What's the fastest graphics card less than 9" long...

[vss1980]

Hi guys,

Not looking for the best ultimate features (so not supporting DX11 or 10.1 is not a big loss), but what is the fastest graphics card you can get at the moment that's less than 9", and preferably no longer than 8.5" ?

According to nvidia:
http://www.nvidia.com/content/HelpMeChoose/fx2/HelpMeChoose.asp?lang=en-us

Nothing particularly good can be had in that size (sub Geforce GT250), but the nvidia site seems to make a few omissions.... firstly there are 9800GT ECO/Green edition cards which are shorter than the standard 9800GT cards, and there are no references to other non-reference cards which may be shorter. Does anybody know the length of the Green/Eco editions?

Or even better still, if there is a general card database for this?

Unfortunately, as this isn't actually for me, ATI cards are not a consideration (don't ask why), so please do not suggest them (even though I know a 5700 series card will possibly fit and be quicker)....


EDIT:

SUMMARY (for people new to this thread or searching the forum):
Best suggestions so far:
Geforce GTS250
http://detonator.dynamitedata.com/c...14134095&cm_re=gts_250-_-14-134-095-_-Product
http://detonator.dynamitedata.com/c...14187098&cm_re=gts_250-_-14-187-098-_-Product

Geforce 9800GT
http://detonator.dynamitedata.com/c...ockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-115-GW

Card length database (user submitted)
http://alienbabeltech.com/main/?page_id=8677

 

[RussianSensation]

GTS250 1GB cards such as these:

1. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-095-_-Product

2. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-098-_-Product

Should be the fastest NV cards right now.

 

[Attic]

Hands down the 5770 at 8.25inches. Much faster than the GTS250.

I use a 5770 in a HTPC because of size limitations,, i've always had a hard time finding anything from nV that offers much for my gaming enthusiast needs at <9 inches.

 

[Daedalus685]

Hands down the 5770 at 8.25inches. Much faster than the GTS250.

I use a 5770 in a HTPC because of size limitations,, i've always had a hard time finding anything from nV that offers much for my gaming enthusiast needs at <9 inches.

Sigh....



OP, is the position of the power plug an issue? (is it going in exactly 9inches of space or is there just partial obstruction and the end mounted power will be fine)

If the power is an issue you will likely have to go with something without extra power.. though the sparkle linked gives you a full 1.5" to plug in with.

 

[mhouck]

http://alienbabeltech.com/main/?page_id=8677

alien babel tech page showing length of cards. there is a database tab at the bottom. might be helpful

 

[vss1980]

Sigh....

To give him his due, he's not wrong (as I originally said about the 5700 series)....

OP, is the position of the power plug an issue? (is it going in exactly 9inches of space or is there just partial obstruction and the end mounted power will be fine)

If the power is an issue you will likely have to go with something without extra power.. though the sparkle linked gives you a full 1.5" to plug in with.

Well, yeah the power connector / cable would need to fit in that space (consider it as fully obstructed) which is why I said, preferably the card being no more than 8.5". The gap the card and connector has to fit in is roughly 9". Hence the interest in the 9800GT Green/ECO models which are shorter and do away with the power connection altogether.

GTS250 1GB cards such as these:

1. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-095-_-Product

2. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-098-_-Product

Should be the fastest NV cards right now.

Thanks, that's something to consider - didn't think there would be anything like a 9800GTX/GT250 that'd fit - now just have to see if they are in the UK at all....

 

[vss1980]

http://alienbabeltech.com/main/?page_id=8677

alien babel tech page showing length of cards. there is a database tab at the bottom. might be helpful

Thankyou very much - if only the card manufacturers all put this info on their websites.....

 

[Daedalus685]

To give him his due, he's not wrong (as I originally said about the 5700 series)....

No, he is certainly not wrong about the 5700, it is clearly the best for that purpose right now... but you were pretty clear in the OP about that

At any rate,

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=GX-115-GW

that will be a good bit slower than the 250 but will fit sans cable. If you can find that sparkle that was linked it will easily fit at only 7.5"

 

[vj8usa]

While it is annoying that a lot of manufacturers never list the length of their video cards, you can easily get a good estimate by looking at a product image. Measure the ratio of the entire card's length to the length of the PCIe connector, then multiply by the length of a PCIe connector.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Obligatory "my pen*s" post.

 

[Stoneburner]

Since you don't explain why ATI's out of the question, I will assume it's a matter of choice. IF so, reconsider the 5770. Specifically, I would recommend certain PowerColor models that are actually use the 5750 PCB so they are about 7.25 inches.

 

[vss1980]

While it is annoying that a lot of manufacturers never list the length of their video cards, you can easily get a good estimate by looking at a product image. Measure the ratio of the entire card's length to the length of the PCIe connector, then multiply by the length of a PCIe connector.

