Low power Passive Card

[MadAd]

Looking for recommendations on what is a good low power card for a silent 24/7 box.

Right now its only being used for desktop/2D but I dont want to rule out maybe flipping on a software rendered game with low details if I have to while upping the CFM on the main fans for the duration.


I dont expect great performance, just the old 7800GT with rear facing accelero cooler is getting a little grumbly as well as being far too hot for just desktop work. I can put it back in if I need better gfx performance.

The PC itself is a clocked phenom on a DFI 790FX M2R which has enough problems with heat right now (toastie NB) so I dont want some power card thats just had a gargantuan heatsink slapped on it to pass for a passive unit, it must be a genuinely low power card.

Been looking at things like the EN8500GT, 8600GT, HD3450, but I have little experience of power usage with todays passive cards and the only charts I can find are a bit old now so thought I had better ask - last passive card I bought was a G100 to go with my 2 Voodoo 2s

Any thoughts guys?

 

[TurtleCrusher]

HIS Hightech H365P512GNP Radeon HD 3650 512MB 128-bit $99 AR

ASUS EAH3650 SILENT MAGIC/HTDP/512M Radeon HD 3650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 $39 AR with "Alone In The Dark" PC game

These are your only true options. Unless you want to spend $$ buying a 3850/4850 and an expensive aftermarket silent cooler.

 

[MadAd]

I already have a 4850 in the gaming box and I cant think of a more unsuitable card for what I want, its way too hot. The old 7800GT i have in there is too hot and thats got a rear exhaust accelero on it.

Looking at the 3650s on GPU review they seem to be weighing in at about 75W, which again sounds a bit much, since the 7800GT i have in there already is an 85W card. Was thinking of something maybe sub 50??

 

[Andrew1990]

The HD46xx Series is looking like a very good low power solution.

 

[Denithor]

4670 power consumption (Note: the power consumption here is for the entire system not just the video card!)

MSI 4670 w/aftermarket cooler

Should be cool & quiet and easily beat your 7800GT in games.

EDIT: I have a feeling these 4670s are going to be the "7600GT" of this generation of video card. Great midrange performance at a very low price.
EDIT2: Otherwise, go for an EVGA 9600GSO ($80AR at newegg). I have three of these cards (F@H 24/7) and they are virtually silent and don't generate much heat. But they do draw more power than the 4670 (see above) and generally underperform in games.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Denithor
4670 power consumption (Note: the power consumption here is for the entire system not just the video card!)

MSI 4670 w/aftermarket cooler

Should be cool & quiet and easily beat your 7800GT in games.

EDIT: I have a feeling these 4670s are going to be the "7600GT" of this generation of video card. Great midrange performance at a very low price.
EDIT2: Otherwise, go for an EVGA 9600GSO ($80AR at newegg). I have three of these cards (F@H 24/7) and they are virtually silent and don't generate much heat. But they do draw more power than the 4670 (see above) and generally underperform in games.

9600GSO's are $49.99 after rebate with FREE shipping at Newegg right now. Can also get 3% off using MS Livecash for a total of $46.99 after rebate shipped.

Hot Deals Link.

With that in mind, I don't think it's what the OP had in mind as it uses quite a bit of power (relative to cards like HD4670 or HD34xx series) and is not passively cooled (although the two slot "exhausiting" cooler looks great to me). By the way, the 9600GSO is far from "Low Power". The HD4670 smokes it (and most others in that class range) in power useage.