Return of a classic thread for a new generation of video cards: best *passively* cooled card?

[glenn1]

As the title states. I'm running an old Radeon with passive cooling in my system now, and would like something with a bit more ooomph but while keeping the noise level down. I would also like to try to keep the cost down (looking for $100 or less). Any suggestions?

P.S. if you have both a "value" and "performance" suggestion, don't hesitate to name multiple cards.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: glenn1
As the title states. I'm running an old Radeon with passive cooling in my system now, and would like something with a bit more ooomph but while keeping the noise level down. I would also like to try to keep the cost down (looking for $100 or less). Any suggestions?

P.S. if you have both a "value" and "performance" suggestion, don't hesitate to name multiple cards.

i'd figure you could run a 5600 geforce with a passive cooler. they dont sell any like that, but it should be as cool running as a 5200 since its .13 micron with more transistors. you'd need a heatsink like the one off the inno3d 5200 though.

 

[JZilla]

Look no further than the Radeon 9600 NonPro. Review at Rage3D. I think that is the most powerful passive cooled video card today.

Another option you have is to buy a Radeon 9700 Pro or not, and slap on the Zalman HP80A heatsink.

 

[Pete]

9600, but it won't hit $100 for a while. Given that the 9600P has already hit $160, though, I think you can expect the 9600 to dip (well) below $130 soon.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Sapphire sells a passively-cooled 9700 Pro (with 300-pound heatpipe ) for $358 at newegg. Rage3D review

 

[Zap]

Well, Newegg has a Radeon 9600 for $132 with free shipping. Is that close enough?

 

[ChefJoe]

Just a curiosity on my part, but with statements like this " ATI has said that there might come out a fanless version of the 9600 pro in the future and it's barely a heatsink, mostly a fan on the ati 9600 pro , what do you think about unplugging a fan on this hightech excalibur 9600 pro and expecting it to run well ?

I'm really, really interested in a 9600 Pro running without a noisy 40mm fan... if I can get a large heatsink and a enough airflow with a nearby rheostat'd large fan I think I'd be a happy man.

I could just get a heatpipe kit, but for the time and money, if I can get a large heatsink on a 9600 pro, I think it should be ok with said "nearby fan." I'm thinking about buying either card, but wonder if there's any overclock headroom available... I've already ruled out the powercolor and sapphire versions (newegg and googlegear shopping) because people say the memory is not up to snuff.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: Pete
9600, but it won't hit $100 for a while. Given that the 9600P has already hit $160, though, I think you can expect the 9600 to dip (well) below $130 soon.

For this reason I returned my 9600 Pro to Best Buy (where I bought it). When the card hits $130ish I'll buy a new one again and hopefully get the same 2.8nsec memory. glenn1, the 9600 Pro, even with a fan on the heatsink is almost silent. I couldn't hear it above my case fans and hard drives. The price hasn't hit $100 yet but it is a VERY NICE CARD. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.

I can't wait to pick up another one when the prices drop.

 

[Peter]

I've seen a fanless 9600 already from an ATi partner. Club3D IIRC.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: Peter
I've seen a fanless 9600 already from an ATi partner. Club3D IIRC.

Pro or non-Pro? For me it doesn't matter since I'll only buy retail "built-by-ATI aka Sapphire" cards but others might care.

 

[Peter]

non-Pro of course.

 

[T9D]

..

 

[Megatomic]

xerosleep, the fans on videocards can be as noisy as the fans on CPU coolers. The one on my GF4 Ti 4800 SE is twice as loud as the one on the Radeon 9600 Pro I reluctantly took back.

 

[pelikan]

The fan on my softmodded 9500np is quieter than my panaflo L1As.