Yeah, that's how I was singling out the green/eco 9800 cards and it's nice to have some concrete numbers to go on, but the main reason for this thread is to see what other people might know of that's useful....

The http://alienbabeltech.com/main/?page_id=8677 site is pretty handy I have to admit...

 

[vss1980]

Since you don't explain why ATI's out of the question, I will assume it's a matter of choice. IF so, reconsider the 5770. Specifically, I would recommend certain PowerColor models that are actually use the 5750 PCB so they are about 7.25 inches.

Well, basically my mate has always had nvidia graphics cards in his PC going back to the Riva128 days, and the one time he tried an ATI card it just wouldn't run properly in his motherboard (ASUS), even though anything else worked fine in the motherboard and the card worked on other PC's fine. He's also a bit of a stickler for staying with brands, but I guess a lot of people do similar things with cars, TV's, etc., so I'll humour him.

I personally have a 5750 1GB card and have tried to steer him towards that (or similar) but I'm impressed with his brand loyalty.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Unfortunately that ABT site seems to be user submitted stuff, and the card lengths are only in half inches, so apparently my 4850 is the same length as a 4870 and there are 5 inch GTX 260's that everyone forgot to tell everyone about.

I wish there were a controlled, pictographic representation somewhere out there, that just had all the cards lined up at the bracket.

 

[vss1980]

Unfortunately that ABT site seems to be user submitted stuff, and the card lengths are only in half inches, so apparently my 4850 is the same length as a 4870 and there are 5 inch GTX 260's that everyone forgot to tell everyone about.

I wish there were a controlled, pictographic representation somewhere out there, that just had all the cards lined up at the bracket.

Yeah I had noticed that - but you can filter them out by sorting by a specific size (say 8.5 inches) and then using a little logic...

A photo 'line-up' would be good - would be nice if it was a standard part of the reviews.

 

[TemjinGold]

OP: Would it be possible to trick him then? Get a 5700 series card, install it and have it working fine, THEN tell him it's an ATi?

 

[vss1980]

OP: Would it be possible to trick him then? Get a 5700 series card, install it and have it working fine, THEN tell him it's an ATi?

Nah, you'd have to be pretty non-technical and dumb to fall for that, something he's neither - he's just not a PC enthusiast.

Besides, there are games / software which point out the graphics card / renderer when running them / changing the settings.

Not gonna grumble, the 9800GT / GTS250 are still decent enough.... it's not like spending a load of money on a Geforce FX card which were comparatively poor...

 

[reallyscrued]

Funny thread title is funny.

 

[Lonyo]

Yeah I had noticed that - but you can filter them out by sorting by a specific size (say 8.5 inches) and then using a little logic...

A photo 'line-up' would be good - would be nice if it was a standard part of the reviews.

Like that, but more useful? (e.g with numbers)

 

[Sylvanas]

Well perhaps it's time to convince him then. Going with an inferior product just because you've always gone with the predecessor (which also could have been inferior at the time) is just silly. This is an example why Nvidia continue to make money even when their products may not be as compelling as the competition. They are an example of a good PR team.

 

[vss1980]

Well perhaps it's time to convince him then. Going with an inferior product just because you've always gone with the predecessor (which also could have been inferior at the time) is just silly. This is an example why Nvidia continue to make money even when their products may not be as compelling as the competition. They are an example of a good PR team.

I agree, however his stubborn loyalty could work for him as he wants to go fast but stay cheap-ish at the same time... with current retail prices, he can get the 9800GT around 30% cheaper (UK price difference of around £25-£30), or say the difference between getting a 1TB hard drive instead of a 320GB one (and yes he will fill the space).

Like that, but more useful? (e.g with numbers)

Indeed, Usual Suspects style.

 

[happy medium]

gts 250 1gb is the best Nvidia card less then 9 inches.

 

[tokie]

Your friend is an idiot. Buy the 5770 and put an Nvidia fairy sticker on it to appease him.

If he doesn't agree, stop being friends with him.

 

[Silenus]

Listen, I was all kinds of pro nVidia myself. I was a long time nVidia fan, and I never trusted ATI due to bad experiences long ago. I still like nVidia, but guess what? I have a 5770 now. The reason is simple. I wanted an upgrade to my 8800GTS that would hold me over for about a year when I planned to do a big upgrade of my system. Looking realistically at the current nVidia offerings and you see the value is just not there. The 5770 was great bang for the buck so I decided to bite the bullet and try out ATI again. I'm glad I did as I've been very happy with it!

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Like that, but more useful? (e.g with numbers)

-That's almost perfect, only needs a ruler and some of the more popular cards from the previous gen (GTS250/8800GT/4850/4870). In every picture I've ever seen, the 5850 looks like its huge, but every metric says its the same size as a 4870.

It can get quite confusing.