NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650: A Budget GPU for Gamers and Beyond

April 2025

Despite the release of new generations of graphics cards, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 remains a popular choice for budget builds. This model, introduced in 2019, still finds its users due to its balance of price, energy efficiency, and adequate performance. Let’s explore its strengths, who it is suitable for in 2025, and what nuances to consider before purchasing.

1. Architecture and Key Features

Turing Architecture: Modest Ambitions

The GTX 1650 is built on the Turing architecture but lacks the key features of the flagship RTX cards, such as RT cores for ray tracing and tensor cores for DLSS. It is a simplified version aimed at basic tasks. The manufacturing process is 12 nm (TSMC), which appears outdated in 2025 compared to 5–7 nm chips but explains the low cost.

Unique Features: Minimal, but No Surprises

The card supports only basic NVIDIA technologies:

- Adaptive Shading — optimizes GPU load;

- NVENC — hardware video encoding for streaming;

- DirectX 12 Ultimate (partially) — but without ray tracing.

RTX features, FSR from AMD, or Intel XeSS are not available. However, drivers support AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), allowing an increase in FPS in games at resolutions above 1080p.

2. Memory: Modest, but Practical

GDDR6 vs GDDR5: Two Versions of the Same Card

The early models of the GTX 1650 were equipped with 4 GB of GDDR5, but later options with GDDR6 appeared. In 2025, GDDR6 versions dominate the market with a bandwidth of 192 GB/s (compared to 128 GB/s for GDDR5). The memory bus is 128 bits, which is sufficient for 1080p gaming.

Impact on Performance

The 4 GB capacity is adequate for most games on medium settings, but in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Hogwarts Legacy, performance dips may occur due to insufficient VRAM. GDDR6 models show 10–15% higher FPS in texture-intensive games.

3. Gaming Performance: Realistic Expectations

1080p: A Comfortable Level

In 2025, the GTX 1650 remains "gaming-capable" only for less demanding titles:

- CS2 — 120–140 FPS (max settings);

- Fortnite — 60–70 FPS (high settings, without Ray Tracing);

- Apex Legends — 70–80 FPS (medium settings);

- Cyberpunk 2077 — 30–35 FPS (low settings + FSR).

1440p and 4K: Not Recommended

For 1440p, the GPU power is insufficient even on low settings (except for older games like GTA V). 4K is impractical.

Ray Tracing: Technically Possible, but Useless

Without RT cores, enabling RT reduces FPS to 10–15 frames. Even with FSR, gameplay is unplayable.

4. Professional Tasks: Suitable for Starters

Video Editing and Rendering

With 896 CUDA cores and NVENC, the card can handle editing in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro for FullHD projects. Rendering in Blender is possible but slow: the BMW Benchmark scene takes about ~25 minutes (compared to ~5 minutes with an RTX 3060).

Scientific Calculations

For CUDA/OpenCL-based tasks (like entry-level machine learning), the GPU is usable, but the VRAM capacity and computational speed are significantly limited.

5. Power Consumption and Thermal Output

TDP 75–85 W: Save on Power Supply

Models without additional power (operating via PCIe x16) are ideal for upgrading old PCs. Even with GDDR6, the card rarely consumes more than 90 W.

Cooling: Quiet and Compact

Most variants are equipped with 1-2 fans. Under load, temperatures range from 65–75°C. Models with passive cooling (in Low Profile versions) are suitable for cases with good ventilation.

6. Comparison with Competitors

AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT (4 GB)

- Pros: Higher performance in Vulkan games, support for FSR 3.0.

- Cons: 64-bit bus, issues with PCIe 3.0.

Intel Arc A380 (6 GB)

- Pros: More VRAM, AV1 support.

- Cons: Poor driver optimization.

In 2025, the GTX 1650 excels over competitors in stability and compatibility but falls short in "modern" technologies.

7. Practical Tips

Power Supply

A 350 W PSU is sufficient (e.g., EVGA 350W 80+ Bronze). For GDDR6 models with 6-pin power, a 400 W PSU is recommended.

Compatibility

- Motherboards: PCIe 3.0 x16 (backward compatible with PCIe 2.0);

- CPUs: Even older Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 3 will work.

Drivers

Version 535.xx or newer is recommended. Avoid "experimental" builds as they may contain OpenGL errors.

8. Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Low power consumption;

- Silent operation;

- Support for FSR and NVENC;

- Price starting from $150 (new models).

Cons:

- 4 GB VRAM is insufficient for modern AAA games;

- No hardware ray tracing;

- Outdated manufacturing process.

9. Final Conclusion: Who is the GTX 1650 For?

This graphics card is suitable for:

1. Budget gamers willing to play on low settings.

2. Owners of old PCs looking for a simple upgrade without PS replacement.

3. Office users occasionally running less demanding games.

4. Beginner video editors working with FullHD video.

In 2025, the GTX 1650 is not a "top" choice but a practical solution where price is more important than ultra settings. If your budget is limited to $150–170 and you are prepared to run games like Cyberpunk 2077 on minimum settings, this is your option. For future upgrades, however, consider looking at cards with 8 GB of VRAM and support for DLSS/FSR 3.0.