How loud is the 9800GTX, and aftermarket cooler?

Hello,

I am in the process of getting a 24" monitor...which means I am going to need some serious balls to drive the thing for games. Assume a E8400 CPU. Previously, I was going to get the 9600GT because I was just going to run a 1280x1024 LCD.

Anyway, reading the review for the card, they said it was loud, where as the 8800GT is in the low 40's, the 9800 is in the mid 50's

It that as bad as it sounds? I like my computer to be fairly quiet.

Next thing, I have a 6600GT with an all-copper Zalman cooler I installed myself, and it is SILENT (I cannot here it at all).

If I got the 9800 and it was too loud, how hard would be it to do an aftermarket cooler? I am under the impression there are memory heat issues and other concerns.

Finally, I assume a 9600GT would not let me game at 1920x1200 very well?

Thanks!!!

The only review that has said that the 9800GTX is loud is the Tom's review. They used the first sample card that was avaiable (forgive me but I can't think of the brand atm). I believe that might have just been a fluke with either that brand or that sample. Perhaps it was the first sample available for a reason?

I might actually recommend the 8800GTX, since the greater memory is supposed to be more useful at those resolutions.

Wait for someone to confirm, though.

who the heck cares I, have an 8800 GT you can barely hear it when you put your ear next to the case as long as its fast

Thanks again everyone.

*I* do care about the noise because 90% of the time, I am doing Word, Excel, interw3b, 2D CAD, etc. - so I would hope it would behave itself at idle. If its loud during GAMES, thats cool.

Does anyone make a aftermarket cooler for the 9800GTX?

I have my 9800GTX stock fan speed set at 85%. It is quite noisy and adds to my already loud as hell Antec 900 case going full boar. I'm fairly tolerant of white noise and usually can filter it out. When I do notice it I remember that's the price you pay to have it air cooled and overclocked @ 800/2000/1150(2300) and still idle at 35C.

Well, some people don't want to tuen off their computer every time they leave the room, yet they don't want to hear it either. It's just a personal preference. I personally don't mind, which is why I max out the fans. If I was easily irritated by noise I'd go liquid cooling I guess.