In April 2019, Nvidia released the Geforce Gtx 1650 graphics card, marking their latest entry into the budget 1080p gaming GPU market. The Nvidia Geforce Gtx 1650 succeeded the popular 1050 Ti, adding performance improvements from Nvidia’s new Turing architecture.

This guide provides an in-depth look at everything you need to know about the GTX 1650. We’ll cover the card’s specs, real-world gaming benchmarks, performance comparisons with other GPUs, key features, ideal usage scenarios, and help you determine if it’s the right budget graphics card for your needs.

The Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 hits a nice sweet spot for inexpensive 1080p gaming PCs. It doesn’t require external power, has low thermals, and fits well in compact builds. While not ideal for maxed out AAA gaming, the 1650 can run esports and competitive games at high frame rates.

For budget-focused gamers unable to afford expensive RTX cards, the GTX 1650 delivers good 1080p performance without breaking the bank. Let’s dive into the details.

Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 Specs and Architecture

The GTX 1650 is based on Nvidia’s Turing architecture, the same used in their RTX 2000 series cards. While it lacks dedicated ray tracing cores, the 1650 still provides some architectural improvements over the previous generation’s 10-series Pascal cards.

Technical Specifications

Here are the key specs of the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650:

• Manufacturing Process: 12nm
• GPU Codename: TU117
• CUDA Cores: 896
• Base Clock: 1485 MHz
• Boost Clock: 1665 MHz
• Memory Bus Width: 128-bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 128 GB/s
• VRAM: 4GB GDDR5
• TDP: 75W
• Die Size: 200mm2
• Launch Price: $149 USD

The 12nm process allows Nvidia to pack in more transistors while being power efficient. The 75W TDP means the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 can be powered solely through the PCIe slot without needing external power connectors.

The 4GB VRAM uses 128-bit GDDR5 memory capable of 8Gbps speeds. While some higher-end cards have more VRAM, 4GB is sufficient for 1080p gaming.

Turing Architecture

The Turing architecture provides some nice improvements despite lacking RT and tensor cores…

Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 Performance and Benchmarks

The GeForce GTX 1650 is designed to deliver smooth 1080p gaming performance in popular titles. While not capable of maxing out every setting in demanding games, it provides a solid experience with reduced details.

Compared to the previous 1050 Ti, the GTX 1650 benchmark results show around a 50-60% increase in frames per second. This puts it in the range of the AMD RX 570, a popular budget competitor.

1080p Gaming

In most games at 1920 x 1080 resolution, the GTX 1650 can surpass 60fps on medium to high settings. Older or esports titles easily achieve 100fps+ at max settings. Here are some benchmark examples:

• Fortnite – 87fps (High)
• CS:GO – 127fps (Max)
• GTA V – 68fps (High)
• The Witcher 3 – 58fps (High)
• Overwatch – 106fps (Ultra)

AAA titles like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey will average 45-50fps on the High preset. For maximum detail, the resolution can be lowered slightly to maintain 60fps.

The Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 excels in competitive multiplayer games like PUBG, Apex Legends, and Rainbow Six Siege where high frame rates are desirable. It’s not limited to esports titles though and provides a smooth experience in open world or RPG games.

Synthetic Benchmarks

In synthetic benchmarks, the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 scores are:

• 3DMark Fire Strike (1080p) – 11278 points
• 3DMark Time Spy (1080p) – 4054 points
• Unigine Heaven (1080p Medium) – 911 score

These results slot the 1650 in the entry-level tier, above integrated graphics but below mid-range cards. It’s approximately 2x faster than Intel UHD 630 graphics found in many desktop CPUs.

Real World Game FPS

Here are tested frame rates from TechPowerUp running at 1080p medium settings:

While not hitting 120+ fps, the GTX 1650 provides smooth playable performance around 50-70 fps in the latest AAA games. For competitive titles, 100+ fps is achievable when graphics settings are reduced.

Overall the 1650 is capable of running any game at FHD resolution, but may require tuning down quality for max framerates. It’s a very capable 1080p GPU that fits into budget gaming builds.

Next, we’ll compare the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 against other Nvidia cards and competing AMD GPUs…

Comparisons With Other GPUs

How does the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 compare against other entry-level graphics cards in its class from both Nvidia and AMD? We’ll look at some key head-to-head comparisons.

GTX 1650 vs 1650 Super

The GTX 1650 Super was released a few months after the regular 1650 as an improved variant. It receives a modest spec bump with more CUDA cores (1280 vs 896) and faster GDDR6 memory.

In most benchmarks, the 1650 Super is around 15-20% faster than the plain GTX 1650. It costs around $30 more, making it a worthwhile step up if the budget allows.

GTX 1650 vs GTX 1050 Ti

The older 1050 Ti has long been a popular budget card for 1080p gaming. When comparing specs, the GTX 1650 has a faster core clock, extra CUDA cores, and GDDR5 vs GDDR4 memory.

In real-world tests, the 1650 is about 30% faster than the 1050 Ti. Upgrading can make sense if you want 60fps on higher settings in modern games. The 1650 is more future-proof.

