IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
A very high number of budget computers right now are using the graphics card included with this system: NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030. The problem is that manufacturers have started producing a version with HALF THE PERFORMANCE of the original card, yet have barely changed the name (sometimes not at all)!
Graphics cards (usually) use a special, faster type of memory (often called RAM). So whereas a computer's main memory is DDR (the current generation is DDR4), the graphics card (again, usually) uses GDDR. That "G" stands for graphics (obviously), and the newest generation is GDDR5.
When the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 was first released it was a good entry level option. The performance wasn't amazing but you wouldn't expect so at its price point. So, given the cost, it was a respectable "bang for your buck" option. However about 2 years later, manufacturers quietly gave the card a massive downgrade. They swapped out the GDDR5 memory and replaced it with DDR4 memory, which is just regular computer memory that simply isn't suitable for the task!
I'm not exaggerating when I say this DDR4 version is HALF THE PERFORMANCE of the original GDDR5 one. It is literally half as powerful (sometimes even lower, in certain games). This change is frankly insulting to us customers, because it cripples the performance of the computer for an extremely small cost saving. For just a few dollars more, this computer would deliver double the gaming performance. Instead, this graphics card is basically worthless because it is literally WORSE THAN ON-BOARD GRAPHICS that are included with many CPU's. Again, I am not exaggerating here. This DDR4 version of the NVIDIA GT 1030 performs so badly that the built-in graphics of many CPUs out-perform it (although, admittedly, not *this* computer's CPU).
The worst thing about this swap is that it is not clear to unknowing and unsuspecting buyers (I am fairly PC-literate but I was fooled because I did not expect this level of deception). If you were to search for reviews of this graphics card, you will almost certainly find very positive opinions because they kept the same name save for *sometimes* adding a relatively innocent-sounding "DDR4" or "D4".
I'd like to again warn everyone that the name isn't even always changed, some versions of this graphics card do not even state any difference in the product name at all! And even when they do, the companies selling the complete computers often don't give the full name and specifications of the card, they simply say "NVIDIA GT 1030" with no further details. Whether this is because they themselves don't know, or they do but are being intentionally deceptive, I will leave up to the buyers to decide!
I would like to point out, in defence of the seller of this computer, that they do clearly state that it is the DDR4 version of the card included here, so they aren't being sneaky about it. However, most consumers wont know the difference and won't have the time/inclination to research what difference (if any) such a minor designation might signify. One does have to wonder why they are using this awful version, when for only a few dollars more this computer would have DOUBLE THE GAMING PERFORMANCE. One can only hope that they themselves are unaware of the difference, or at the very least are simply restricted by availability of the superior version.
So, what should you do?
#1 - DO NOT BUY any computer that uses the DDR4 version of the NVIDIA GT 1030. If they do not explicitly state whether it is the DDR4 or GDDR5 version, you can be confident that it is the DDR4!
#2 - If you can't find a computer in your budget that uses the good version (or any other card), then either:
A - consider buying a CPU with the best on-board graphics you can, it should be similar price but will be BETTER than a computer with the DDR4 version of this graphics card! AMD currently make the best integrated graphics CPUs (often called APUs). The 3400G is currently the best available, however a new system with that chip will cost about 30% more than this computer (it will also be more than 30% faster, though!)
B - Buy a computer without a graphics card nor good on-board graphics. You will either spend the same money for a much more powerful computer (but slightly worse gaming performance), or save money by getting a computer with similar non-gaming performance, and then use that money to buy a cheap graphics card you can upgrade yourself, and end up spending the same money for much better gaming performance (if you are worried about doing this yourself; you shouldn't be. It is an incredibly simple thing to do, like plugging a lamp into the wall! Even with no prior knowledge, there are many tutorials on the internet that are extremely newbie-friendly to guide you!)
C - Wait a little longer. There is currently a mass shortage of complex computer chips. This is partly due to the pandemic (which is obviously still ongoing, but the factories in Asia are back on-line and catching up). And also partly due to the high value of bit-coin (when the price of these crypto-currencies rises quickly, there is a sudden huge demand for computer hardware that can make money by "mining" them). This shortage should eventually recover. Although it's possible it might take a long time, it's also possible (and more likely, in my opinion) that it will begin to ease within a few months as factories catch up with the back-log, and the crypto-currency bubble pops (again)! As the shortage recovers, prices will fall and cheap computer parts will be more widely available again.
*If you have trouble believing a random guy on the internet that says something is so incredibly awful (I wouldn't blame you, it's generally not the best bet!), then I implore you to please do an internet search for "NVIDIA GT 1030 GDDR5 vs DDR4". You will find many people with much more knowledge and authority than I have, talking passionately about how disgraceful it is that they crippled this card with half the performance yet still call it by the same name!
