Passive GPU advice needed

[lirsch]

Hi all,
Lately I've bought the following components and finally built it (HTPC/Gaming PC purpose):

CPU Intel Core i5-2400S 2.50GHz (65W, 6MB Cache, DDR3-1333 memory limit)
CPU Cooler Scythe Big Shuriken Low Profile CPU Cooler SCBSK-1000
MOB P8H67-M EVO
GPU Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 5670 Ultimate Passive
SSD OCZ VERTEX 30GB
HDD SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA x 2
PSU Enermax Modu87+ 500W
Case Silverstone Grandia GD05 (3x120mm fans)
Memory G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 DDR3 1333 CL8 (F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM)
DVD ASUS DRW-24B1ST
Mouse/Keyboard Logitech Dinovo Edge

My problem is that when I tried to insert the above passive GPU, the case height wouldn't allow it (there are ~2cm extra) so I need your advice on a similar performance card which would allow Dolby TrueHD & DTS-HD Master Audio bitstream and all the newest format that any ATI HD5XXX allow, would be passive and would fit in height to my Silverstone GD05 case (The current dimensions of the card are (H)15.5cm x , (D)3.6cm, (W)19.8cm and as mentioned, the height shouldn't be more than 13cm).
As for playing performance I'm mostly playing Battlefield II, Fifa2011, Crysis, ...

Have any recommendations?

 

[Vette73]

How about just get some plexiglass and make a custom case side?

Should be cheaper than trying to buy another card and you can have fun with it.

 

[Spike]

Probably a dumb question but does it have to be passive? I run a passive 4350 in my HTPC (silent from ~2 feet away) and as an experiment I put in my gigabyte 5870 with the dual fans... no difference in noise. The dual fan setup runs passive about half the time as the fans only kick in when the temp hits 60c and even then they are inaudible. Obviously once gaming starts they become audible but at that point it does not really matter.

The reason I ask is passive cards are so expensive for the performance you get. It's always better getting an actively cooled card price wise and they are often smaller and easier to get in tight cases. However, if your dead set on passive then more power to you. I know that when I replace my 6970 I will move it to the lanbox and my 5870 to the HTPC as I was VERY impressed at the silence. And this is coming from a quiet freak.

 

[lirsch]

Well, count me it for the quiet freaks club .
Even games have a silent scenes where you don't want to hear the GPU fans, right?
I'm trying to solve this issue with a passive solution, If it's a barrier I can't remove, I'll try to find a semi-passive solution.

For the latter case, I'll be happy to get these kind of solutions as well and to know when does the fans start like you wrote.

 

[Vette73]

My HTPC I got a GT240 with a oversized heatsink, very quiet.

So look at what the orignal heatsink looks like and then find a video card with a larger version. Then that would allow you to lowwer the fan speed a little but still stay cool enouhg to use.

 

[rockyjohn]

I assume what might be giving you problems is the extra heat sink located on top of the card. To get a passive low profile card, you might need to step down to the 5570, which is still great for HTPC applications but would be a little slower in games.

This would be a good option for the 5570:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-342-_-Product

[removed]

 

[Skunkwourk]

If money isn't a problem, Im happy with my Gigabyte 5750 Silent Cell. Its the fastest passive card I could find and it fit in my mATX case. Im not exactly sure of the height, but based on pictures it looks shorter than your 5670.

 

[lirsch]

If money isn't a problem, Im happy with my Gigabyte 5750 Silent Cell. Its the fastest passive card I could find and it fit in my mATX case. Im not exactly sure of the height, but based on pictures it looks shorter than your 5670.

It would be very helpful If you'll write what case do you use and what is it's height? (is it a horizontal case like mine?)

 

[Skunkwourk]

It would be very helpful If you'll write what case do you use and what is it's height? (is it a horizontal case like mine?)

Its in my sig, Im using the Lian Li 351. Im not sure about the measurements (you might be able to find out online) but the clearance was really tight and I actually had to squeeze the card in there a bit. Still just based on pictures of your card, I think the height of the Silent Cell is definitely less than your Sapphire.