whats the best passively cooled video card i can get?

[GoingUp]

I currently have a passive cooled radeon x1300 thats passively cooled, but would like to bump up to something better.

requirements:

PCI express
Dual DVI
Passively cooled... I dont want to hear any fans!

Thanks!

 

[secretanchitman]

i thought i saw a 7950GT that was passively cooled. i might be wrong though.

i know for sure you can get a 7600GT passively cooled though.

 

[Krenn]

The new Gigabyte 8600GTS (GV-NX86S256H) that just came out today! It's PCI Express, two dual-link DVI ports, and passively cooled.

I'm not sure where you'll find one; eWiz had one in stock for a few hours for $208 but it's gone now.
I bet this would be a great card for a HTPC; the video features of the 8600GTS plus the passively cooled would make this nice. Except that it takes up two slots; many HTPC machines don't have that extra slot available.

 

[BassBomb]

7950GT fastest fanless gpu (that is not aftermarket)

 

[manimal]

That 7600 with that crappy Fatal1ly branding has a nice passive heatpipe that may work very well in httpc.

Best passive I can think of is to buy a 8800gts vanilla from evga and use that hr03 for 8800 series for around 50 bucks. Price difference between oc and AC3 pays for the aftermarket cooler. I would not OC it tho unless you have good airflow.

 

[n7]

Yeah the new 8600 GTSs w/ passive cooling look interesting.

Likely your best bet for the money IMO.

 

[keeleysam]

The 7950GT is faster than the 8600GTS.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150189

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: keeleysam
The 7950GT is faster than the 8600GTS.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150189

But no DX10 :evil:

 

[keeleysam]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: keeleysam
The 7950GT is faster than the 8600GTS.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150189

But no DX10 :evil:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2970&p=5

Is DX10 worth losing the 50% speed bump from the 7950GT? No.

Plus, any DX10 game is going to be way too demanding for the 8600GTS.

 

[n7]

I was being sarcastic, since people used the same kind of silly argument of SM 3.0 vs. SM 2.0 with the 6800 series vs. the X800 series.

I would think the 8600 GTS should drop lower in price soon enough, but who knows. I didn't realize the 7950 GT was so cheap...they're usually a lot more here in Canada...

 

[alaricljs]

ZZF has the XXX version (yet faster) cheaper with a pair of rebates... http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=321107 If you're into that sort of thing $215 AR

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: keeleysam
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2970&p=5

Is DX10 worth losing the 50% speed bump from the 7950GT? No.

Plus, any DX10 game is going to be way too demanding for the 8600GTS.

Ahem.

Battlefield 2 does represent a less intense generation of DX9 games where HDR, floating point, and lots of shading power aren't the focus.

- M4H

 

[GoingUp]

Thanks for all of the feedback I'll have to take a look at my options. I don't game much anymore. I just do webdesign and photo editing. I do like to fire up the occasional old school games though like C&C generals.

Nothing as cutting edge as todays new games.

 

[hans007]

one of the big ebay sellers sells the passive MSI8600gts for $159+$15 shipping.


this one called mobo_outlet or something, i have bought tons from them in the past. its a lot cheaper than the 7950gt one at least.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170105781330

 

[R3MF]

my XFX 7950GT passive card would be a good choice.

 

[MarxMarvelous]

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
I don't game much anymore.

In case you are looking for something cheaper (since you don't game much), you might want to consider a 7600GS based card. Here's a 512MB version for $125. Should still be a significant step up from your X1300.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125040

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: MarxMarvelous

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
I don't game much anymore.

In case you are looking for something cheaper (since you don't game much), you might want to consider a 7600GS based card. Here's a 512MB version for $125. Should still be a significant step up from your X1300.

there is a 512mb one at buy.com for $89 right now i think. $79 with goog checkout.