Need a Gaming/HTPC card

[brotj7]

I don't see anything mentioned on any of the new cards being used for a HTPC, so I'll post it. I have been out of gaming for the last few years, and I need an upgrade. I currently have an 8800GT which I had been connecting to my TV with a DVI to HDMI adaptor cable, and I was running the motherboards 3.5mm audio jack to an old sony receiver which blew a few weeks before x-mas.

So I just purchased some polk speakers, and an ONKYO TX-NR808(for those following my old post in the Home Theatre forum, I ended up upgrading to the 808 last minute). The receiver can decode bluray DOLBY DTS-HD, True-HD, and has game surround mode including front uppers for games. I want to make sure the card I get can pass these through HDMI to the receiver. My old setup had a whirrr from the case/cpu/gpu fans when the system started working, so I would really like to keep an all digital signal to the receiver to avoid that situation with this new setup.

Overall, the card needs to be extremely quiet for movies, but can still play MS FilghtSim 10 in all its glory, and whatever the current FPS games are on a 1080p 46" Samsung LCD. Last I checked, the ATI/AMD 5000 series was supposed to be a big jump from the 4000 series so I know I would like to start there. Then today I just found out about the 6000 series with power/heat savings. I'm thinking a 5850, 5870, 6850, 6870, 6950, or 6970 could be the card for me. Something with a 92mm-120mm slow moving fan seems to stick out in my head like a case fan to help reduce noise. This is already in an antec P180 to help reduce noise. So what suggestions/experiences do you guys have???

Whoops, budget can go up to $280 although less is appreciated. I can wait a few weeks for a specific card to go on sale, if it will be much quieter, or a better heatsink/fan etc. will become available.

 

[RavenSEAL]

6850, $170 after MIR?

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2129840

 

[mnewsham]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-545-_-Product
it runs cool and is about 41dBA at full load (about your average living room) tho you might need a PSU upgrade depending on your current PSU

 

[happy medium]

Saphire 5870 $289 -60$ coupon code - 30$ rebate= $202 shipped.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102883

When playing movies this card will be dead silent. In fact most if not all modern cards will be virtually silent while at idle or playing movies.
If you playing games the card gets a little louder but with that sound system you don't have much to worry about.

It's the best your gonna do for 200$, the only thing we need to know is your psu specs and if you overclock your cpu.

 

[brotj7]

PSU is currently an antec Smartpower 500w from ~2006 b4 they took a dump on quality. I will be upgrading to a 600-650w when I can find another push/pull design for the lower wind tunnel in my P180b case. I have looked several times on newegg but not extensively elsewhere. It seems most quality PSUs under $150 are all bottom fans.

I did find an odd shaped Antec PSU the last time I checked, however it is supposed to be for the P183(I think thats right at least) or higher. I havn't checked the mod sites yet to see if I would have to dremel the case, or if I can just take out the 120mm fan between the lower HD cage and the PSU area to make it fit.

Also, I seem to remember video cards which sucked fresh air in the back. With my current setup situation that would create a heat loop. Did that ever take???

 

[happy medium]

You psu should be fine.

I believe the Saphire 5870 I linked sucks air through the shroud and blows it out the back of your case. The card also runs fairly cool to begin with. You should be fine.

 

[Gikaseixas]

OP get a HD6950 with a newer spec HDMI 1.4e. The previous generation has a older HDMI spec.
It's only $20 more than your budget.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102914

 

[cusideabelincoln]

PSU is currently an antec Smartpower 500w from ~2006 b4 they took a dump on quality. I will be upgrading to a 600-650w when I can find another push/pull design for the lower wind tunnel in my P180b case. I have looked several times on newegg but not extensively elsewhere. It seems most quality PSUs under $150 are all bottom fans.

A PSU with the bottom fan will work fine. I really doubt it will affect temperatures that much. The fan will still create suction to draw air through and out of the bottom of your case.

 

[brotj7]

In Ryans review of the 6900 series, it looks like the 6950 makes multiple games playable when the 6850 is borderline, and it is also quieter than the 5870 at load. Couple that with the ability to play 3D movies for my next TV upgrade, and I think I have an answer.

For the PSU, I always thought bottom mounting would make a world of difference. The center fan in the lower bay is what draws air over my 4 drives. Blowing against a wall/side of PSU would be a blockage that creates back pressure or at least turbulence which would reduce the HD's cooling and add noise...right?!?!? Also the P180 does raise the PSU from the actual case floor, but does not have a vent on the bottom.

