fanless GPU for games as well (1 Viewer)

[littlematt]

Hi guys this is my first post so would like to say I love the project its exactly what I was looking for!
Have spent a considerable sum building my HTPC around a 3800x2/antecNSK2400/DFIRS482 and its real quiet with a zalman CNPS9500 cooler. I have speedfan set up and the two 12cm fans the case came with pull enough air across the heatsink to keep it at about 33 deg idle temp with the HS fan off! Really happy with it so far but my question is this...
I need a fanless GPU that I can game with seeing as everything else is fairly high spec. Its gotta be an ATI according to my MB docs (ATI chipset). I have seen a couple of models but as I understand it orientation of heatpipes is kinda important. IE the GPU card will be mounted vertically and I will have a big ass copper CPU HS next to it so space is an issue too.... I like the sound of a GeCube SilenCool X800XL but looking at the heatpipes I dont think they would work well mounted vertically?
my price limit (not target!) is around 400NZD wondering if any of you have some advice for me on a solution..?

Cher cher,
Matt

p.s It took me a long time getting my rig set up lots of trial and error if any kiwis want advice about New Zealand freqs, EPG and stuff feel free to give me a shout!

 

[littlematt]

Sigh 80 reads no replies.... What are you guys doing?

How about this...

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=2&l2=8&l3=241&model=961&modelmenu=1

Orientated vertically one heatpipe is definately facing the right direction Ie going up from the GPU to the cooler... The other pipe seems more or less horizontal which might still work fairly well *I think*. Also the 2x12cm silent fans running at ¬1000RPM (so they ARE silent) create quite a bit of -ve pressure in the MB compartment of the case. I think if I removed a PCI cover/drilled a slot into the back of the case (cant remember the layout - and Im upstairs) where the HS lines up the fans would pull a fair bit of air through/ directly over the HS=better cooling! For 340NZD I think.

 

[Deco]

Hi Matt,

I'm sure the other experience contributors are just taking the weekend off!

Why does your motherboard confine you to using an ATI card? Unless you're thinking of using or upgrading to a crossfire edition in the future? Otherwise any PCI Express card should work.

I have been looking around recently to upgrade my graphics card (Radeon X300) to something more beefy.
Mentally I've picked a card - Nvidia 7600 GS. Completely passive card, but still quite slim. I've read that Nvidias Purevideo software gives very good decoding and the card drivers allow for more flexible resolutions (important for me as I'm using a CRT television display). There are plenty of suppliers - ASUS does a version too I believe.

Regards, Deco.

 

[littlematt]

Hi Deco thx for the reply.... I seem to remember reading in my MB manual that it will only accept ATI GPU's on the PCIe slot at its an ATI chipset running the MB. Going all proprietary methinks? I guess the thing to do would be to take the whole case into a shop and try different ones out.... I wonder if they would let me do that?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

littlematt

Personally think you have found the answer yourself, equivalent to my 6600Gt (maybe slightly better) and will play most games easily.

Heard good things about X1600 cards, so hope this follows through for you.

 

[ziphnor]

ATi chipsets accepts Nvidia cards without problems.

If you are serious about gaming, there are some passively cooled 7900GT's out there.

 

[FoxyXI]

I have the EAX1600XT SILENT mentioned above, and it does a great job! When I looked a few months ago, it was the most powerful silent card I could find that didn't have a crazy heat pipe setup that wouldn't fit my HTPC case. It is a really powerful card, and the passive cooling works well with a bit of airflow (your two 120mm fans should be killer, and I am very jealous). The only thing to be careful of is that several people (including me) had to return their first card because of lockups or reboots, most likely due to damaged or improperly manufactured heat pipe bonding. Newegg has a lot of reviews on the card, and they may have fixed this manufacturing problem because once people get their card fixed they seem very happy with it.

As mentioned above, PCI Express is a standard interface and you should be able to use any x16 PCIe graphics card.

Also, from my research (and talking to the Mechanical Engineers at work) heat pipes have mostly conquered orientation issues by special wicking materials internal to the pipe.

Hope this helps.

 

[gxtracker]

I actually never recommend a passive solution because even with a passive card, the heat from the heatsink has to be expelled somehere - like into the chassis of the case. Then that expelled heat increases the temperature of other components. If you go for a passive solution, then more case airflow is required to dissipate that heat. the best solution IMO would be a two slot cooler that dissipates the GPU heat out the back of the card - like the Arctic Cooling Silencer series. That way you can use whatever GPU you requre, and still have a cooling solution that doesnt contribute to the temperature inside the case.