fastest video card without cooling fan?

[Legoman2]

I want to buy a new video card that is silent. I have a radeon 8500LE and unplugged the fan. The card works just fine. Is there another video card that is faster and only requires a heat sink. Perhaps a video card that the fan can be disabled and not burn out the GPU.

 

[modedepe]

I know there are 9700's that have passive zalmann heatpipes. There might also be 9800's. If not though, you can still buy the heatpipe seperately and install it yourself. I can't think of any card that performs better than an 8500 where you can simply unplug the fan though.

 

[DahDee]

Sapphire 9800 Pro Ultimate $380 at Newegg

No fan; heatpipe cooling.

Edit: Review

Edit2: Another review

 

[Keysplayr]

I believe the 9600 non pro is passive cooled.

 

[McArra]

Originally posted by: DahDee
Sapphire 9800 Pro Ultimate $380 at Newegg

No fan; heatpipe cooling.

Edit: Review

Edit2: Another review

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
I believe the 9600 non pro is passive cooled.

That 9600 would probably perform around the level of his current card, perhaps even a bit lower. But yes, they are passive cooled.

 

[Evdawg]

i beleive ive seen a few 9600pros by ati without fans, small silver heatsink, redboard.

 

[Blastman]

Sapphire makes both 9600pro and 9800pro passive cooled ..."Ultimate" editions...

http://www.hothardware.com/hh_files/S&V/sapphire_ultimate_eds.shtml

 

[clicknext]

It's usually cheaper to just get a fast card such as the 9800, and install the Zalman heatpipe cooling set yourself, as long as you can do it properly.