Best GTX 1050 Ti

Best GTX 1050 Ti Comparison Table

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On the best graphics cards available on the market, the GTX 1050 Ti is far from being on that list, and this is especially true when you compare it to the current mid-range AMD Radeon RX cards. If you play games, you are likely to know this.

This little fact here shouldn’t be what will make back-out because this graphics card has a few advantages of its own.

Although, the GTX 1050 Ti card may not give the you exact (or even better) performance that you will get from the Radeon RX 570, this graphics card will enable those who are on a budget to purchase this product from Nvidia’s proprietary technologies. And this is a much more power-efficient card than the AMD’s Polaris cards. In this post, we will be looking at some of the best gtx 1050 ti cards.

Now, let us go into the review of a few of the best GTX 1050 Ti cards that are on the market.

Best GTX 1050 Ti Review

ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini (Best Budget Pick)

ZOTAC is the oldest partner of Nvidia, and it is a recently-founded company (founded in 2006), but through the years, the manufacturers of this brand have consistently been producing great graphics cards, and in the pack of these products, there are some added accessories and pre-made PCs. It makes the list for the best gtx 1050 ti graphics card list as well as our best pick for budget and price list.  If you play games and need a budget card, pick this.

This graphics card product is definitely not their first product, but it has two areas where it seems to work excellently, where it is not in competition with other available models, and this is its size and its affordability. Since this model a very small frame, this model can easily fit into even the smallest Mini ITX cases; also, this is the cheapest GTX 1050 Ti that is on the market currently.

Its Specifications

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What We Think

In all, the Zotac GTX 1050 Ti Mini is an efficient card. As we said earlier, in the intro, because of the size of this graphics card, it can seamlessly fit into any computer case, and for those on a budget, it is the most budget-friendly card at the moment.

It has a good clock speed that are ideal for a single-fan card, and this is the beginning of the reasons why that isn’t essentially a good thing.

The first reason is because, since this graphics card has just a single fan to cool it, when the card is under stress, it has a high chance of making a loud noise, and even get very hot, and, to add to that, the graphics card also wouldn’t take any real overclocking.

The second thing is, form giving it a first look, you will notice that this graphics card isn’t exactly a high-classed product, and it isn’t appealing, too. You’ll know this is you have had to play a high game with this.

If you know that you want to build a Mini ITX gaming PC, or maybe you find you have shallow pockets, you won’t get a better product than this.

Pros

• It is highly compact.
• It is the cheapest GTX 1050 Ti
• Despite its size and its almost basic cooling, it still gives a great performance.

Cons

• This graphics card gets hot and loud because it is cooled by just one fan.
• It has limited overclocking potential.
• It is cheap, and its design is not so attractive.

 

MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti

For a long while now, the MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti has been the leading manufacturers of hardware. Things that they have made are the motherboard, graphics cards, monitors, and peripherals, and laptops and pre-built PCs.

But, like the previously reviewed product, the MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, also accommodates people who are on different budget levels, but this one is quite different in a number of ways, and the most remarkable differences are its improved design, and, also the fact that it has two cooling fans, making it run smoothly, and giving a good performance.

Its Specifications

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What We Think

Since this product is a full-size graphics card, it makes it larger than the previously reviewed product, but because of its size, it can fit two cooling fans, making it easier to dispel heat.

The MSI GTX 1050 Ti comes with a high boost clock, and it is quieter and cooler, making it a great budget choice for anyone who doesn’t care about the compact size of the previously reviewed Zotac card.

One problem with this product is its design. Unlike the other expensive models, the problem with this one isn’t its garishness but the fact that it is drab. At first sight, it can be dismissed as a product that has low quality. But, as stated earlier, if you are on a budget, you definitely would not care about that part of the graphics card product.

Pros

• It gives an okay performance.
• The raphics card has a good value.

 

EVGA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti SSC Gaming

EVGA is one very best and most recognizable name among users of Nvidia’s products, and this is so due to valid reasons. This hardware manufacturing company has, over the years, entrenched itself as one of the premium graphics card manufacturers.

Graphics cards aren’t the only things they produce, they also make power supplies, cooling solutions, added to the other types of computer peripherals, but they are most known for the production of graphics cards.

