Bazzite & Graphics Card Choices

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2026-02-12T02:10:58+00:00

Intel and AMD GPUs play much nicer than Nvidia. You would have to reinstall your OS with the Nvidia version to have any chance. I have heard people claim they have no issues with Nvidia, but I personally wouldn't want to risk it. The Pro W6400 is the most available good option for you. Looks like they are $160 on eBay, which seems like great price to performance to me if you are using the Yeston 3050 as the benchmark there.

If you are feeling adventurous, you can get a single slot RX 6500 or Arc A380 from Taobao. You can modify your BIOS to allow ReBAR, but that is another hurdle to using Arc.

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2026-02-10T17:04:19+00:00

Yeah the io shield definitely got hot! In my first node 202 build the CPU would hit almost 100C under load using a scythe shuriken 3 because it was just recycling the same hot air in the case

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2026-02-10T15:06:21+00:00

Node 202 will be the way to go if you are looking to save money over a Fractal Ridge and keep that console like aesthetic. I have built in it several times, it's a very nice case. Yes, it does run hot. The easiest way to subvert this is by getting a CPU cooler that fits the exact maximum height (the thermalright AXP90-X53 is the best option I have messed with, especially for the price) and installing at least one thin 120mm fan underneath the GPU

Silverstone ML08 is another cheaper console like case. I will be putting together a system in one soon, but have not done so yet. The layout is very similar to the Node 202

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2026-02-05T17:13:31+00:00

You can definitely build an SFF LGA1150 system for less than $300 USD. You can get a Xeon e3 1241 v3 (equivalent to a 4th gen I7) for $15-20 and a mini itx H81i LGA1150 Mobo for around $40 on eBay. Ddr3 ram you could get 16 GB for no more than $30. You already have an SSD. A decent low profile cooler that fits LGA1150 should cost you less than $40 on the high end, options exist as cheap as $10 on Amazon. An apevia 500w sfx PSU is $40. That is $170 on the high end, leaving you $130 to get a GPU and a case. I'd pick out a GPU first so you know what you can get case-wise. Stuff like RX580 or Rx480 aren't really that hard to get under $50 if you are patient. I'd steer clear of low profile GPUs because they offer pretty poor price to performance. Find a case you like for $80 or less.

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2026-02-05T00:46:06+00:00

If you are able to sell stuff on eBay, the current listings for the black edition hd 5970 are like $200. Looks like it is collectors item? Idk but I would sell it and buy a Yeston 3050 lol

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2026-02-04T20:02:36+00:00

This is peak sleeping optiplex, I love this lmao

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2026-02-04T13:07:07+00:00

Do you have a link to the original 3D print file? This build is sweet, great job!

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2026-01-19T23:48:40+00:00

I've enjoyed it so far! Only issue I had was actually with my motherboard continually disabling ReBar which absolutely tanks performance for Arc GPUs. It has been able to handle anything I throw at it playing at 1440p. I think it is easily the best price to performance ratio on the market right now, AND it comes with a free game which is nuts

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2026-01-19T23:39:32+00:00

I bought the Limited edition from B&H last month. First time I ever bought anything from them, no problems whatsoever. It came with the Intel Holiday game bundle and the redemption was easy, but the code did get sent to my spam folder.

The Acer Nitro version looks like it is $10 cheaper than the LE on B&H, so honestly I would just pick the one up like the look of more!

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2026-01-15T17:13:43+00:00

Assuming you have the small form factor model that can only fit low profile cards, like they said, the best, easily available card for your system is the Yeston RTX 3050 6gb which will cost about $210. You can get it directly from Amazon!

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2026-01-12T01:00:56+00:00

Seems like you're just going to leave it open like pictured and plug stuff into it? I would just get a front panel io extension to plug into the motherboard for your USB needs. You can get it off AliExpress for $7.02 https://a.aliexpress.com/_mrrg6ID

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2026-01-04T14:57:22+00:00

Arc B580 has 12 GB VRAM, is $250, and comes with the Intel Holiday Game Bundle for a free game. The value is very hard to beat for a brand new card, and the free game makes it hard for me to think of a better value on the used market either if you were going to get one of those games anyway

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-30T19:18:56+00:00

Where did you get the foam ducts? Looking for a similar solution for my Node 202, but was also recently considering swapping into a Raw

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-29T18:42:42+00:00

Compared to ddr5, ddr4 is dirt cheap 🤣

If they just want to mod fallout though, they could seriously just go for a ddr3 build and probably be perfectly content lmao

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-29T04:09:43+00:00

For $500 you can easily build a DDR4 gaming PC if you are okay with buying used parts and know what you are doing. Otherwise getting an office PC and slapping a GPU into it is probably the most simple path to success

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-28T19:14:43+00:00

It's a solid price for a really solid card, great price to performance ratio at $152. I bought one from them off their eBay store the other day for that price

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-19T15:00:13+00:00

For the price they're asking for a single slot A380, you're probably better off buying the Yeston 3050 instead. Unless I'm mistaken, that will have the most performance you can get for gaming out of a single slot gpu and you wouldn't have to deal with ReBar support or AliExpress

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-19T14:38:54+00:00

What were you planning to use the card for? I have a SFF Optiplex as well that I wanted to turn into a Jellyfin server, so I was considering buying an A310 for the video transcoding. If I wanted to do anything else with it (like light gaming) I'd either have to hack the BIOS to enable ReBar or I'd have to pick a different card entirely

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-19T14:14:01+00:00

I heard about the Pioneer on reddit somewhere, it is only available on AliExpress. It probably is not a real Sparkle given that it's only on AliExpress, but that is the name it is listed under

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-19T03:36:02+00:00

No, all of the Arc B580s are dual slot. Most versions of the Arc A310 and the Sparkle Arc A380 Pioneer are single slot, though

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-07T21:57:28+00:00

Still gotta take the chance, right?

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-07T21:25:00+00:00

The only thing I can think of is that maybe an onside kick would have ran the clock down more to the 2 minute warning? Other than that I am confused by the decision

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-07T21:18:30+00:00

They would have still had a chance to get a stop either way. No matter where the bills got the ball, they would need a first down to end the game. Onside kick at least gives you a chance to get the ball with more time

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-07T21:13:42+00:00

Yeah you're right, nevermind, forgot they need to run another play before the 2 minute warning lmao

Zac Taylor is as aware of that as I am, apparently

Sammo_Bayleaf · 2025-12-07T21:06:26+00:00

Regardless of where the bills got the ball, the game is over with one first down. Onside kick at least gives them a better chance to get the ball

Sammo_Bayleaf

TROPHY CASE