HL2 at 640X480

[JRX]

Who would want to play that game at that resolution? me

The thing is, I'm building a HT-PC to use with a standard analog Tv (like the one everybody without the money for a HDTV has). As everybody know, the normal TV doesn't need the high resolutions that start at XGA, and normal VGA is the right spot.

So, the HTPC im building works around a PentiumM. The problem is that i cant find the "right" Graphics Card for the job.

I need one that can display HL2 at high quality setting (but at 640X480) and doesn't burn the whole case (so please no 6800 for me) Ergo: as cold as it can (i dont want a 40Db fan running in my living room)

Any ideas?


PD: why HL2? becos if my HTPC could run that, it would run anything.

Ph33r my....3r...w41t...<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by JRX on 02/10/05 06:20 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[TheRod]

Actually many mid-range card would run HL2 in 640x480 at high quality.

So you can easily get a Radeon X600 or X700 or a GeForce 6600GT. But Radeon do better anti-aliasing in HL2... But on a TV screen, I don't anti-aliasing is an issue.

-
A7N8X / <font color=green><b>Athlon XP 1800+</font color=green> o/c to <font color=green>Sempron 2800+</b></font color=green>
Kingston DDR333 2x256Megs
<font color=red>Radeon 8500 128Megs</font color=red> @ C:275/M:290 <- <i>It's enough for WoW!</i>

 

[JRX]

Yeah, in a Tv 2XAA is the maximun, more than that is a overkill, and it just blurs all the details.

Anyways, i tough a 9800PRO could do the job right, what do you think?

Ph33r my....3r...w41t...

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

- i dont want a 40Db fan running in my living room

- Anyways, i tough a 9800PRO could do the job right, what do you think?

Really sounds more like you need an R9600non-pro with passive cooler.

If you do want something more powerful then go with something like an R9600PRO/R9800PRO Ultimate edition, they are heatpipe cooled and give you the power without the noise. There are also GF6600 and 6800s out there that use heatpipes bu they still have high temp thermal characteristics. The GF6600 heatpiped might be ok, but the GF6800 would definitely rquire you to get ride of the heat with louder case fans.

Just some suggestions. If all this is for is HL2, then the R9600non-pro should handle the 640x480 x HighQuality settings.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[JRX]

I use HL2 just as an example, cuz is one of the top-powerreq games nowadays.

R9800PRO? i never heard of those (maybe becos they don't ship them to Argentina XD) i see if a can find one or at least the heat tests.

Anyways, i was thinking about the 9700/9800 mobile series. Seeing those cards have a pretty low power consumption, i bet the heat is low too, so a normal passive cooling config could do the job. Are those GPUs available as mini-PCI cards or just as custom-motherboard for laptops?


Ph33r my....3r...w41t...

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

The 'R' stands for Radeon. R9800PRO = Radeon 9800Pro, if it's an ATI chip it's a radeon.

Here's a link to the Passive Ultimate editions;

R9600Pro-UE:
<A HREF="http://www.ukgamer.com/article.php4?id=101&page=1" target="_new">http://www.ukgamer.com/article.php4?id=101&page=1</A>

R9600XT-UE:
<A HREF="http://www.rage3d.com/content/reviews/video/sapphire9600xtue/" target="_new">http://www.rage3d.com/content/reviews/video/sapphire9600xtue/</A>

R9700Pro-UE:
<A HREF="http://www.rage3d.com/content/reviews/video/sapphire9700pue/index.php" target="_new">http://www.rage3d.com/content/reviews/video/sapphire9700pue/index.php</A>

R9800Pro-UE:
<A HREF="http://www.ukgamer.com/article.php4?id=98" target="_new">http://www.ukgamer.com/article.php4?id=98</A>


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

And an R9700 mobile chip is a detuned R9600Pro (running closer to regular 9600 speeds), the R9800Pro in mobile form would likely cost you about twice as much or more to buy and adapt than even the most expensive R9800-UE, and the desktop passive version would probably perform far better.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[JRX]

Crap, and i tough there was some kind of rare radeon out there XD

No prob, i can find it here.

Anyways, wich is the passive-cooled one?

Ph33r my....3r...w41t...

 

[pauldh]

Most Radeon 9600's, as well as the Sapphire Ultimate Edition's Grape listed, are all passively cooled.

<A HREF="http://www.sapphiretech.com/vga/9800proult.asp" target="_new">9800 pro Ultimate</A>
<A HREF="http://www.sapphiretech.com/vga/9700proult.asp" target="_new">9700 pro Ultimate</A>
<A HREF="http://www.sapphiretech.com/vga/9600-xt-ult.asp" target="_new">9600XT Ultimate</A>
<A HREF="http://www.sapphiretech.com/vga/9600proult.asp" target="_new">9600 pro Ultimate</A>
<A HREF="http://www.sapphiretech.com/vga/9600.asp" target="_new">9600</A>

Also Gigabyte makes a 9600 pro with a passive cooler.


<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3400555" target="_new"> My</A> <A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=8268935" target="_new">Gamer</A>
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Pauldh on 02/10/05 08:15 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[JRX]

So sapphire makes em, cool, the 9800PRO was a must have before the NV4x

BTW, that heatsink is HUGE! i dont know if it will fit the miniATX case....

Just j/k, i bet it could be OC, but not heavily.

Ph33r my....3r...w41t...