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Anyone expecting the ASUS GTX 950-2G “unplugged” to perform the same as standard GTX 950 may be disappointed by the results we have recorded – in general it falls behind by a margin of 20% or so. However, the GTX 950-2G is best thought of as an alternative to the GTX 750 Ti, rather than simply another GTX 950.
At $155 in North America and £130 here in the UK the ASUS GTX 950 unplugged costs the same as many other entry-level GTX 950s but its real competition is the GTX 750 Ti which starts at around $110/£90. As such the GTX 950-2G ends up being about 30% more expensive and returns slightly less relative performance, anything between 10 to 25% depending on the game in question and the system resolution.
The GTX 950-2G will certainly not be top of everyone's shopping list but if prospective buyers were already considering a GTX 750 Ti, then the GTX 950-2G is a higher performance alternative that will make 1080p gaming that extra bit smoother and more enjoyable.
Due to the absence of additional power connectors it's just as easy as it was with the GTX 750 Ti to drop the GTX 950-2G into any PCI Express equipped system and get a reasonable 1080p gaming experience.
Naturally, there will be other factors to consider including the fact that performance will vary depending on the CPU, system memory configuration and whether the power supply is up to the job. Even though the GTX 950-2G is frugal on power, a power supply already close to capacity – particularly if it is a low-quality unit, may still encounter issues by the up to 75-watts of power draw through the PCIe bus on the motherboard.
Since most pre-built OEM systems from the likes of Acer, Dell and others often have plenty of spare power supply capacity most consumers are unlikely to encounter any issues and may even be able to benefit from overclocking gains too. While the GTX 950-2G is slightly larger than most GTX 750 Ti's it is still compact enough to sit comfortably on any mini-ITX, micro-ATX or full-ATX motherboards, posing no notable compatibility issues.
Despite ASUS being the most vocal about its GTX 950 without the 6 pin, similar models are offered by rival brands including EVGA, who are selling 4 different models, and MSI. Pricing is broadly similar between these brands though it does vary by region and retailer.
Buy from Amazon UK for £136.56 HERE.
Pros:
- Performance upgrade over GTX 750 Ti.
- Light on power consumption.
- Excellent acoustic and thermal performance.
- Hassle-free upgrade path.
Cons:
- Relative price premium over GTX 750 Ti doesn't match the relative performance increase.
KitGuru says: The ASUS GTX 950-2G “unplugged” offers a notable performance boost over the GTX 750 Ti for an impressive low-power 1080p gaming experience.
