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Good silent gamer card: What to choose?

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 Thread : Good silent gamer card: What to choose?
 
Profile: stranger
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Basically im gonna get myself a new PC and this time a silent one. ;)
My old one sounds like a small power plant and im pretty tired of it.
 
I wonder if anyone can suggest a good graphic card(200-300$) that will last for a while, can play the new and future games in a decent quality, but are silent at the same time. Its especially important that the card makes little noice while im browsing/working/watching a movie on my comp, and not playing. While im playing it isnt that important if the noise level will rise abit.
 
Now i have found a few good offers on a couple of computer systems, that claims they are pretty quiet, but i wonder if the graphic cards in them are sufficient silent.
Here is the cards i have found:
 
(PCI-E) Geforce 9800 GTX, 512MB (INNO3D)
http://www.inno3d.com/products/gra [...] 800gtx.htm  
 
Inno3D 8800GT m/Accelero S1 (passive cooling)
http://www.inno3d.com/products/gra [...] ac_s1m.htm
 
Gainward GeForce PCI-E 8800GT 512MB Low Noise
http://www.gainward.net/product/pr [...] cts_id=145
 
 
I have included the first one(Geforce 9800) because its a part of quite a nice(cheap) system that claims to be silent. Only problem is that i have heard the 9800 series arent that silent.  
The system: http://topdata.dk/product.asp?prod [...] 260&page=1
 
 
If anyone got some better suggestions about a good silent graphic card then by all means write a reply.

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Profile: Honorary Veteran of THGC
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Only truely silent one would be passive.  ECS makes a passive cooled 8800GT that cools ok if not overclocked.   But there are many quiet to near silent cards out there that would be fine.  
 
I'm with you though.  I switched from loud OC'ed beasts to quiet pc gaming 2-3 years ago.   Spend enough on cooling and you can have both ;)  There's no going back to a loud PC for me.  

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by pauldh on 05-06-2008 at 04:42:52 AM

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MSI P6N SLI Platinum, Q6600, 2GB Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC8000,  
SLI BFG 8800GT OC 512MB, SB X-Fi Fatality, Antec TruePower Trio 550W, Windows XP pro
Profile: Ancient Poster
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pauldh wrote :

Only truely silent one would be passive.  ECS makes a passive cooled 8800GT that cools ok if not overclocked.   But there are many quiet to near silent cards out there that would be fine.  

 

I'm with you though.  I switched from loud OC'ed beasts to quiet pc gaming 2-3 years ago.   Spend enough on cooling and you can have both  ;)   There's no going back to a loud PC for me.


The problem is, you have to spend more for the same performance. :p

 

As for the cards, that first 9800 is bogus. False advertising. It's identical to stock 9800 cooler, which actually wasn't that noisy though. Most double slot coolers are relatively quiet. It's the single slot ones that are loud.


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Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 X38 chipset motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB 7200rpm 32mb cache hdd, 850watt 12v rails=4x20amp powersupply
Profile: Honorary Veteran of THGC
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How is your G92 GTS cooler at stock clocks and auto fan speeds?  Pretty quiet right?


---------------
MSI P6N SLI Platinum, Q6600, 2GB Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC8000,  
SLI BFG 8800GT OC 512MB, SB X-Fi Fatality, Antec TruePower Trio 550W, Windows XP pro
Profile: Ancient Poster
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pauldh wrote :

How is your G92 GTS cooler at stock clocks and auto fan speeds?  Pretty quiet right?


Can't hear it. Even on full load. :p


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Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 X38 chipset motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB 7200rpm 32mb cache hdd, 850watt 12v rails=4x20amp powersupply
Profile: Honorary Veteran of THGC
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Yeah, that's what I figured.  Good to know.  
 
My G80 GTS was that way too.  Then I bought these reference cooled BFG 8800GT OC's (before the GTS G92 release), and was I in for a shock.  Didn't take long to yank them for VF-900 CU's. :)


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MSI P6N SLI Platinum, Q6600, 2GB Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC8000,  
SLI BFG 8800GT OC 512MB, SB X-Fi Fatality, Antec TruePower Trio 550W, Windows XP pro
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Profile: old hand
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Any 8800GT or 8800GTS512 with an Accelero S1 or Thermalright HR-03.  Less than $300, and is a no-moving-parts (silent) solution.
 
Edit:  I'd suggest EVGA with the double lifetime warantee (including aftermarket cooling) and Step-Up program (even if you don't use it in the 90 days, it's good to know you CAN - esp. with 9900 coming).

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by KyleSTL on 05-06-2008 at 05:35:40 AM

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Lian-Li PC-7B | XClio Greatpower 550W | P4 3.2 Prescott SL7E5 | Scythe Ninja
2GB DDR400 Corsair VS (4*512) | eVGA nVidia GF 7600GS AGP vmod 1.46/1.91 OCd 740/910
WD 120GB & 250GB PATA & WD 640GB SATA (on PCI SATA card LOL)
WinXP MCE 2004
Profile: Ancient Poster
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KyleSTL wrote :

Any 8800GT or 8800GTS512 with an Accelero S1 or Thermalright HR-03.  Less than $300, and is a no-moving-parts (silent) solution.

 

Edit:  I'd suggest EVGA with the double lifetime warantee (including aftermarket cooling) and Step-Up program (even if you don't use it in the 90 days, it's good to know you CAN - esp. with 9900 coming).


