Looking For Basic PCI-e SFF Graphics Cards

[godbrother]

Hi,

My friend landed me 5 Dell GX280's (Pentium 4 651) And I was looking to upgrade them cheaply to put some life back into them. The current configs are:

CPU: Pentium 4 651 - 3.4Ghz - 2MB Cahce - 65nm - D0 stepping - 65W/64.4°C
RAM: 256MB DDR2 667 Ram (one dimm - one socket free.)
GPU: Onbuilt
GPU: 160W Dell Slim PSU

These Pentium CPU's run nice and cool, they use the 65nm tech on the D0 stepping, so very little watts are being used. I'm going to upgrade the RAM to 2x1GB DDR2 800Mhz Generic Ram /w heatsinks from ebay. (Dual Channel = Little gain... Which helps.)

But I'm stuck on the GPU. I need somthing that uses no more then 40W's (not to overload the PSU') that can handle basic tasks like HD video playback from YouTube, and basic gaming... Perhaps along the lines of CoD4 (1024x728 - Medium? No AA)

A few people I know are interested in these, and I suggest these are good for TV PC's (HTPC) And very light gaming. (CoD4 is not a demanding game.)

So what GPU would you suggest? It needs to be SFF, and somthing that a 160W PSU can handel. Somone suggested the 8400GS, and how it only needs 23W's (which is good) but I refused as that couldn't handle CoD4 on the lowests settings (I used to own one.)

thanks!

 

[ubernoobie]

yeah cool... Right... I so believe a pentium 4 would run cool.Pentium 4 should also use alot of power compared to c2d as well. 160w psu couldn't run any good gpus. Try a 4550 gddr3

 

[godbrother]

yeah cool... Right... I so believe a pentium 4 would run cool.Pentium 4 should also use alot of power compared to c2d as well. 160w psu couldn't run any good gpus.

Huh?... That was no help what so ever, What a waste of an awnser. And I Already explained that they are on D0 stepping, 65nm and only use 65W's / 64.4oC which is the Ceder Mill Pentiums. I didn't ask if they use more or less power then C2D's, and they don't for your infomation. Most C2D's used more then 65W's of power. I also didn't ask for "good GPU's" either, I asked what the best was I could fit into a 160W machine. Jeez.

Seriously, please stick to the question or turn sheeple on me please.

 

[godbrother]

For anyone else that actually wants to help, what would be the best to choose out of the list. (I never knew newegg did SFF)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%201419531894%201068509618&bop=And&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&ActiveSearchResult=True&Order=PRICE

Again, it would need to work on a 160W PSU, so I would say no more then 40W's? And it also shouldn't be to much of a bottleneck, so nothing fancy as this will be the last upgrade these systems ever see.

I also saw this: (but its just a bank breaker)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500103

Whatca guys think?

 

[godbrother]

Anyone have any ideas on a SFF GPU?

 

[Wolfshadw]

The problem is, you're trying to take an old and out of date business class workstation and turn it into a low-end gaming system. It's just not going to work as well as you want it to. The 8400GS sounds like a solid choice. You might get away with a 9400GT.

-Wolf sends

 

[godbrother]

The problem is, you're trying to take an old and out of date business class workstation and turn it into a low-end gaming system. It's just not going to work as well as you want it to. The 8400GS sounds like a solid choice. You might get away with a 9400GT.

-Wolf sends

Not really, I mean I own a lower Pentium 4 then this, and it does me fine. (and I'm a poweruser) I also play some CoD4 now and then and no hickups or anything.

They mostly want to play CoD4 or CSS. Nothing else. Perhaps a bit of Sims 3. But mostly it will be given to them as a media centre for HD viewing at a bargain price. It all comes down to the GPU. I need somthing that will support 1080p and HD playback for HDTV's.

I heard the 8400GS was bare miniumem for what I should be looking for, thats why I found the other GPU's. I also was told that a DDR3 128bit would be needed on a miniumem.