GTX 1650 vs RX 570

On the AMD side, the Radeon RX 570 4GB is the closest competitor to the GTX 1650. The RX 570 is built on AMD’s Polaris architecture with 2304 stream processors.

Performance between these two cards is close; often trading blows depending on the game. The RX 570 does consume more power at 120W TDP vs. 75W on the 1650. Overall pricing and platform preferences are the main differences.

Some other comparisons include:

• GTX 1660 is about 20-25% faster for $220
• GTX 1060 6GB is slightly ahead for $100 used
• RX 580 is a bit faster for $170, more power hungry

For budget cards under $200, the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 competes well while using less energy. It doesn’t match mid-range cards but costs significantly less.

Next, we’ll look at some of the benefits and features of the GTX 1650…

Features

The Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 includes some excellent features that add value compared to older budget GPUs. Let’s look at some of the key capabilities.

NVENC Encoder

The Turing architecture includes a dedicated NVENC encoder block that allows for high performance game streaming and recording with minimal CPU usage. This makes streaming to Twitch or making game footage for YouTube easy.

API Support

The Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 supports the latest DirectX 12 and Vulkan graphics APIs. This ensures compatibility with new game titles built on these APIs for better performance optimizations compared to DX11.

GeForce Experience

Nvidia’s GeForce Experience software is packed with useful gaming features. This includes game drivers/updates, optimal PC hardware settings, laptop battery boost, and the ability to record/stream gameplay.

Future Proofing

Since the 1650 is based on the latest Turing architecture, it will have longer driver support from Nvidia and benefit from future optimizations. Older cards lose performance as new games rely on newer architectures.

Low Profile Options

There are half-height, single slot low profile Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 models available from manufacturers like Zotac. This makes the card perfect for small form factor builds.

No External Power Needed

The 75W TDP means no 6-pin or 8-pin power connectors are required. The PCIe slot provides sufficient power, allowing the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 to work in a wider range of OEM systems.

While not the most advanced card, the GTX 1650 includes some nice extras that improve the overall user experience.

Next we’ll look at some ideal usage scenarios for the GeForce GTX 1650…

Ideal Usage Scenarios

The Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 is designed for 1080p gaming on a budget. Its low power requirements also make it suitable for compact builds. Here are some of the best uses for the GeForce GTX 1650:

1080p Gaming Rigs

If you are building a new budget gaming PC, the GTX 1650 is a cost-effective option that won’t break the bank. It’s powerful enough to run any modern game at 1080p resolution with reduced settings as needed. Ideal when paired with current generation CPUs like the Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i5-10400F.

Compact/HTPC Builds

Thanks to the low 75W TDP and short PCB size, the GTX 1650 works great in small form factor builds. There are single fan half-height cards perfect for mini-ITX cases. It can even be used in some HTPC setups to enable casual gaming on your living room media PC.

Upgrading Older Systems

For those with a 3-5 year old prebuilt PC or gaming system, the GTX 1650 is a substantial upgrade over integrated graphics or older budget cards. Dropping it into an older system with a decent CPU can extend its gaming lifespan a few more years.

Budget 1080p Gaming

If your max budget is around $150-170 for a GPU, the GTX 1650 delivers the best performance without breaking the bank. It’s significantly cheaper than popular mid-range options like the RTX 2060 or RX 5600 XT.

Entry Level Esports Gaming

For competitive esports titles like CS:GO, DOTA 2, Valorant, and Rainbow Six Siege, the 1650 can easily push 100+ fps. It’s a cost-effective card for high framerate 1080p gaming on a budget.

Overall the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 hits the sweet spot of price versus performance for 1080p gaming. It doesn’t excel at 1440p or 4K, but most buyers aren’t looking for maxed out eye-candy either.

Now let’s wrap up everything we’ve learned about the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650…

Conclusion

The Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 serves its role as an affordable 1080p gaming card well. It delivers smooth performance in esports and multiplayer titles while scaling back settings in more demanding AAA games. The addition of Turing architecture provides a nice boost over the older 1050 Ti.

For only $149 MSRP, the GTX 1650 offers great value. It doesn’t cost much more than integrated graphics yet provides a 50-60% performance uplift. The low 75W TDP also makes it super flexible for various compact PC builds.

That said, the GTX 1650 is still an entry-level card at heart. It trails behind mid-range offerings like the RX 5600 XT and RTX 2060, which open the door to smoother 1440p gaming, ray tracing, and DLSS. The 4GB VRAM may also limit future potential.

But for gaming at good frame rates on a tight budget, the 1650 hits a sweet spot. Its price/performance ratio is hard to beat. Those looking for an inexpensive upgrade over old GPUs or integrated graphics will see a nice boost.

Overall, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 earns its reputation as a solid 1080p gaming card. It runs modern titles smoothly at reduced settings, ideal for budget gamers who can’t justify expensive graphics cards. The GTX 1650 is easy to recommend for smooth entry-level PC gaming if your budget is around $150.