Why would you need lifetime warranty? A graphics card will be obsolete in 2 years, tops. :p


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Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 X38 chipset motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB 7200rpm 32mb cache hdd, 850watt 12v rails=4x20amp powersupply
Because Mike Rowe said so!
Profile: nimble knuckle
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I have a 8800GTS/512 and you can't hear a thing unless you are gaming, then the fan cranks up but can't really hear it with the game noise. It really isn't bothersome, I think they tune their fans to a tone range that isn't annoying to the human ear. Honestly I think they do, they do that with electric razors, Ever watch "how its made"?


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E6400@3.2ghz w/ Thermalright Ultra-120  Asus P5W DH Deluxe
4x1GB Crucial Ballistix PC6400 4-4-4-12   CoolMax 600W PSU
XFX 8800GTS Alpha Dog (@750/1000)      Dell 22" E228WFP
Seagate 250GB ES.2 & 250GB 7200.10     Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer
I have nothing witty to say.
Profile: old hand
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dagger wrote :

Why would you need lifetime warranty? A graphics card will be obsolete in 2 years, tops. :p


Point awarded.  A warantee that is not voided by aftermarket cooling is more the selling point I was after.


---------------
Lian-Li PC-7B | XClio Greatpower 550W | P4 3.2 Prescott SL7E5 | Scythe Ninja
2GB DDR400 Corsair VS (4*512) | eVGA nVidia GF 7600GS AGP vmod 1.46/1.91 OCd 740/910
WD 120GB & 250GB PATA & WD 640GB SATA (on PCI SATA card LOL)
WinXP MCE 2004
Because Mike Rowe said so!
Profile: nimble knuckle
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^
|
True but what if you have it 2 years, it takes a crap, they still have to offer you a comparable replacement.  There was a thread on here from a guy that had a 7600GT or something like that and they replaced it with a 8600GT after it died.  That wouldn't be so bad even if you didn't use the card you could sell it off and reclaim a few bucks.  Or use it yourself.
 
It is a sales pitch though.


---------------
E6400@3.2ghz w/ Thermalright Ultra-120  Asus P5W DH Deluxe
4x1GB Crucial Ballistix PC6400 4-4-4-12   CoolMax 600W PSU
XFX 8800GTS Alpha Dog (@750/1000)      Dell 22" E228WFP
Seagate 250GB ES.2 & 250GB 7200.10     Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer
Profile: Honorary Veteran of THGC
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^ good points.  Anyone who keeps multiple systems running and therefore holds onto cards for a while,  an evga/xfx style warranty is a real nice bonus.


---------------
MSI P6N SLI Platinum, Q6600, 2GB Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC8000,  
SLI BFG 8800GT OC 512MB, SB X-Fi Fatality, Antec TruePower Trio 550W, Windows XP pro
Profile: stranger
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Thank you for all the replies. :)
I think i'll stick to the 8800GT from inno3D then. It sounds like it serves the needs for me.
 
One last question though. Does it get very hot with a passive cooler. Im just wondering if it could affect other parts in the computer.

I have nothing witty to say.
Profile: old hand
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Hot?  Yes, more so than an active cooling system.
Affect other components?  Not appreciably.
Edit:  Dangerous?  No, so long as you have good case cooling.


Message edited by KyleSTL on 05-06-2008 at 10:57:39 PM

---------------
Lian-Li PC-7B | XClio Greatpower 550W | P4 3.2 Prescott SL7E5 | Scythe Ninja
2GB DDR400 Corsair VS (4*512) | eVGA nVidia GF 7600GS AGP vmod 1.46/1.91 OCd 740/910
WD 120GB & 250GB PATA & WD 640GB SATA (on PCI SATA card LOL)
WinXP MCE 2004
Profile: Honorary Veteran of THGC
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The inno3D and ECS look like the same cooler.  Should be good and alot better than sparkles passive 8800GT.  That thing was running 111 degrees under load in Anand's review, which is just sick.  http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] i=3165&p=4


---------------
MSI P6N SLI Platinum, Q6600, 2GB Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC8000,  
SLI BFG 8800GT OC 512MB, SB X-Fi Fatality, Antec TruePower Trio 550W, Windows XP pro
Profile: Ancient Poster
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pauldh wrote :

The inno3D and ECS look like the same cooler.  Should be good and alot better than sparkles passive 8800GT.  That thing was running 111 degrees under load in Anand's review, which is just sick.  http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] i=3165&p=4


Wow, I didn't think it would be so bad. That was toasty. 8800gt cooler is probably the worst there is for a gpu of that caliber. And passive did that poorly against it. 111 degrees on that rack, with no fan to disperse it, will rise directly above to the cpu heatsink on typical motherboard layout, and act as a toaster. :na:


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Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 X38 chipset motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB 7200rpm 32mb cache hdd, 850watt 12v rails=4x20amp powersupply
Just my two frames' worth.
Profile: Graphic Gorilla
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Also with eVGA's double lifetime warranty just at the time it's obsolete for you it's coming into it's own for someone else you could sell it to with that warranty.
 
Sure makes re-selling it to buy that GT333/R880 whatchmabug easier to stomach if you get $100 for your obsolete 'junk'.


Message edited by TheGreatGr apeApe on 05-07-2008 at 01:07:49 AM

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You need a license to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp (or internet account) - RED GREEN. GA to SK
HD Freedom: 45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2


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