Quiet, cool, ATI video card

Dec 13, 2003
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Those are about the only 4 games I play these days. I certainly have a big enough budget for a top of the line video card like a X1900XTX, but I feel like it would be overkill for the stuff I want to do. What card is good enough to play these games at 1600x1200 with some/most of the high detail stuff turned on? Quiet fan and low temperatures are very important.
 

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
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If you want a quiet ATi video card you'll either need a X1950 XT or drop down to something like a X1900 GT.
 

LOUISSSSS

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2005
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get the x1900xt and get a vf900. easy installation, ever see an x1900xt idle at 37C on air?? @ 70F room temp?
 
Dec 13, 2003
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Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
get the x1900xt and get a vf900. easy installation, ever see an x1900xt idle at 37C on air?? @ 70F room temp?
I see you have that setup in your sig. How's the noise on it? Also, how much power does that thing need? I heard it needs around 30A on the +12V rail and my PSU only has 20A. :\ Getting another power supply is not an option ATM.
 

LOUISSSSS

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2005
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well its running fine with the 600watt fortron psu, and i'm sure i could have used a seasonic 500watt or pcpc510(max 650) i got the 600watt version hoping it'll give me enough for x1900 crossfire in the future
sound for vf900 is completely inaudible from outside the case at lowest speeds, and pretty much the same at max speeds (1400rpm vf 2300rpm isn't much in 80mm fans.) inaudible with ear next to the fan at lowest speeds and slight wind noise through the fins at max speed with your ear next to the fan. let me know if u have more questions (PM prefereable)
 
Dec 13, 2003
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I think getting an X1900XT is not the right choice for me. I played CS:Source @ 1600x1200 up until recently with an AGP GeForce 6600GT and a P4 2.4 northwood. Now I have a Core 2 Duo E6300. Even getting a marginally better video card will give me a huge performance increase. What ATI card is around the level of a 7600GT? I might end up just getting a 7600GT or 7800GT since they fit all of my criteria except being ATI.
 

Kromis

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2006
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Originally posted by: TheUltimateNewbie
I think getting an X1900XT is not the right choice for me. I played CS:Source @ 1600x1200 up until recently with an AGP GeForce 6600GT and a P4 2.4 northwood. Now I have a Core 2 Duo E6300. Even getting a marginally better video card will give me a huge performance increase. What ATI card is around the level of a 7600GT? I might end up just getting a 7600GT or 7800GT since they fit all of my criteria except being ATI.

That would be the X1800GTO. But the next should be the X1650XT.
 
Dec 13, 2003
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Originally posted by: Kromis
Originally posted by: TheUltimateNewbie
I think getting an X1900XT is not the right choice for me. I played CS:Source @ 1600x1200 up until recently with an AGP GeForce 6600GT and a P4 2.4 northwood. Now I have a Core 2 Duo E6300. Even getting a marginally better video card will give me a huge performance increase. What ATI card is around the level of a 7600GT? I might end up just getting a 7600GT or 7800GT since they fit all of my criteria except being ATI.

That would be the X1800GTO. But the next should be the X1650XT.

Is the X1650XT new? If it is, looks like I'll settle for X1800GTO, 7800GT, and 7600GT in that order since I need the card very soon.
 

LOUISSSSS

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2005
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note: ati cards own nvidia cards in cs:source. you'll see for yourself if u decide to go with ati. the x1800gto is a great card for cs:source, how about the x1900gt? check out AT's home page review.. it gets some good numbers vs the 7900gt
 
Dec 13, 2003
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Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
note: ati cards own nvidia cards in cs:source. you'll see for yourself if u decide to go with ati. the x1800gto is a great card for cs:source, how about the x1900gt? check out AT's home page review.. it gets some good numbers vs the 7900gt
Yeah, I play source the most out of those games, thus the ATI requirement. I have no money problems with getting an X1900GT, but I can't justify it since it will be overkill for my purposes. I'm going to college in a few days, so there's no point in me getting a high end video card when I'm not going to have much time to play games anyway.
 

ronnn

Diamond Member
May 22, 2003
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the x2 is quiet at 100% fan speed. Can't hear it at all and the rest of my system is quite quiet and will cool any of the x1900 line.
 

DrZoidberg

Member
Jul 10, 2005
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im pretty sure with 20A on single 12v rail the OP will need a new PSU, so i think x1900xt is out of the question (unless he buys a new PSU)
 

ShadowOfMyself

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2006
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Obligatory "why do you want a quiet card?" post...

