Efficient, compact gamer...

[Ninjahedge]

OK, as a variation on my other threads (and I thank you all for input there) I have a question.

As summer approaches and I struggle to get the AC units in their respective bedroom windows, I am reminded about how much HEAT is generated by these little power suckers.

So, here is the question. I have noticed a LOT of work made to produce the ultimate gaming card, MORE MORE MORE.

What I have not seen (much) of is an attempt to take what we got, make it smaller, lighter and use LESS POWER to do the same thing. Has there been much on this?

Is there a setup that is known for running cool and with minimal:
Power consumption
Heat generation
Noise generation
?

Most of the games I play do require some oomph, but seeing how I am currently on a 4870 and an e6600, I do not really see how anything could be much slower on the market today (within reason).

So, is there any chance in hell of getting a boot-box sized machine that could sneak up on a deer through a pile of dry leaves while using less power than a 1980's hairdryer?

 

[DaveSimmons]

What I have not seen (much) of is an attempt to take what we got, make it smaller, lighter and use LESS POWER to do the same thing. Has there been much on this?

Of course. The ATI 5770 is a little faster than the older and formerly high-end 4890 but uses much less power with much less heat and noise.

Look at the power draw, heat and noise of the 6850, 6950, 460 and 560. They all compare quite well to the 4870 while being much faster.

 

[Zap]

What I have not seen (much) of is an attempt to take what we got, make it smaller, lighter and use LESS POWER to do the same thing. Has there been much on this?

You need to look at same performance compared across generations, like what DaveSimmons mentioned. Aim for the same performance as what you currently have, but with a much newer generation.

It isn't as much with GPUs, since their performance seems to have grown faster than CPUs in recent years, so if you look at CPUs you can see that the lowest end Intel Core i3 2100 will actually outperform your E6600 while using a lot less power (especially when not actually in a game).

 

[Ninjahedge]

I will have to google and see if anyone has made a kind of comparison table to put several cards against each other and compare performance, price AND power usage.

The cost of operation is one thing, but having a loud heat generator in the office while playing can be a bit difficult (and expensive) in the summer......