Spec me a...silent gfx card

Pickers · 10-07-2008, 18:05

Our downstairs PC freezes often when viewing videos (belive me I've tried it all, reseating th CPU, memtest, HDD swap, Fresh install, adjusting voltages - nothing works). Its currently on onboard gfx and I think it needs to have a dedicated gfx card, preferably a passivly cooled one (as its in the lounge), but nothing too ancient as it will be matched with an AMD x2 4400 and 2 gig ram. Its in an antec fusion HTPC case so room may not be abundant, but is certainly not as sparse as in micro boxes.

Clare uses the computer mainly for her designs but after installing spore creature creator I realised just how much of a bottle neck the onboard gfx is. And as a bonus.. maybe getting dedicated gfx will stop/limit the freezing!

Alas I have no idea what card to get, where from or anything.

Anyone offer advice?
thnx and luf.

divine · 10-07-2008, 18:12

8600GT?

Sure i've seen a few about with passive sinks and should cost about £50 or £60

Mark · 10-07-2008, 19:42

You have seen a few...

8600GT 256MB GDDR3 -> http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=661334
8600GT 512MB GDDR2 -> http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=661335
8600GTS 256MB GDDR3 -> http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=661333

On the ATI side there's the 2600 series, but that's two generations old now.

Pickers · 10-07-2008, 21:02

the 8600s ok then? How would they compare to my 7800GTX upstairs? Not bad prices...

Mark · 10-07-2008, 21:43

About the same at 3DMark06 if THG are to believed.

(picking random card specs - YMMV)

Pickers · 11-07-2008, 18:55

so worth it you think, or would it be better spending a bit more for a better card thats silent?

10-07-2008, 18:05	#1
Pickers Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2,692	Spec me a...silent gfx card Our downstairs PC freezes often when viewing videos (belive me I've tried it all, reseating th CPU, memtest, HDD swap, Fresh install, adjusting voltages - nothing works). Its currently on onboard gfx and I think it needs to have a dedicated gfx card, preferably a passivly cooled one (as its in the lounge), but nothing too ancient as it will be matched with an AMD x2 4400 and 2 gig ram. Its in an antec fusion HTPC case so room may not be abundant, but is certainly not as sparse as in micro boxes. Clare uses the computer mainly for her designs but after installing spore creature creator I realised just how much of a bottle neck the onboard gfx is. And as a bonus.. maybe getting dedicated gfx will stop/limit the freezing! Alas I have no idea what card to get, where from or anything. Anyone offer advice? thnx and luf. __________________ Pictures

10-07-2008, 18:12	#2
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	8600GT? Sure i've seen a few about with passive sinks and should cost about £50 or £60 __________________

10-07-2008, 19:42	#3
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	You have seen a few... 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 -> http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=661334 8600GT 512MB GDDR2 -> http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=661335 8600GTS 256MB GDDR3 -> http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=661333 On the ATI side there's the 2600 series, but that's two generations old now. Last edited by Mark; 10-07-2008 at 19:44.

10-07-2008, 21:02	#4
Pickers Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2,692	the 8600s ok then? How would they compare to my 7800GTX upstairs? Not bad prices... __________________ Pictures

11-07-2008, 18:55	#6
Pickers Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2,692	so worth it you think, or would it be better spending a bit more for a better card thats silent? __________________ Pictures

10-07-2008, 21:43	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	About the same at 3DMark06 if THG are to believed. (picking random card specs - YMMV)