Intel GMA 4500HD, Seeking ATI LowProfile card with better speed.

Hello,

I refined my question/desires so I am re-posting with a different angle.


Problem:
My integrated Intel GMA 4500HD isn't all that sharp with text so I wish
to buy an ATI lowprofile card that displays very sharp text to replace it.

Needs:
My Slim PC only accepts low-profile cards.
A fanless (silent) card is highly desirable to me.
I don't game and just need a super snappy XP/Windows 7 desktop experience.

ATI Low-Profile options are:
ATI 4350, 4550, 4650 (that's it for lowprofile)


Questions:
1) Will an ATI 4350 card be as fast or faster than the Intel GMA 4500HD?

(There is a fanless ASUS 4350 on newegg. ASUS doesn't seem to make
anything faster in a "fanless" design. Saphire makes a fanless 4550 but
I read the text isn't as sharp with the Saphire brand and that's my issue
with the GMA 4500HD)

2) If I went to a fan-cooled ASUS 4550 would I notice a snappier XP/Windows 7
desktop?

3) If I went to a fan-cooled PowerColor 4650 would I notice a snappier XP/Windows 7
desktop?


Thanks again...

1) Probably** (although, I don't care for fanless cards)

2) Yes** (try to get the GDDR3 model)

3) Definitely**

**Almost any dedicated graphics card will be much better than onboard graphics. But you may not notice it unless you use it. It should help make the desktop snappier, but your processor also matters. As far as text clarity goes, your monitor also makes a big difference.

Using the same monitor and cable (LCD is VGA only) on my old Dell with integrated
Nvidia graphics yields much sharper text then my new Dell with GMA 4500HD. Fact.
No amount of adjusting of the monitor itself or the intel video control panel fixes
the text quality to equal the Nvidia in my old Dell.

I am just trying to get the same level of quality text as I had before with this
same monitor. The Intel GMA 4500HD is a really disappointment with text
quality.

Yes of course.. The monitor is running at native resolution.

When I move the cable to the old dell with Nvidia Integrated Graphics
text it ultra crisp. The new Dell with GMA 4500HD is ok but the text
in not as crisp. Not at all.

On some web pages like yahoo mail, the text is kind of blurry on the
GMA 4500HD. Switch the video cable to the old Dell machine w/nvidia
and URL to Yahoo mail and the fonts are super crisp.

ok.. Maybe I won't go fanless if it's a bad idea..

How about PowerColor? Does PowerColor have a decent reputation?
Is there any reason I shouldn't buy a PowerColor 4650 or the ASUS 4550?
(The only reason I'd buy the ASUS would be that ASUS is such a high quality brand)


I am thinking either an ASUS 4550 due to the company's reputation:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121306

Or PowerColor for an extra $10 I get twice the speed:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814131151