NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER: The Budget Warrior of 2025
April 2025
Despite the emergence of new generations of graphics cards, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER remains a popular choice for budget PCs. Released back in 2019, this model has stood the test of time and is still found in builds where affordability, energy efficiency, and sufficient performance for basic tasks are crucial. Let's explore what makes it noteworthy in 2025.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Turing Architecture: No Frills
The GTX 1650 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture (TU116) but lacks "premium" features such as hardware ray tracing or tensor cores. It’s a classic GPU for practical users: 1280 CUDA cores, 32 texture units, and 32 ROPs provide basic performance.
Manufacturing Process and Features
The card is manufactured using a 12nm process by TSMC. From NVIDIA's proprietary technologies, it supports only Adaptive Shading and NVENC (video encoding). Neither RTX nor DLSS is available here—these features are exclusive to the RTX series. However, thanks to the 2023-2024 drivers, the card has received optimizations for AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), slightly extending its relevance in gaming.
2. Memory: Speed vs. Capacity
GDDR6: A Breakthrough for Its Time
Unlike the base GTX 1650 with GDDR5, the SUPER version is equipped with 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus. The bandwidth is 192 GB/s (compared to 128 GB/s of its predecessor). This has reduced latency and improved performance in games with high textures.
4 GB in 2025: A Clear Limitation
The memory capacity is enough for 1080p at medium-low settings, but in modern titles (like Starfield 2 or GTA VI), the buffer often fills up, causing FPS drops. For esports titles (CS2, Valorant), there are no limitations—here, the card demonstrates stable 100+ FPS.
3. Gaming Performance
1080p: Comfort at Medium Settings
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty: 35–45 FPS (Low-Medium, FSR Quality).
- Hogwarts Legacy 2: 40–50 FPS (Medium, FSR Balanced).
- Apex Legends: 90–110 FPS (High).
1440p and 4K: Not for This Card
Even with FSR, resolutions above Full HD (1080p) are challenging: at 1440p, average FPS drops by 30–40%, while 4K remains unachievable.
Ray Tracing: No Support
Hardware RT cores are absent, so ray tracing is only available through software hacks (like ReShade), which significantly hampers performance.
4. Professional Tasks
Video Editing and Rendering
Thanks to the NVENC encoder, the card is suitable for streaming and editing in OBS or DaVinci Resolve (projects up to 4K 30 FPS). However, for rendering in Blender or Maya, 4 GB of VRAM and the lack of Tensor Cores become a bottleneck.
CUDA and OpenCL: Basic Capabilities
Programs like Adobe Premiere utilize CUDA for effect acceleration, but for complex tasks (neural network filters, 3D simulations), it's better to opt for the RTX 3050 or higher.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation
TDP 100W: Savings on Power Supply
The card consumes just 100W, allowing it to run with a power supply starting from 350W (400W recommended for margin).
Cooling: Quietness and Compactness
Most models (ASUS TUF, MSI Ventus) are equipped with 1-2 fans. The temperature under load ranges from 65-75°C, which is acceptable even for mini-ITX cases.
6. Comparison with Competitors
AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT (4 GB):
- Pros: Supports PCIe 4.0, superior performance in Vulkan games.
- Cons: Only 4 PCIe lanes, which reduces speed on older PCs.
Intel Arc A380 (6 GB):
- Pros: More VRAM, AV1 support.
- Cons: Poor driver optimization for older games.
Conclusion: The GTX 1650 SUPER shines in stability and low power consumption but falls short in future-proof specifications.
7. Practical Tips
- Power Supply: 400–450W (80+ Bronze). Example: EVGA 450 BR.
- Compatibility: PCIe 3.0 x16, works even on older platforms (Intel 4th generation).
- Drivers: Regularly update via GeForce Experience—NVIDIA is still releasing patches for Turing.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low power consumption.
- Quiet operation.
- Support for FSR 3.0 (via drivers).
- Availability (price $120–150 for new models).
Cons:
- Only 4 GB VRAM.
- No ray tracing.
- Outdated PCIe 3.0.
9. Final Conclusion: Who is the GTX 1650 SUPER For?
This graphics card is a suitable choice for:
1. Budget gamers playing esports titles or older AAA games.
2. Owners of low-power PCs who need to upgrade an office computer without replacing the power supply.
3. Beginner streamers broadcasting in 1080p.
In 2025, the GTX 1650 SUPER represents a compromise between price and the minimum requirements for modern gaming. If your budget is limited to $150 and games like Fortnite or Dota 2 are your maximum, this card will be a reliable option. However, for future projects with Unreal Engine 6 or AI features, it’s advisable to look for models with 8 GB VRAM and support for DLSS/FSR 3.0.