Help me choose a non-gamer video card

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Megatomic

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
20,127
6
81
All right guys, I need your help. I know plenty about gaming video cards yet know next to nothing about non-gaming video cards. Here's my situation: I'm a recovering PC gamer addict. My next addiction is triathlon and I am training hard for my first one at this time.

To aid me in my dedication I have elected to forego gaming on my PC. To this end I sold my 7900GT and installed my standby x300 w/64MB of RAM and a 64bit memory bus. This card is ok, but I think I may have over limited myself. My continued usage of my computer (until I get my Merom lappie) is as follows:

1. Internet
2. Email
3. WMP11 for DVD playback
4. Making DVDs from my miniDV camcorder
5. Productivity software (Office2k3/Paint.NET/etc)
6. Quicktime 7 for HD video playback
7. NWN and Second Life (I gotta relax after a workout somehow)

I am thinking about going with an X1300 card with 128bit memory bus and 128MB or more of onboard RAM. I want the computer to remain silent and not be an energy hog, and there are several X1300 cards with passive coolers and no PCI-e power connectors on them which is another reason I chose that kind of card to look for. The third reason I am looking into an X1300 is that it supports AVIVO, and I may need that.

Do I need to take anything else into consideration when I choose my new video card? Something I overlooked or misinterpreted?

Thanks for ALL of your advice, I will listen to any informed opinion and read any linked review you can offer. :beer:
 
Cookie Monster

Cookie Monster

Diamond Member
May 7, 2005
5,161
32
86
Asus 7600GS passive

-Low noise
-HDMI supported
-pure video (is as good as AVIVO)
-supports HD through pure video
-Faster than a 6600GT so you can still play some games
-low power consumption
 
Megatomic

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
20,127
6
81
It's pretty nice but it's also 50% more. For my uses, is it worth the price premium?
 
T

TheRyuu

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2005
5,479
14
81
Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
Asus 7600GS passive

-Low noise
-HDMI supported
-pure video (is as good as AVIVO)
-supports HD through pure video
-Faster than a 6600GT so you can still play some games
-low power consumption
Click to expand...

If you want hardware video acceleration then that'll be the one to get.
You know you could have just kept your 7900GT and just tried to play less on the computer.
 
Megatomic

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
20,127
6
81
Originally posted by: wizboy11
Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
Asus 7600GS passive

-Low noise
-HDMI supported
-pure video (is as good as AVIVO)
-supports HD through pure video
-Faster than a 6600GT so you can still play some games
-low power consumption
Click to expand...

If you want hardware video acceleration then that'll be the one to get.
You know you could have just kept your 7900GT and just tried to play less on the computer.
Click to expand...
Did you miss where I said I was a recovering gaming addict? :) But seriously, when I get my Merom lappie I'm giving this PC to my daughter who doesn't give a rat's arse about gaming. And I sold my 7900GT while it was still worth most of what I paid for it so that's the added bonus. :p
 
Cookie Monster

Cookie Monster

Diamond Member
May 7, 2005
5,161
32
86
Then grab a 7300GS or X1300 pro. Cant go wrong. Look for the passive one. :)


edit - not into gaming? 7100GS or 7300LE. Not to mention X1300LE. All cheap and does all the thing you want hence pure video/AVIVO.
 
P

Piuc2020

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2005
1,716
0
0
Originally posted by: Megatomic
Originally posted by: wizboy11
Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
Asus 7600GS passive

-Low noise
-HDMI supported
-pure video (is as good as AVIVO)
-supports HD through pure video
-Faster than a 6600GT so you can still play some games
-low power consumption
Click to expand...

If you want hardware video acceleration then that'll be the one to get.
You know you could have just kept your 7900GT and just tried to play less on the computer.
Click to expand...
Did you miss where I said I was a recovering gaming addict? :) But seriously, when I get my Merom lappie I'm giving this PC to my daughter who doesn't give a rat's arse about gaming. And I sold my 7900GT while it was still worth most of what I paid for it so that's the added bonus. :p
Click to expand...


Couldn't you just uninstall all your games?
 
Megatomic

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
20,127
6
81
That's a neat little card. If I was going to keep this machine for myself I'd actually try it to see how the open source drivers work out in Kubuntu.
 
Megatomic

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
20,127
6
81
I've got that on my current mobo, but I've always liked dedicated video cards better.

How would the 6150 with 128MB of my system RAM compare to a 128MB X1300 or 7300?
 
Cookie Monster

Cookie Monster

Diamond Member
May 7, 2005
5,161
32
86
Originally posted by: Megatomic
I've got that on my current mobo, but I've always liked dedicated video cards better.

How would the 6150 with 128MB of my system RAM compare to a 128MB X1300 or 7300?
Click to expand...

They are NOT for games. A little faster than intel onboard graphics, but in the video side of things, much better as they support all the pure video fuction.
 
T

theprodigalrebel

Lifer
Oct 4, 2004
10,515
6
81
Get an X1300 or a 7300.

I'll just say this: Passively cooled...I'm just a little paranoid about them. Just look at reviews for an actively cooled model on Newegg that is known to be quiet and efficient.
 
H

hmorphone

Senior member
Oct 14, 2005
345
0
0
This 1300 Pro looks like it might fit the bill. $61 after small rebate, good reviews, quiet fan, and better clocks than regular 1300's. A 7300 might be very good as well, but Avivo is free and don't you have to pay for Purevideo? This looks like a good 7300GS.
 
B

BernardP

Golden Member
Jan 10, 2006
1,315
0
76
I would avoid any card with Turbocache and Hypermemory that eats up part of system memory. Thus, on the NVidia side, nothing below 7300GT and on ATI side, be wary of X1300 models with Hypermemory.

Having a dedicated memory buffer on board the videocard is not only faster, but also better for overall system memory availability. Getting rid of system memory usage by the video processor should be one of the main justifications for getting a discrete video card.

You already have 6150 integrated on your mobo (as I do). It would be simpler to go with an NVidia card then, as the video drivers will match both IGP and discrete video. No need to remove NVidia drivers and install ATI ones, a source of potential problems. Also, if you video card should fail at some point, it is only a simple BIOS selection to temporarily revert to NVidia IGP while your card is being replaced. This situation gets more limiting if ATI drivers are on board.

Your best bet: NVidia 7300GT: There is a selection of passive-cooled models on This page The one I like best is the Gigabyte, because its heatsink is designed by Zalman and performs better than others.

Here is a look at the thermal performance of the Gigabyte 7300GT
 
Megatomic

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
20,127
6
81
LoL, the 7950GTX made me laugh. Talk about a step in the wrong direction. :D

Regarding Avivo, that was something I'd considered, too. Avivo is free and free is good.

And I really do believe that the card I get will have a passive cooler. My system is really cool and I won't be overclocking so a passively cooled card will work wonderfully for me.

Thanks for the links guys, I'm going to pour over each of them. :beer:
 
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