forced to operate in a world that has grown to despise his kind. Armed with a new arsenal of state-of-the-art weapons and augmentations, he must choose the right approach, along with who to trust, in order to unravel a vast worldwide conspiracy. Available now on Steam. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Performance 1080p Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 68.31440p Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 44.92160p Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 22.5 The Ghosts, an elite US Special Forces team, are sent behind enemy lines to wreak havoc, destabilize, and eventually break the alliance between the cartel and the corrupted government. Facing an almighty enemy in a massive and hostile environment, the Ghosts will need to make critical moral choices and engage in tough battles to complete their mission – their grittiest and most dangerous operation to date. Available now on UPlay. Ghost Recon: Wildlands Performance 1080p Ghost Recon Wildlands - 76.721440p Ghost Recon Wildlands - 55.342160p Ghost Recon Wildlands - 28.91 Enter mankind’s greatest conflict with Battlefield™ V in the most intense, immersive, and innovative Battlefield yet. Lead your squad to victory in all-new multiplayer experiences like the multi-map Grand Operations. Fight for survival in Firestorm – battle royale, reimagined for Battlefield. Witness a never-before-seen portrayal of WW2 in the single-player War Stories campaign. Assemble your Company of customized soldiers, weapons, and vehicles – then take them on an expanding journey where every chapter brings a new battlefield. You will never be the same. Available now on Origin. Battlefield V Performance 1080p Battlefield V - 701440p Battlefield V - 472160p Battlefield V - 22 Metro Exodus is an epic, story-driven first-person shooter from 4A Games that blends deadly combat and stealth with exploration and survival horror in one of the most immersive game worlds ever created. Flee the shattered ruins of dead Moscow and embark on an epic, continent-spanning journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in the greatest Metro adventure yet. Explore the Russian wilderness in vast, non-linear levels and follow a thrilling story-line inspired by the novels of Dmitry Glukhovsky that spans an entire year through spring, summer and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter. Available now on Epic Game Store. Metro Exodus Performance 1080p Metro Exodus - 39.721440p Metro Exodus - 29.392160p Metro Exodus - 17.5 Seventeen years after a global nuclear catastrophe, civilization re-emerges from the chaos to find a world dramatically changed. In Hope County, Montana, the remaining populace has gathered into different groups, each with their own rules for survival. In this new world order, the vicious Highwaymen, led by twin sisters Mickey and Lou, travel from place to place bleeding people dry of all available resources. As the Survivors try to defend their lands against the Highwaymen's relentless onslaught, it's up to you to come to their aid and lead the fight. In the latest instalment of the award-winning Far Cry franchise, you are the last line of defence in a transformed, post-apocalyptic Hope County. Help the community of Survivors grow stronger, craft a makeshift arsenal through Turf Wars and cross-country Expeditions, and form unexpected alliances to fight for survival in a dangerous new frontier. Available now on UPlay. Far Cry New Dawn Performance 1080p Far Cry New Dawn - 811440p Far Cry New Dawn - 582160p Far Cry New Dawn - 30 Seven months have passed since a deadly virus hit New York City and the rest of the world, crippling the population. When the virus hit, The Division, a unit of civilian sleeper agents, was activated as the last line of defence. Since then, Division agents have been fighting relentlessly to save what remains. For The Division, the stakes are higher than ever. Washington, D.C. – the most heavily protected city on earth – is at risk, leaving the entire nation on the brink of collapse. If Washington, D.C., is lost, then the nation falls. As a Division agent who has been in the field for seven months, you and your team are the last hope to stop the fall of society after the pandemic collapse. Available now on UPlay. The Division 2 Performance 1080p The Division 2 - 651440p The Division 2 - 432160p The Division 2 - 23 The original shooter-looter returns, packing bazillions of guns and a mayhem-fueled adventure! Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four new Vault Hunters. Play solo or with friends to take on insane enemies, score loads of loot and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy. At the hard edge of the galaxy lies a group of planets ruthlessly exploited by militarized corporations. Brimming with loot and violence, this is your home—the Borderlands. Now, a crazed cult known as The Children of the Vault has emerged and is spreading like an interstellar plague. Play solo or co-op as one of four unique Vault Hunters, score loads of loot and save the galaxy from this fanatical threat. Available now on Epic Games Store. Borderlands 3 Performance 1080p Borderlands 3 - 57.081440p Borderlands 3 - 36.222160p Borderlands 3 - 11.86 Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint puts you in the boots of the Ghosts, an Elite US Special Operations Unit stranded behind enemy lines. This time there is no briefing. All contact has been lost with Auroa. This archipelago is home to Skell Technology, a high-tech company. You are sent there with your unit for a recon mission, but your helicopters are shot down: Skell Tech has fallen into the wrong hands. The Wolves, a lethal ex-US military unit gone rogue, have taken over the island. Led by your ex-brother-in-arms, Colonel Cole D. Walker, they have reprogrammed Skell’s drones into killing machines and are ready to use them, no matter the casualties. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a military shooter set in a diverse, hostile, and mysterious open world that you can play entirely solo or in four-player co-op. Injured, without support, and hunted down by ex-Ghosts, you must fight to survive while lost in Auroa. Choose the right alliances and decide how to take down your toughest enemy. Available now on UPLAY. Ghost Recon: Breakpoint 1080p Breakpoint - 591440p Breakpoint - 412160p Breakpoint - 19 Power Consumption Temperatures Acoustics Stock Overclocked FireStrike Ultra Ghost Recon Wildlands How Much Does It Cost? I'm really struggling to see proper stock and pricing for this card on Amazon right now. However, I do know the card can be snapped up for around £179.99 from most retailers. That's not too bad either, and while it does make it one of the more expensive GTX 1650 SUPER cards, it does have a larger and more premium cooler design, so you're paying a bit more, but you're literally getting more. Overall, this does make it about £15 more expensive than some other GTX 1650 SUPER cards, so you may just be paying for the aesthetics of that lovely cooler. However, that is the same price as the higher-end models of the RX 580, so it's competitive in that respect too. Overview Nvidia set out to create a card that can compete with the AMD Radeon RX 580, and they've certainly hit their mark this time. The card trades blows with AMD from game to game, and they're both priced about the same too. However, MSI has the advantage of newer technology on its side. The card is much more efficient than the older AMD chipset. Plus, it comes with other advances that help with modern streaming codecs, which are sure to appeal to a lot of gamers out there. Gaming Performance The GTX 1650 SUPER chipset isn't going to set any world records any time soon. Furthermore, if you own a mid-range GPU from the last couple of generations, it's unlikely to be much (if any) of an upgrade for you. As for the competition, it's on par with the other GTX 1650 cards we've tested this week. However, the advantages of the larger cooler do make it cool and quiet, which is always a nice advantage to have while gaming. For 1080p gamers, it's right on the money and it'll play the latest games with ease using pretty high graphics settings. It struggled a bit in Metro Exodus, but find me a card that doesn't! You could even get away with 1440p gaming on this card, as it averaged around 45 FPS with high settings. However, dropping to medium settings would net you better FPS in that respect. Of course, 4K gaming is right out, but at this price, that's to be expected. However, for 1080p gamers, it looks like it'll get you through all of today's latest games easily enough. Should I Buy One? While this card is a little bit more expensive than its rivals GTX 1650 offerings, I do think it's good value. The PC market is one that's just in love with aesthetics and build quality as it is with performance. For under £200, it's one of the best looking and best performing 1080p gaming cards out there. If you don't mind paying a little more to get a great looking card, you'll struggle to find something that looks better than this. MSI GTX 1650 SUPER Gaming X Review

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