The card will be idle in windows so it wont bother when youre doing normal stuff... But even if it gets noisy when you start playing, are you gonna play with sound off? I dont get people wanting the latest and greatest when it comes to video and then getting a crap soundcard? To me sound is just as important as video, and theres nothing like playing with your sound reasonably loud with a nice surround system
 

hmorphone

Senior member
Oct 14, 2005
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If the X1800GTO or X1900GT are too much, or you can't find a good enough price on them, you might want to look into an X800XL (quieter) or either a X800XT or X850XT (little louder). My X1900GT is slightly louder than my X800XL but both are reasonably quiet single slot solutions. I believe the X1800GTOs and X1800XLs are slightly louder than the X1900GTs due to different fan programmings. This is assuming you are not willing to slap an Accelero X2/Zalman 900/Arctic Silencer on any of them to get really quiet.
 
Dec 13, 2003
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Originally posted by: ShadowOfMyself
Obligatory "why do you want a quiet card?" post...

The card will be idle in windows so it wont bother when youre doing normal stuff... But even if it gets noisy when you start playing, are you gonna play with sound off? I dont get people wanting the latest and greatest when it comes to video and then getting a crap soundcard? To me sound is just as important as video, and theres nothing like playing with your sound reasonably loud with a nice surround system
It's gonna be used for a college dorm, so I don't want to hear the gpu fan while I'm sleeping. I'm sure my roommate doesn't either. I already know he has a Dell, so it's gonna be pretty much silent. I leave my comp on overnight when I'm downloading large files or leaving some video encoding going on overnight.
Originally posted by: hmorphone
If the X1800GTO or X1900GT are too much, or you can't find a good enough price on them, you might want to look into an X800XL (quieter) or either a X800XT or X850XT (little louder). My X1900GT is slightly louder than my X800XL but both are reasonably quiet single slot solutions. I believe the X1800GTOs and X1800XLs are slightly louder than the X1900GTs due to different fan programmings. This is assuming you are not willing to slap an Accelero X2/Zalman 900/Arctic Silencer on any of them to get really quiet.
Well I have no problem with getting an aftermarket cooler if it will make it quieter. I will look into those three suggestions, thanks.
 

rudder

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
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Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
note: ati cards own nvidia cards in cs:source. you'll see for yourself if u decide to go with ati. the x1800gto is a great card for cs:source, how about the x1900gt? check out AT's home page review.. it gets some good numbers vs the 7900gt

Good number yes, but also draws a lot more power. That may be an issue.
 
Dec 13, 2003
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I picked up a X1900GT from my cousin's store today. I'm concerned about the power. The box says it needs 25A on the +12V rail, but my PSU says it only has 20A on it. Is this gonna be a big problem?
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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Originally posted by: TheUltimateNewbie
Originally posted by: ShadowOfMyself
Obligatory "why do you want a quiet card?" post...

The card will be idle in windows so it wont bother when youre doing normal stuff... But even if it gets noisy when you start playing, are you gonna play with sound off? I dont get people wanting the latest and greatest when it comes to video and then getting a crap soundcard? To me sound is just as important as video, and theres nothing like playing with your sound reasonably loud with a nice surround system
It's gonna be used for a college dorm, so I don't want to hear the gpu fan while I'm sleeping. I'm sure my roommate doesn't either. I already know he has a Dell, so it's gonna be pretty much silent. I leave my comp on overnight when I'm downloading large files or leaving some video encoding going on overnight.

i have an x1900xt with an accelero x1 and i can't hear it. when i had the front panel lights plugged in backwards i had to put my ear right up to the computer to tell if it was on.


low-rpm 120mm scythe FDB fans ftw!
 

ronnn

Diamond Member
May 22, 2003
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Originally posted by: TheUltimateNewbie
I picked up a X1900GT from my cousin's store today. I'm concerned about the power. The box says it needs 25A on the +12V rail, but my PSU says it only has 20A on it. Is this gonna be a big problem?

Nice card, enjoy it. Try your ps and see how it works.
 

hmorphone

Senior member
Oct 14, 2005
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Originally posted by: ronnn
Originally posted by: TheUltimateNewbie
I picked up a X1900GT from my cousin's store today. I'm concerned about the power. The box says it needs 25A on the +12V rail, but my PSU says it only has 20A on it. Is this gonna be a big problem?

Nice card, enjoy it. Try your ps and see how it works.

Congrats, take ronnn's suggestion and give it a go :thumbsup:

I believe they calculate those ratings based on fully loaded systems with extra hard drives, excetera, excetera... (I wouldn't overclock/overdrive at this point though, it'll up the watts and the heat.) I think I'm going to put an Accelero X2 on my X1900GT like he did on his, he got great (and quiet) results. The Arctic Cooling Silencers aren't made for the X1900s at this point. Some swear by the Zalman Vf900, and it would probably be usable on a different model card later on if you wanted, but don't bother looking at the Vf700.