Low profile upgrade for HD3450

[fuzzymath10]

This is my first post here

I've got an Antec Minuet 300 HTPC currently as follows:

Q8200 Stock with Scythe Shuriken
Asus P5KPL-VM (G31/945/ICH7)
2x1GB PC6400 (OCZ Gold Vista Performance)
2x1.5TB (WD Green + 7200.11)
Sapphire Radeon HD 3450 512MB (oced to 720/500 from 600/400)
Sony BWU-100A BD-RE

Most of the parts are from 2007-2008. The 3450 is fine for older games and video stuff but I have a few newer games (Guitar Hero, Bioshock 1/2, BF Bad Company, etc) that don't play super-well. It's hooked up to a 720P HDTV so the resolution isn't high, but I like to turn up the quality settings and want to provision for 1080P if I get a new TV or decide to use a monitor.

I was looking at a 5570 but I'm not convinced it would fit the bill after seeing a friend's i5 system with a 5770. The low-profile GTS 250 interests me but I have serious doubts about it running with the 300W PSU of the Antec case; it has 8A/14.5A on its 12V rails.

Any suggestions would be welcome! I have thought about starting from scratch with a 1156 system but I don't think that will be a big deal for now, I think?

 

[Iron Woode]

I am using a 4350 for mine. 1080P looks great on my 37" set.

its not a gaming card, though.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

I was looking at a 5570 but I'm not convinced it would fit the bill after seeing a friend's i5 system with a 5770.

I was going to suggest the 5570; what's wrong with it?

 

[blanketyblank]

In terms of price 4550 is probably the best thing since I've seen them recently for $20 after rebate. In terms of performance I'd say 5750 is the fastest low profile card currently out. Possibly a 5770 would even work.
In terms of power both of these cards are definitely doable and use FAR less power while being faster than a GTS 250.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5770,2446-15.html

actually not so sure if 5750 is low profile or not now. Some reviews seem to call the card low profile, but I think they may mean something else.
http://www.xfxforce.com/en-us/products/graphiccards/hd%205000series/5750.aspx
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/xfx5750/

 

[fuzzymath10]

I was going to suggest the 5570; what's wrong with it?

There's nothing wrong with the 5570. In fact it's probably the best choice for me, but I'm not sure about its performance potential; does it OC remotely decently? I bumped the 3450 by about 20-25% on both GPU and memory.

If my friend's i5 750 + 5770 combo plays at 1680x1050 with 4x AA and max quality settings, what should I expect at 1366x768 with similar frame rates? 1920x1080?

The GTS 250 looks like the best card I can get for low profile and comes close to the 5770 in many cases, but the PSU is the main issue.