Passive/Silent Video Card for Star Trek Online?

[Dexan]

Hello.

Can anyone recommend a silent(heatsink/passive cooling) video card that will run Star Trek Online with medium to high settings? I do not overclock. For the record,
I have...

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700
500W psu
8 gb RAM

For now, STO is the only game I intend to play with this PC. I had played this, as well as WoW prior, with an ATI Radeon HD 4650, with a Zalman VNF100( http://www.zalman.co.kr/global/product/Product_Read.php?Idx=147 ) Both games ran flawlessly for over 2 years.

I was basically looking for a passive equivalent to the 4650, hopefully something in the $60-$120 price range.

Thank you.

 

[luckiest charm]

Look no further than Radeon HD 6670. It might be of an older generation, but packs in a punch.

A comparison to your old card HD 4650 -

http://www.hwcompare.com/10913/radeon-hd-4650-1gb-vs-radeon-hd-6670-oem-1gb/

Also .. Its price as per Indian currency -

http://www.flipkart.com/sapphire-amd-ati-radeon-hd-6670-1gb-ddr5-graphics-card/p/itmdfygjystmyqrx

That is about $104, and since thing in India are a bit expensive, you should find it even cheaper in your country. ^^

 

[wa1]

Just curious, why did you want passive cooling?
Active cooling with fan surely MUCH better...

Anyway, if you want passive cooling card so badly then this might suit you:
HD6670 ($90)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102950

 

[Dexan]

Just curious, why did you want passive cooling?
Active cooling with fan surely MUCH better...

Anyway, if you want passive cooling card so badly then this might suit you:
HD6670 ($90)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102950

Thanks for both suggestions. I have considered that particular card. Unfortunately, the dual slot design make it impossible to fit in my case. It's too bad really because this would have been perfect otherwise. I should have noted before that it needs to be low profile as that's all that will fit.

The reason I want passive cooling is simply because I prefer the computer working silently.

 

[wa1]

Okay then, this might suit you:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102958

It only take 1 slot and has many good reviews..

 

[17seconds]

This is supposedly the fastest video card with passive cooling, but it looks like its outside your price range:
PowerColor HD 7850 SCS3 passive 1 GB
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_7850_SCS3_passive/

 

[wa1]

This is supposedly the fastest video card with passive cooling, but it looks like its outside your price range:
PowerColor HD 7850 SCS3 passive 1 GB
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_7850_SCS3_passive/

Yes, that's true, but the OP want low profile card, so I think that card wouldn't fit into OP case.
Plus, the card could become pretty hot, since it's only passive cooling.

 

[Dexan]

Okay then, this might suit you:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102958

It only take 1 slot and has many good reviews..

This looks okay for performance, but it's not passive. The reviews suggest it's quieter than most cards, but I prefer total silence. I will keep this in mind as a last resort, though.

 

[Dexan]

This is supposedly the fastest video card with passive cooling, but it looks like its outside your price range:
PowerColor HD 7850 SCS3 passive 1 GB
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_7850_SCS3_passive/

I haven't had much success finding this online, at least not in any retailer that ships to Canada(I'm in Canada). However, I think it would indeed be too large for my case anyway.

I am willing to go higher then my previously stated price range, even up to $150 or so, for a passive gpu to play this game.

Thanks for both suggestions.

 

[luckiest charm]

These days if you would lock the fan of GPU so it won't reach the level at which it causes noticeable noise, you can effectively make a normal GPU run dead silent. Anywhere 50% should not make any noise at all ...

Passive ones are rare and usually never worth it.

 

[shadowOak]

Looking through newegg, I saw a couple single slot 6670s.
Im not sure if you just dont have enough slots on the back of your case or if it really doesnt fit inside, but here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161408
or a 7750: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161417

Most gpu fans now are pretty silent, especially in your price range, fans are going to be pretty small

 

[Dexan]

Thanks for all who responded and apologies for waiting so long to post. I ended up going with this, originally recommended by luckiest charm:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102950

I decided to remove a TV tuner card that was barely being used in order to accommodate the dual slot design of the backplate. So far it has performed very smoothly.