Its Specifications

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What We Think

In our opinion, this product is quite an attractive one. And, even if we would overlook the graphics card’s stylish, detail-heavy exterior, we still have to take its performance into considerations, and this graphics card is very efficient.

Upon more assessment of the product, there were no flaws that could be pointed out. This graphics card gives a great performance, and it also has a relatively cheap price and a great pick for gaming.

Pros

• It has great performance.
• Great cooling.
• It has an alluring exterior design.

Cons

• We found no flaw in this product.

 

 

MSI Gaming X GeForce GTX 1050 Ti

Earlier, we talked about MSI’s more budget-friendly product, but now we will talk about the MSI Gaming X Geforce GTX 1050 Ti, from their gaming series, this is targeted to game lovers and enthusiasts.

Its Specifications

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What We Think

This is, no doubt, a gaming GPU, with its plenty of red highlights, two big fans, and the non-obtrusive MSI Gaming series dragon logo. When it comes to this card’s performance and overclocking, it is a bit better than the EVGA card by a very little margin, with a slight increment in its price.

But the problem with this card lies not in its performance or price, but its design. With its tacky highlights and the too conspicuous details, the exterior of this card looks stilted, and it might even be harder for you to fit it in some setups.

Pros

• It has quality cooling.
• It has a great overclocking performance.

 

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti G1 Gaming

This Taiwanese brand can hold its ground in the graphics cards field, especially when it comes to its versatility and quality. Just like the MSI, this company also manufactures all component types and pre-made systems.

This product fuses a great design with a great performance, carrying both an overlocking potential and an attractive design.

Its Specifications

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What We Think

There are a few features that make this model stick out among all graphics cards available on the market; its Dual Windforce fans, great overclocking potential, a premium backplate design, and three HDMI 2.0 ports.

It is a bit more expensive than those it is in competition with, but if what you seek is a model with a visually-appealing design, and one with three HDMI Ports, then this product is what you should for because it is worth the price.

The only problem with this model is that it is more expensive than the other models in this article. Besides that, it is a great graphics card.

Pros

• It has three HDMI ports
• It has a sleek design with a backplate
• It has a great performance.

 

ASUS GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB ROG Strix OC Edition

Seeing as ASUS is a big company, hence, the redundancy of any introductions. This is also a Taiwanese manufacturer that produces a wide number of products. Most gamers are probably familiar with their Republic of Gamers brand.

Anyone that has, at one time, made use of Strix before will know just what to expect from this graphics card, the ASUS Geforce GTX Strix Edition: a highly practical card with great exterior design and excellent performance.

Its Specifications

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This model certainly does not disappoint in any aspect, it has a great performance, wonderful cooling, and it is, debatably, the most aesthetically-appealing product on the market.

Not only does this model have a sleek design, with an ability to fit into any build, it also comes with RGB lighting.

When it comes to the setback of this model, one thing sticks out, its price. This model, the RoG Strix 1050 Ti is one of the most expensive GTX 1050 Ti models that are available on the market; but it does not give as good performance like the cheaper models do. Added to these is its odd choice of ports.

Although DisplayPort and HDMI are the most popular models on the market, you might like the fact that ASUS made this card with two DVI ports, if you have a dual-monitor setup, and if DVI is your port of choice.

Pros

• It has great performance.
• It has a beautiful design with backplate and an RGB logo.

 

How to Pick the Best GTX 1050 Ti For Your Gaming Needs

If you want to pick the best or one of the best gtx 1050 Ti cards for your use, there are some things you should consider. It is never a good idea for people to spend money anything without making a proper search. If you try an uninformed buy, you might have a terrible experience to share. If you follow this guide, you will easily pick the best gtx 1050 ti for your needs.

As is the case, there never is a specific product that would suit the needs of everyone. And this is why we will be taking a closer look at things that you should when trying to decide on which of the listed products you would want to get.

Search for a good manufacturer

What Sets The Manufacturers Apart? Cooling.

If you buy a product from a reputable manufacturer, picking the best one won’t be hard. Search for unbiased informative comments and reviews from other people before deciding. Generally, after buying a pretty nice product or one that is a waste of money, people will search for a way to hare whatever experience they had as a warning.

