Silent 8800 class card?

[halcyon]

I currently have an 8600 GT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121076 ) driving a 21” Samsung and a 30” Dell. I was interested in an nVidia card that would game on the Dell’s 2500x1600 with a bit more authority…say an 8800GTS/GTX.

However, I don’t want to hear the graphics card’s fan…ever…for any reason. I need it silent and will stick with the Asus 8600GT if necessary. Is there any such thing as a natively quiet 8800 class card do I need an aftermarket cooler. ...and if so what's good and can't likely be heard over extremely quiet Scythe SFlex case fans and my Zalman 9700 from more than 2 feet away?

Any good advice or recommendations you can offer is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[chedrz]

Honestly, the 8800GTS is pretty quiet. I don't have one myself, but my friends do, and I never hear them. Ever. And their cases are full of Scythe SFlex fans, too. You probably would be ok soundwise if you bought one.

 

[spuddyt]

I don't know why People ever care about the noise their computer makes, it is only ever a slight noise, I never notice

 

[IcY18]

You're best bet for silence is an aftermarket heatsink for the 8800GTX if that's what you really wanted, if your gaming at the native res of 2560x1600 you'll need the GTXs power.

If you do want the GTX but need the silence get the Thermalright HR-03 Plus with a quiet 92mm Panaflo or similiar. Only setback is you can lose a few PCI slots due to its size, if that isn't a problem your system would be quieter and more powerful than before!

 

[halcyon]

Thanks all for the advice. ...for the poster that doesn't care about noise from their PC. I'm spoiled, I want a quiet PC.

 

[halcyon]

Thanks all for the advice. ...for the poster that doesn't care about noise from their PC. I'm spoiled, I want a quiet PC.

 

[spuddyt]

strange, but you're entitled to it (but for a very small noise you would get a CRAPLOAD more performance from an 8800)

 

[chedrz]

You could get Leadtek's liquid-cooled 8800 Ultra. It's self-contained, but I don't think it can do SLI (if you wanted to, that is) due to the waterblock's design. And it's hella expensive...but it's silent.

 

[jwolf24601]

Thermalright HR-03 plus and a good 92mm fan would make any of the 8800's pretty darn quiet.

There's also the watercool route, if you have a little more money that's a nice way to go. Not sure why people so scared of it, you can use non-conductive liquids so even if it leaks everything is fine...

 

[halcyon]

That Thermalright HR-03 Plus is I think just the kind of aftermarket solution I'm looking for. Now to find what Scythe might have in a quiet 92mm.

Thanks again all.

 

[aevm]

I have a BFG 8800 GTX OC2 and four SFF21E fans (120mm), plus two stock fans that came with the TJ09. The only thing I can hear is the air moving around For example the DVD drives (LG, Plextor) make a lot more noise when I insert a disk in either of them. As for performance, the OC2 is about as good as an Ultra at stock, I've got no complaints.

 

[Maziar]

My OCZ 8800GTX is good too , even if i put the fan on %100 , its still good

 

[spuddyt]

how hard is liquid cooling to set up?

 

[aevm]

Never tried it myself. My local shop charges $85 for assembly with liquid cooling, $35 for air cooling, so I guess it adds quite a bit of work.

 

[spuddyt]

I wonder if its hard, or time consuming

 

[aevm]

I read some review where they said it was very easy, but that was with a fancy high-end case that already had all the required holes and whatever.

 

[Heyyou27]

The stock cooling solution on an 8800GTX is pretty silent at the default speed.

 

[aevm]

What's a Dreamcast ??? (Apologies for hijacking the thread...)

 

[Maziar]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcast

lol u mean that old console ?

 

[aevm]

Ah, nice, thanks.

I'm mad at gaming consoles now. I saw this trailer for "The Force Unleashed", it was fantastic, but there will be no PC version.

 

[Maziar]

yeah i saw it (barely ) too and i am very angry , after a long time Lucas is going to make an awesome FPS game ,but it wont be for PC, well there is a petition for it , u can sign,

http://www.petitiononline.com/g5d4iu5f/

btw ,sorry everyone that we went off topic ,

 

[pauldh]

My eVGA 8800GTS is by far the loudest component in my current gaming machine. At default fan settings, the His X1950XT IceQ Turbo I used before that was much quieter both during and after gaming. It's not terrible, but when your system is basically near silent, the 8800GTS is definately very noticeable.

But gaming on an 8600GT at 2560x1600? Ouch...not an option IMO.

 

[emp]

I suggest you get two GTXs if you plan on gaming at 2560x1600, that's really the only graphics cards setup that can push that kind of resolution at a somewhat acceptable frame rate.

 

[aevm]

Or wait until November. Hopefully the new nVidia cards will solve that problem

 

[SpeedyVV]

I suggest you get two GTXs if you plan on gaming at 2560x1600, that's really the only graphics cards setup that can push that kind of resolution at a somewhat acceptable frame rate.

Emp, you are spoiled!!!

I was gaming in 2560x1600 with a pair of 7600GT SLI. It was ok. Nothing maxed but still looked amazing and ok FPSs.

I just upgraded to a single GTX and man, it is a lot more than "somewhat acceptable".

But I have to admit, there are some really poorly writen games out there that make me have to turn the res or eye candy so I can decent FPSs.