small space+passive cooling+single slot=???

cadjak

Junior Member
Dec 27, 2005
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I have a shuttle SG31G2. It has a one PCI Express X 16 slot and one PCI Slot. My system is a Intel core 2 duo 3.0ghz (E8400), 4GB RAM, GeForce 7600GS, 128mg graphics card and a PCI Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro sound card, 64bit Win7 ultimate. I'd like to upgrade my graphics card. I don't play games, I do watch and edit a lot of video. My monitor runs at 1600x1200 and I'd like to connect to my 46", 120Hz Sony TV. What are my choices? It will have to be a single slot card because the sound card is right next to the PCI-E x16 slot. Passive cooling would be great, but if not possible the quietest fan solution possible. I need some help here!!!
Thanks
 

nafhan

Member
Jul 20, 2002
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This recent Anandtech article might help:
The Final Word on the Best Radeon HTPC Card
http://anandtech.com/weblog/showpost.aspx?i=669

It recommends the 5570, but says the 5450 is almost as good and less expensive. However, I don't see any of the 5570's as passively cooled. I'd probably get the card Scholzpdx recommended.
 

Jd007

Senior member
Jan 1, 2010
207
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GT240 is not passive, but it's as cool and quiet as an actively cooled single slot card can get. And it's not slouch in performance, essentially a 9800GT.
 

cadjak

Junior Member
Dec 27, 2005
6
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0
I looked at the passive 4670s. The heat sink extends far enough over that it might as well be a double slot. What are thoughts about a 4830? I know that there are almost no passive cooled 4830 cards that can be considered single slot, but maybe I could throttle the fan down to a livable level, via Catalyst or Riva. Has anyone here found one where the fan doesn't sound like a jet engine?

By the way, many thanks for all the time you all put in to helping me out with this. In the most flattering terms, I don't know squat about graphics cards but I am fascinated by the hype and all the pretty pictures.
 

bradyapba

Senior member
Nov 29, 2004
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did you look at the link i sent? thats about the tiniest tinest heatsink i have ever seen, no way its 2 slots.
 

cadjak

Junior Member
Dec 27, 2005
6
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did you look at the link i sent? thats about the tiniest tinest heatsink i have ever seen, no way its 2 slots.
Yes, I looked at the link and I looked at pix of the backside that has a large Zalman heatsink on it. Also, the reviews on the site commented on it overlapping the adjacent slot. Some said they didn't have a problem with a micro ATX board, but it was a tight squeeze. I wish there was a way to try to see if a card fits before buying it. There isn't. I assume that's why there are so many "like new" cards on Ebay.
DSC02146.jpg
 
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slayernine

Senior member
Jul 23, 2007
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slayernine.com
I've always though it would be awesome to make a modification to your computer case to have a double slot video card sticking out the side of a case that only has room for a single slot. It would look like one of those engines that stick out of cars.