However, you should know that every GTX 1050 Ti has the same GPU. The GPU was designed by Nvidia. They all have either a 4GB or 2GB GDDR5 VRAM. Basically, they are the same in some aspects. Some manufacturers just know how to do the cooling better. Despite that they all use and Nvidia designed GPU, they do not have the same cooler. A much cheaper GTX 1050 Ti graphics card may be like that due to a poor quality cooler. It depends on the manufacturer.

As always, there is no single best product that will be the right choice for everyone. As such, we will now be taking a look at some things you should keep in mind when deciding which of the aforementioned models you should go with.

There is a perception, a false one, among those that do not know much about the IT world, and it is regarding the GTX 1050 Ti. They think that every single GTX 1050 Ti brand is very different from based on what the company manufactured them, but this is not true. In fact most people do not know that all GTX 1050 Ti have the same GPU produced by Nvidia. They all have the same 4 GB GDDR5  VRAM. Although, there are 2 GB GDDR5 VRAMs, we have not included any in this buying guide because, it is 2019, and the bare minimum should be 4 GB.

A mentioned before, the difference between each manufacturer is the type of cooling system solutions that are implemented. Depending on the type of cooling solution, the card would be cheaper because of its basic cooling, and it would be more expensive because the cooling is an advanced system, allowing the card to have a higher degree of overclocking, and a great performance.

 

Search for a capable cooling

These graphics cards usually have either single fans or dual fans. The fans directly affect cooling. A graphics card can have a liquid-based or an air-based cooler system. Single fans consume less power but are louder. Dual fans offer better cooling and low noise. If you have a small case like a Mini ITX or a Micro ATX, or if you have less money, are looking for a low price and overclocking won’t bother you, go for single fans. If you don’t have any of those, go for dual fans. Dual fans are obviously the best you can get for in this case.

Cooling of graphics cards could either be based on the use of liquid or based on air. The air-based cooling can be divided into two parts: blower and open air. The blower cards have a closed exterior, making use of a single blower fan that expels air from the back of the card. This is the cooling that can be found in reference models. The open-air cooling makes use of a range of one to three fans, with an open exterior, allowing air flow freely.

All the listed GTX 1050 Ti models in this article all utilize the open-air cooling since it is the most preferred choice of cooling for most setups, expelling heat efficiently and reduce the noise that is a feature in the blower-based cards. Here you want to make the choice: Should I buy a dual-fan or a single fan.

Single Fan

Graphics cards that make use of just a single fan for cooling are known to consume less power, and they are typically smaller. Their major disadvantage is that they are usually louder since they have just one fan that does all the work, spinning at high speeds.; this also makes the overclocking of this model low.

Dual Fan

The dual fan is the most used cooling system. It gives you the best of both worlds: better cooling and lower noise levels that are common with the single fan cards, and they are also smaller in size than that of the triple fan cards.

When it comes to the GTX 1050 Ti cards, the dual-fan types are the ones you can get a great performance from, and without it getting too loud, minimizing the potential of the card getting hot. They are also bigger and more expensive than the single fan cards.

Our advice to you if you want a single fan card is:

• You have a small case – a mini ITX or a Micro ATX
• You are in search of the cheapest GTX 1050 Ti that can be easily found without you caring about the overclocking.

If you do not fall into any of the two above categories, then the dual-fan graphics card is what will suit you. You will get that great performance you need, and it would have a silent run, reducing heat.

Search for Best Connectivity

You probably already know this, but three main technologies are used to connect graphics cards to displays, and these are:

• HDMI
• DisplayPort
• DVI

Sometimes, you might encounter some cheaper cards and monitors that include VGA ports, but this technology is out of date and it is hardly ever used today and is even on the edge of being outmoded.

So, when it comes to the other listed ones, which one should you buy?

Choosing the best one for you is really not a hard thing to do since every model has all three ports.

There is no easy-to-see difference in the visual quality between HDMI, DP, and DVI; they only differ when it comes to the maximum resolution that they can support, and the maximum refresh rate that they can attain in a particular resolution. For the 1080 p gaming (which is a resolution that GTX 1050 Ti is a best-suited for) any of the listed ports will work just fine. All you need to do is go with whatever port that sits well with you. Check to see that the best GTX 1050 Ti card you chose has the connectivity that suits you. Make sure that you stick to buying something that enables smooth play.

