Recommend GFX-card for Antec NSK1380

[qpok]

I'd like to hear recommendations for a gfx card that fits in Antec NSK1380 (http://tinyurl.com/2rgmr5) and works with the included 350W PSU. I need a card that handles light gaming.

MSI R3650-T2D512-OC (http://tinyurl.com/62elm3) looks interesting but MSI doesn't list very specific power/current readings for the card. The card manual just says 400W PSU is highly recommended.

(I have Asus M2A-VM HDMI in the case.)

 

[dirtmountain]

3 cards all about the same performance level that will fit in that case and work with the 350w PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102725
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102703
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134039

 

[groo]

what CPU?
with a 45 watter, you could probably do better.

with an OCed 125 watt CPU, you'll have much less free energy to play with.

that PSU claims 18 amps on 2 rails.

the upcomming 4850 is suposed to need only 110 watts. Its suposed to need 450 watts, but I think you may be able to squeek that one under the envelope. probably pretty easily with a 45 watt CPU

 

[qpok]

Thanks for your replies!

I've got A64 X2 4200+ EE so it's rated at 65W (RAM 2x1GB CL4 533MHZ DDR2). Come to think of it, at what point does the CPU start to bottleneck a gfx card?

I put up the computer to serve me for the summer as I am away from my primary desktop. But like I said I'd actually want to do some gaming (say Mass Effect for example).

 

[groo]

the AGP 3850 with a single core article somewere here is a pretty good read about the bottlenecking effect with lower level components

you won't get to that point with a 4200+ and a 3650. if you run high resolution with settings on high. you probably wont hit that point with a 4850

your desired card has a pretty mild OC. the 400 watt recomendation figure a crappy PSU (yours should be pretty good for its rating), a less efficient chipset, and a higher draw CPU.
by giving the recomendation, they pretty much garantee it'll work with the worst case senario.

your situation isn't a worst case.

 

[jaguarskx]

Since the Asus M2A-VM has a PCI-e slot, I would recommend the GeForce 9600GT.

The 9600GT consumes 61w under max load, 2w less than the Radeon 3850. It spanks the Radeon 3850 in nearly all games except UT3.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/msi-hd3650_4.html#sect0

A 350w PSU should have no problem handling the Athlon 4200+ and the 9600GT with up to 4 drives.

 

[jaguarskx]

Considering the 9600GT is 9" long, I whipped out my old Antec Aria (before it was renamed the Antec NSK1380) to measure the internal space. The Aria (NSK1380) measures about 11.5" long internally so you will have enough space to install it and plug in the power cable to the back f the card.

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

I agree with Jag, 9600 GT all the way.

 

[qpok]

Thanks for your replies. The 9600GT seems indeed to be a good choice. I expect it to make the PSU run somewhat (well considerably) warmer. But at least the PSU has 120mm fan.