GPU HP Prodesk G4 400 video card upgrade

[scc04]

Hi everyone,

I have a HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower PC with a intel i5-7500 processor, 8 GB of RAM, Intel HD Graphics 630 and running OEM Windows 10 Pro - 1709, build 16299.64

Recently I decided do to a monitor upgrade and bought a 27 inch 4K monitor - LG 27UD58

However, that is when the things went south. Now it seems the computer hangs all the time, the refresh rate is set correctly to 60 Hz @ 3840x2160 , DPI 150% (recommended).

The computer hangs terribly, RAM usage is so high (varies between 80-100%) when using Chrome with multiple tabs.

So I decided to buy a dedicated graphics card, maybe this is the reason why the computer is so slow.

Before this, I was using a similar 27inch monitor but only full hd 1920x1080. Everything was smooth.

The connection between the monitor and desktop is via Display Port cable.

Latest drivers for everything are installed.

I was thinking to go for this one Gigabyte GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti OC Low Profile 4G

Any thoughts ?

 

[IntoxicatedPuma]

The 1050 ti doesn't use any PCI 6 pin and power consumption is relatively low, so I think it should handle 4k display fine. However I'm curious why RAM usage is so high and the computer has problems just from 4k display.

 

[scc04]

Only from the 4K display. If I connect my older screen and run 1920x1080 runs buttery smooth.

Google Chrome eats most of the RAM.

here is a screenshot of the task manager

https://i.imgur.com/yXoacMN.png

 

[jtd871]

With 4k@60Hz, the PC is pushing ~4x the pixels of FHD (~8.3 megapixels vs. ~2.1 megapixels) (up to) 60 times per second. The PC uses commensurately more resources to try and meet the hugely increased demand. If you dialled down the refresh rate to say 24Hz, then the workload might be only doubled from FHD@60, and you might be able to live with it (for normal productivity apps - games would likely be unplayable).

 

[scc04]

No need to play games, however, I would love to play 4K video content.

More stats

 

[jtd871]

Your integrated graphics uses your system memory. So at 4k, each frame requires 8.3 Mpx x (guessing) 24-bit color = ~200MB/frame?

I also read someplace that Intel HD graphics has 128MB of dedicated RAM (or maybe has reserved a minimum of 128MB of system RAM) and can use up to ~1.5GB of the system RAM. That may be why you the user experience has gone to crap. I could be horribly mistaken, though.

Also, you are using Chrome. You may want to close some unused tabs - for both freeing the RAM and CPU processing of background tabs.

 

[scc04]

You are correct. Its 128 dedicated.

I use a plugin for Chrome named The Great Suspender who puts unused tabs to idle when they are not active after a certain period of time that I have chosen.

The thing is, sometimes the user experience is also crap without any browser...just by having Excel open and some pdf files...

 

[scc04]

Update: purchased a Gigabyte 1050 Ti 4GB Low Profile card, part # GV-N105TOC-4GL

Everything works wonderful now. Connected via DisplayPort cable.

Is there any software that I can use to benchmark this particular card and compare it with others ?

 

[jtd871]

https://smallformfactor.net/forum/threads/join-the-smallformfactor-net-hwbot-team.1166/

 

[scc04]

Awesome ! Will study this subject