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Radeon 5970 in an HTPC

K

Keylimesoda

Member
I've happened to fall into an AMD Radeon 5970 w/Arctic Cooler. It runs very quiet, and I'd like to use it as the base for a new HTPC.

The problem I'm finding is that most HTPC-ready cases can't fit an AMD 5970.

Any suggestions? My primary goals are as follows:
  1. Quiet
  2. Lay on its side (flat)
  3. Ventilation (or a fan) on side panel (which is the top when laying down)
  4. Fits an AMD 5970 video card

I'm currently running an Antec 300, and it's fairly quiet and works well on its side, but I don't think it can accommodate the 5970 and it's a bit lacking in ventilation in the right places.

Thoughts/suggestions?
 
Unless you are planning on gaming on the HTPC I don't see the point. If you are planning on gaming I don't think there are many HTPC specific cases that can accommodate such a large card. You will not see any benefit in using the card if all you do is boxee/xbmc/windows media center.

My HTPC runs 24/7 (I also use it as a general server), runs cool and idles at 90 watts. If I put a card like that into it it would not run as cool and push at least 220 watts idle making it cost more than twice as much to run and likely heat up my living room in the process.
 
sell it and get a passive 5770? more than enough for a HTPC and silent. easier on the PSU when it fires up too
 
Yeah, my current HTPC is running a 5770 in an Antec 300.

This is all about having a killer gaming option on my big screen TV.

For power consumption, I'm thinking about running integrated intel and the 5970 side by side, and using my receiver HDMI switching to choose which one I'm using.

I'm hoping the 5970 has a low-power sleep mode?
 
My 2 cents :
Sell it for $600
Buy a suitable GPU for $100 or less
Profit

5970's are sought after right now because of bitcoin mining and easily sell for 600-700 on ebay. or I'll give you a few hundred for it and sell it for you too 🙂
 
I'm running HD6870 in my SilverStone htpc ATX case, and there is more than 3 inches of space left so I think a 5970 will fit. Though I have to make sure I buy cards with coolers that are about the same as wide as the card because htpc cases are usually "thinner" than desktop cases.
 
@airdata

Funny enough, I just finished bitcoin mining, and I'm tearing apart my rig. I can't seem to sell the card for what I thought I'd get, which is why I'm looking at just holding on to it.

@mooncancook

Which case do you have? There are a dozen SilverStone HTPC cases.
 
Last edited:
Keylimesoda said:
@airdata

Funny enough, I just finished bitcoin mining, and I'm tearing apart my rig. I can't seem to sell the card for what I thought I'd get, which is why I'm looking at just holding on to it.

@mooncancook

Which case do you have? There are a dozen SilverStone HTPC cases.
Click to expand...

I know the feeling, I see people on here and ebay selling their 5870's for 250+ and I cant even get 225 for em

if you want to game, then it would rock, I run a reference still-locked 6950 in my HTPC and it does well at 1080p gaming
 
I have the old LC03 case. You can lookup atx htpc cases in newegg, you can kind of tell if the case will fit by looking at the pictures to see if there is a drive cage blocking the pci slot where the card will sit
 
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