 

[WelshBloke]

In Ryans review of the 6900 series, it looks like the 6950 makes multiple games playable when the 6850 is borderline, and it is also quieter than the 5870 at load. Couple that with the ability to play 3D movies for my next TV upgrade, and I think I have an answer.

For the PSU, I always thought bottom mounting would make a world of difference. The center fan in the lower bay is what draws air over my 4 drives. Blowing against a wall/side of PSU would be a blockage that creates back pressure or at least turbulence which would reduce the HD's cooling and add noise...right?!?!? Also the P180 does raise the PSU from the actual case floor, but does not have a vent on the bottom.

6950 is NOT quiet. Its a good workhorse but its not a good HTPC card.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

For the PSU, I always thought bottom mounting would make a world of difference. The center fan in the lower bay is what draws air over my 4 drives. Blowing against a wall/side of PSU would be a blockage that creates back pressure or at least turbulence which would reduce the HD's cooling and add noise...right?!?!? Also the P180 does raise the PSU from the actual case floor, but does not have a vent on the bottom.

The HDDs cooling will be reduced by it's probably not going to affect anything in the long run. I doubt noise will be any different, either. What I would do is either remove that fan or get a low RPM one (unless it's already low RPM). All you would need is for it to gently move the hot air from the hard drives towards the power supply, where the power supply fan should create suction to remove the air. Since there is no vents on the floor of the case, I assume the PSU being raised is for suction. Although there are vents on the rear surrounding the PSU.

 

[Attic]

I like the idea of the 6950 for added performance that should sustain high playability settings on the HTPC going forward.

You should also consider the GTX460 with an External Exhaust HSF. EVGA has a few of these models labeld "EE". HTPC's oftentimes have issues with heat if you are using a HTPC case. I'm not sure if other cards implement EE as well, but I know it is not a standard feature on the 460 line.

Also if you are going high performance route, you should avoid the gtx570 and gtx580 as these will not bitsream hd audio like the 460 and virtually all of AMD's lineup now does.

 

[WelshBloke]

I like the idea of the 6950 for added performance that should sustain high playability settings on the HTPC going forward.

You should also consider the GTX460 with an External Exhaust HSF. EVGA has a few of these models labeld "EE". HTPC's oftentimes have issues with heat if you are using a HTPC case. I'm not sure if other cards implement EE as well, but I know it is not a standard feature on the 460 line.

Also you should avoid the 570 and 580 as these will not bitsream hd audio like the 460 and virtually all of AMD's lineup now does.

Umm I may not be the most neutral person on the forum at the moment but the 6950 dos not run cool and it isnt quiet.

Its pretty much down the bottom of the list as far as HTPC cards go.

 

[Attic]

Umm I may not be the most neutral person on the forum at the moment but the 6950 dos not run cool and it isnt quiet.

Its pretty much down the bottom of the list as far as HTPC cards go.

That's definately a hang-up of the card then for HTPC use. Perhaps special considertion can be placed on the cooling if it is going to be used by the OP. The HTPC takes special consideration of course for the graphics card. 1080P is a spot that the 68xx and 460 tackle well for the most part, but I think 1080P with the bells and whistles is borderline for them.

 

[rockyjohn]

You might want to take a look at the Anandtech review of the 6970 and 6950 cards. Even if you choose not to go that high, the review shows the comparative stats for a lot of other cards which might give you a feel for the range you are interested in. Unfortunately, I have not seen any recent reviews on MSFS 10 - it was dropped from most reviews several years ago.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4061/amds-radeon-hd-6970-radeon-hd-6950/13

For some good general information on HTPC cards, including links to some informative articles, you might look at:

[removed]

Unfortunately most reviews of HTPC cards stop well short of the size you are interested in for gaming, since virtually all the gaming cards will easily handle HTPC requirements. However that leaves you on your own so to speak to consider factors like noise. But you will see noise ratings in the Anandtech article. Bear in mind that those ratings are for the standard reference design and the cooling system is one thing that different brands do handle differently, so check for reviews on the specifc brand when you start to hone in on a card. Brand differences can sometimes be 10 decibels or more, usually less.

 

[Termie]

I'd say HD6850 or GTX460 for HTPC/gaming use. Any more than that and you're not really talking HTPC at all, you're talking about very large, somewhat loud, and very power-hungry cards (at least at load). My GTX460 is silent at idle in my HTPC, which is important to me.

Furthermore, unless your q6600 is heavily-overclocked (which would be odd for HTPC use), you'll be somewhat CPU-limited with the HD6900 series.

If you feel like splurging, however, I highly recommend the $200 HD5870: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102883, $60 code good through 1/5/11: HARDOCP1229A