Quiet Video Card?

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JMann23800

Member
Sep 17, 2003
56
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I am trying to build a quiet PC and am stuck on the video card. What do you guys suggest. Budget is $150 MAX and I will use it for graphics, web design, surfing, and minimal games. Must have dvi for my lcd.

Thanks,
Josh
 
MDE

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
1
81
Go for the 128MB version. Avoid anything that doesn't explicitly state 128-bit.
 
J

JMann23800

Member
Sep 17, 2003
56
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I beleive they both state 128-bit.

Also is there anything in the $100-$150 range that would be worth looking at over this card? Or would I have to just >$200 to notice a significant difference?

-Josh
 
MDE

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
1
81
I'd get the 128MB version because a 9600 doesn't have the horsepower to use the extra RAM on the 256MB version.
 
S

SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
14,377
19
81
Most videocards are very quiet, with the exception of the GFFX series. Just look for something that is passively cooled.
 
C

Corporate Thug

Lifer
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
0
76
Originally posted by: JMann23800
Alright I am going to pick up this card...

Click ME!


Speak now or forever hold your peace........ anything better out there based on my usage?
Click to expand...

i guess it will suffice for minimal gaming but dont expect to run anything that is too graphic intensive
 
B

bluemax

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2000
7,182
0
0
Hey, I'd get one of those Sapphire 9600's too! Fanless, decent speed, good picture quality, cheap.... who could complain? :)
 
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Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
This 9600 PRO "Ultimate" will give you some extra horsepower for that "occasional" game. (A good game does get addicting and more performance is more performance.) It might keep you happy for a little while longer, but it breaks your budget by $18, and unfortunately, it's $73 more than what you're considering--probably not worth it, huh? (I'm sure you already noticed it there on Newegg, but I thought I'd point it out anyway. Lots of people read these forums. :) )
 
J

JMann23800

Member
Sep 17, 2003
56
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0
What would be the performance difference between the ultimate and the plain 9600? Worth $75 bucks?

-Josh
 
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Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
What's a 20-40% improvement worth to you? (Naturally, the exact number would depend on the game, but that's approximately what most comparisons I've looked at online show.)
 
J

JBT

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
12,094
1
81
I would get a 9600 ro and put a fanless heatpipe on it or get the ultimate one. The ram is very important for 9600's the 9600np's ram is slow meaning crippled performance. so its up to you I would spend the extra to get smooth games.
 
T

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
The 9600 PRO Ultimate is a better value than the lowest priced 9600 PRO + Zalman fanless cooler after shipping. It's about the same price, but no additional labor is required for the Ultimate model.

EDIT: That should have been 9600 PRO + Zalman, not 9800 PRO.
 
M

Matthias99

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2003
8,808
0
0
OTOH, the 9800Pro is like 50% faster for the same price and a little extra labor (and voiding your warranty)...
 
T

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
Originally posted by: Matthias99
OTOH, the 9800Pro is like 50% faster for the same price and a little extra labor (and voiding your warranty)...
Click to expand...

Same price? Do tell! The best most of us have seen is about $210 for the 9800 Pro, plus around $30 for the cooler, which does still need some help from a low-speed fan, because the 9800 Pro is pretty hot. (BTW, I took the 9800 Pro + fanless cooler route. It gets burn-your-fingers HOT without some air flowing over it.)
 
H

HokieESM

Senior member
Jun 10, 2002
798
0
0
If you're thinking graphics, webdesign and MINIMAL (and I mean very few) games, I would go with a Matrox P650. Passively cooled, excellent drivers, and dual DVI (it'll actually run dual 1600x1200). This is matrox's cup of tea.

If you actually DO game, a passively cooled Sapphire Radeon 9x00 would be your best bet (or, if you're feeling lucky, put the Zalman heatpipe on a card).

Good luck!
 
J

JMann23800

Member
Sep 17, 2003
56
0
0
Hmmm, that Matrox looks good. I may just write off gaming on my pc, I mean I have an xbox. Then I could get another 18" dell lcd and run dual dvi monitors. That would be awesome!
 
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