Search for Compatibility with your computer and games

Often people do not search enough and end up buying a bad choice. Your graphics card should be able to fit your case. It should also able to work with the motherboard. Check to make sure it is compatible with your games and can supply a necessary wattage. People should ensure that the motherboard has the PCIe x16 slot to accept the graphics card before buying. This will make it perform pretty much the same and not drop in performance.

Here is where you have to make sure that every hardware component is actually compatible with another. When it comes to the GPU, there are a few things that should be of concern and they are:

• Checking whether it is compatible with the motherboard.
• Whether the CPU will be powerful enough to work with it.
• Whether the card can easily fit into your case.
• Checking to see if your power supply is capable of providing enough wattage.

Search for compatibility with Motherboard

The only thing you should be worried about when it comes to the motherboard is whether your motherboard has the necessary PCIe x16 slot to take in the graphics card.

Although, the newer PCI versions are backward-compatible, and this means that you do not worry about if your motherboard has only 2.0 slots. Since the GTX 1050 Ti is not so much of a powerful GPU, there will be a non-recognizable performance drop with PCI 2.0.

Check  for compatibility with CPU

When you have a CPU that is not as powerful as the GPU, it results in something that is called bottlenecking. And what this means is that it is not able to keep up the GPU, making the GPU perform worse than it normally would. Meaning that your GPU won’t give you that tip-top performance you want.

Another good thing about the GTX 1050 Ti is that it is not a very demanding card. Once you have a good and working CPU, you will have no cause to worry. If you use an Intel, we would recommend an i3, 4^th generation or something newer. As for the AMD, you can get it working with the old FX CPUs, but you can also just use a Ryzen 3.

When it comes to the Intel Pentium and Celeron processors, and the AMD APUs, they can easily work with the GTX 1050 Ti, but they will bottleneck on different levels.

Search for Compatibility with Power Supply

As they have put on their specification sheets, most GTX 1050 Ti models have the ability to draw the power of 75 W, but the manufacturers encourage you to have a power supply of about 300 W for it to properly work. Well, that shouldn’t be hard seeing as today, the cheapest power supplies provide power upwards of 400 W, so, you have little to worry about here.

Check Case Size

There are four common formats for desktop computer cases, and they are:

1. Mini ITX
2. Micro ITX
3. ATX
4. eATX

Another important thing to consider the length and height of the card.

For its length, a full-sized dual-fan graphics card will typically fit into a Micro ATX case, even though that might make the case a bit cramped. You only need to go for the small form factor card when it comes to the Mini ITX series.

When it comes to the height, all the cards that are listed in this article can take up two vertical slots because of their cooling solutions. What this means is that your card will need some extra space under the PCI slot that you plan to use.

The best thing for you to do is to take the measurement of your case and the card that you want, and this true when we are talking about a smaller card.

Search for a suitable price

Depending on the money you have, some graphics cards will not work for you as they are out of your budget. Although what you get depends on how much money you have, if you realize that a particular model will work better and it is out of your price range, you may be better off waiting. From experience, it is best to wait for something you can use well. Buying something you cannot use for most games and for long will not be a pretty experience.

 

Must read: Best LGA 1155 CPU For Gaming

Our Take

When you consider all things, which one of these models would we pick? When we look at the best value, we would definitely go with the EVGA GTX 1050 Ti SSC Gaming. To us, this is just one great card, great performance, great cooling, quality build, and a design that looks good on its own which is also capable of fitting in most configurations.

What you should know is that the GTX 1050 Ti is a budget-friendly graphics card. Although we said that the EVGA model gives you the best value, some people might seek a more price-friendly model. And with that, you have no better model than the Zotac GTX 1050 Ti Mini. This is the cheapest model and it gives you a more than sated experience for its price.

There is a performance difference between the 1050 Ti and 1060, and the Radeon cards fill that need.

The Radeon Polaris models give you great value for your money in both the low-range and the mid-range. So, if you are seriously looking to get access to Nvidia GameWorks, what we would recommend is that you spend a bit more on an RX 570 or an RX 580.

If you have any experience with any of the graphics card that you would like to share, kindly drop it in the comments. Similarly, if you have any questions, you can also share it in the comments.