Ideas for low power video card

I need to get a few video cards - one for an existing build, one for a new build and one to have as a backup.

I'm not a gamer so I don't care about performance. I just need these to be able to handle standard display resolutions and HD playback.

I'm going to go with nVidia cards since I'm used to the control interface and I have video conversion software that uses CUDA.

I checked the excellent review of power consumption from behardware.com here and I'm focusing on G/GT 2xx cards right now although the 8400GS cards would also be in my price range. The thing is that I don't really know what the difference is between these cards. For example, although the 8400 is similar in power consumption and price, wouldn't I be better off going with the newer chips?

The cards don't all have to be the same as long as they have dual outputs and are pci-e 2. A couple of G 210's seems to be the way to go, but I welcome suggestions.

I'm flexible on the price but as I said, I don't need high performance. There seems to be a lot of choice in the sub-$50 range. I will go higher if there is a good reason though.

Thanks.

edit: no factory overclocked cards please - stock only since I'm relying on behardware's charts linked to above.

[rickss69]

http://www.evga.com/products/prodlist.asp?switch=20

[mrhuggles]

dont you need 8600gt minimum for cuda tho? i thought it was limited to 32 shaders EDIT: and up

Originally Posted by mrhuggles

dont you need 8600gt minimum for cuda tho? i thought it was limited to 32 shaders EDIT: and up

No idea, but it seems to work with Xilisoft programs.

[bretts31344]

Would a 9500 GT work?

This is $20 after a $20 rebate if you can find one in store at Frys.
9500 GT

[mrhuggles]

9500gt is 32 shaders

the 9500 gt's seem comparable to the G210 and GT220 in terms of power consumption for blu-ray playback but the 2xx's are better at idle.

What are the main differences between the older 8 and 9 series cards and the 2xx cards?

The thing about needing 32 shaders for CUDA to work. Is that definite? I'd have to shut down and pull out the card to see which one I have but I think it's this one - MSI N8400GS-TD256 GeForce 8400 GS 256MB 64-bit GDD... . According to the list it only has 8 shaders but the 8400gs is listed by Xilisoft as being CUDA capable - http://www.xilisoft.com/cuda.html

[mrhuggles]

g86 8400gs has 16, g94 8400gs has 8... gee maybe i was imagining things, if thats the case sorry, but i could swear that was the case... huh odd.

[newtekie1]

	Shaders	Memory Bus	Process
9500GT	32	128-bit	65nm*
G210	16	64-bit	40nm
GT220	48	128-bit	40nm
GT240	96	128-bit	40nm

*nVidia might have moved to 55nm with these cards, but I can't find anything confirming that.

CUDA apps use the shaders more than anything, so the more the better. Right off the bat, I'd eliminate the G210 from consideration. The 16 shaders and 64-bit bus would make it almost worthless in CUDA.

I think I would go with either the GT220 or GT240, the 9500GT won't be as good and consumes more power.

Originally Posted by mrhuggles

g86 8400gs has 16, g94 8400gs has 8... gee maybe i was imagining things, if thats the case sorry, but i could swear that was the case... huh odd.

PhysX requires 32 Shaders, but CUDA does not.

Originally Posted by newtekie1

Thanks man. That's the sort of info I was hoping for. I could have tried to research it myself but when you google something like this you tend to get a lot of highly specialized links and it's tough to find things that are geared strictly to newbies and answer very narrow questions like the ones I was asking.

I think the hardware is interesting and maybe someday I'll take more of an interest, but right now I'm more like the average user who just cares about a few specific issues and that's all.

I have the most powerful of my 3 crunching rigs (1090t) down because it has no video so I was anxious to order something and get it shipped out today so I ordered one 210 and one 220. I'll put the 220 into the 1090 and order a second 220 for the new build (another 1090 to replace the q9450). I'll keep the 210 as a backup.

I'm particularly anxious about the current 1090's performance because I made my own concoction of thermal paste from silver dust and Ceramique paste. The Zalman 9700 cooler that was on there wasn't doing the job so I substituted a Xigmatek 1283 and added the silver dust.

I got it from an old silver dime which turns out to be 80% silver and 20% copper. The mix was about 50-50 and I can't wait to see how it performs. If I get good results, I put up a thread just about this part of the build.

Thanks again NT.

[Lionheart]

I would just grab either these three video cards bro..... the GT 210, GT 220 and the GT 240, they would suit your needs

[thebluebumblebee]

Since you're already doing DC, why not get at least a 240GT (GDDR5) and Fold on it as well? Most can be had under $60 with instant or mail in rebates.

Originally Posted by thebluebumblebee

Since you're already doing DC, why not get at least a 240GT (GDDR5) and Fold on it as well? Most can be had under $60 with instant or mail in rebates.

I already have 3 rigs running 24/7 for WCG and that's about the limit of my dedication. I did have a 4850 that was folding for a while, but I kept running into problems. I'm sure I could have gotten them resolved, but my electricity bill in the summer is already over $600 - at least it used to be when I was running 6 crunchers. Now that I'm down to 3, this is the first time in a couple of years I have had a bill in the summer months that was under $600 - and I want to keep it that way.

Anyway, I'm too OCD about these things and as soon as I had the 4850 doing f@h, I was looking at higher end cards with better ppd. that kind of thinking only leads to trouble - at least for me.

[thebluebumblebee]

Wouldn't know what you're talking about.

for $600 electric bill.