Recommend me a GPU which will meet my humble needs!

[AhokZYashA]

9800GTX+ is more than enough
or GTS250 should do the job for you...

my 9600GT OC runs Crysis on 1280x1024 monitor high setting with no problem...

since i lived in Indonesia i can't give you the price...
sorry, gomen..

 

[Pipps]

...Or passive 4670 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-HD-4670-512MB-ULTIMATE/dp/B001RPAKTS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245160532&sr=8-1

Thank you for the great advice. I just wish that passive 4670 had the heatsink on the opposite side of the card, like the Sparkle 9600 GT (Passive) does. It would be much better for case ventilation.

 

[Pipps]

The 9800GT is better. More ram and more shaders, and higher clockspeeds to boot. It's like comparing a car that does 70MPH to a van that does 100MPH, the van transports more at the same time... and faster. The car is the 9600GSO and the van is the 9800GT.

This definitely clarifies things succinctly for me. Thank you.

 

[Pipps]

...my 9600GT OC runs Crysis on 1280x1024 monitor high setting with no problem...

That is really good to know. Thank you.

 

[Pipps]

Hello, I'm from the UK so I’m familiar with the best prices for video cards and where to obtain the best deals...

Hi Darren. Thank you for the multiple recommendations. I will have to think long and hard about my options.

 

[Pipps]

...on second thought you are res limited but add some AA/AF to the equation and you will be maxing those games plus quite a bit of others...

Sorry for the n00bie question, but what does 'AA/AF' mean?

 

[Pipps]

I have found one other passive graphics card (albeit a less aesthetically pleasing one) with the heatsink mounted on the top side - ie the correct side.

BFG 9800 GT.

How is this card rated, guys?

 

[Pipps]

And for those who are scratching their heads as to why the alternative mounting of the GPU heatsink is so important to me, please see the following photograph of a setup which is identical to my own, save the GPU:

I want to take full advantage of silent graphics and the straight-through ventiliation which my case will provide. I would be crazy not to!

 

[Pipps]

I think I have found an aftermarket GPU upgrade solution to achieve what I need:

Zalman VNF100 Fanless Heatpipe Cooler

Phew!

 

[JrRacinFan]

Sorry for the n00bie question, but what does 'AA/AF' mean?

I have found one other passive graphics card (albeit a less aesthetically pleasing one) with the heatsink mounted on the top side - ie the correct side.

BFG 9800 GT.

How is this card rated, guys?

A quick read on AA/AF

Since 1280x1024 is very similar to 1440x900 ......

 

[Pipps]

That is really useful - thank you!

 

[Pipps]

Zalman VNF100 compatibility:

http://www.zalman.co.kr/Eng/product/Product_Read.asp?idx=147

ATI Radeon X1600 Series
ATI Radeon X1300 Series
ATI Radeon X1050 Series
ATI Radeon 9*** Series
ATI Radeon X*** Series (except X700 Pro, X850 Series)
NVIDIA Geforce 7300 Series (except 7300 AGP Series)
NVIDIA Geforce 6600 Series (except 6600 AGP Series)
NVIDIA Geforce FX 5600 (FX 5700)
NVIDIA Geforce FX 5500
NVIDIA Geforce FX 5200
NVIDIA Geforce4 MX Series
NVIDIA Geforce 6600 Series (except 6600 AGP Series)
NVIDIA GeforceFX 5800 Series
NVIDIA GeforceFX 5700(Ultra) Series
NVIDIA Geforce4 TI 4 Series
ATI Radeon HD4650
ATI Radeon HD3650
ATI Radeon HD2600 Series
ATI Radeon HD2400Pro
ATI Radeon X1600 Series
ATI Radeon X1550 Series
ATI Radeon X1300 Series
NVIDIA Geforce 8600 Series
NVIDIA Geforce 8500 Series
NVIDIA Geforce 7600 GS Series
NVIDIA Geforce 6600 Series (except 6600 AGP Series)
NVIDIA Geforce FX 5950 Series
NVIDIA Geforce FX 5900 Series
ATI Radeon HD3850
ATI Radeon X1800 XL Series
NVIDIA Geforce 9500GT
NVIDIA Geforce 9400GT
NVIDIA Geforce 8600GTS
NVIDIA Geforce 8600GT
NVIDIA Geforce 8500GT
NVIDIA Geforce 7950 Series (except GX2 Series)
NVIDIA Geforce 7900 Series (except GTO, GTX Series)
NVIDIA Geforce 7800 Series (except GS, GTX Series)
NVIDIA Geforce 7600 Series (except 7600 AGP Series)
NVIDIA Geforce 7300 Series (except 7300 AGP Series)
NVIDIA Geforce 6800 Series

So my choice must be within these options?

I wonder why the GeForce 9600 isn't on there?

Can anyone think why this might?

 

[Pipps]

...you will not benefit from their maximum performance due to the processor bottleneck but they should be suffice for playing those games you mentioned....

Darren, can you tell me more about your thoughts on the potential bottleneck situation with my Intel Dual Core 2.0GHz CPU? I would not wish to spend more on a motherboard than is necessary or worthwhile.

Which of the GPUs on the Zalman list would you suggest would not create such an issue with my existing components?

 

[JrRacinFan]

Overclock your processor a little bit, that would eliminate the bottleneck. It should be able to do 9x333(1333QDR) for 3Ghz @stock or near stock vcore, which would give a decent performance boost.


Here's a nice REALLY nice cooler just in case you do end up choosing one with active cooling....
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Ther...heat-sink-for-ATI-Nvidia-GPU-VGA-(Without-Fan)

 

[Pipps]

Great advice - thank you!

So a Dual Core 2.0Ghz will achieve effectively 3Ghz performance when properly overclocked?

 

[JrRacinFan]

Great advice - thank you!

So a Dual Core 2.0Ghz will achieve effectively 3Ghz performance when properly overclocked?

Yes, it would help tremendously!

 

[Pipps]

Brilliant! And I can run a beauty of a graphics card, with silent cooling, taking advantage of proper case ventilation, too!

I will take it that a GeForce 9600 GSO would be a good choice of card. But can anyone suggest why it might not be stated as compatible with that Zalman heatsink?

 

[Pipps]

I think this answers my question:

The Zalman heatsink would not appear to be able to cope well with the extreme heat of the higher-end GPUs.

 

[EnglishLion]

How about this, it has a passive heatsink with fins reaching round to the topside and heatpipes to transfer the heat around to those fins.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-RADEON-4670-Ultimate-Interface/dp/B001PA6WEM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245178530&sr=8-4

A slightly more expensive 4670 due to being passive. I personally think the 4670 would be plenty for your setup and requirements and if you need to upgrade later to play something new then so be it. Afterall anything you buy now no matter how high up the range will be dated in a year or so!

 

[Pipps]

That looks like a decent card. Thank you!

Although I am still a little concerned about the heatsink aspect on the front-side.

I will have to think seriously about this one!

 

[Pipps]

I have now just found the Thermalright HR-03 Plus. It's £25 and can stretch as far as dealing with the GeForce 8800GT GPUs. It also requires RAMsinks to assist in its cooling. Interesting.

 

[Darren]

I have now just found the Thermalright HR-03 Plus. It's £25 and can stretch as far as dealing with the GeForce 8800GT GPUs. It also requires RAMsinks to assist in its cooling. Interesting.

Buy the Accelero s1 rev 2, its under £20. I've seen them run high end cards such as the 4870 series completely passive. You have the option to buy and attach a silent fan but it is not necessary.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Arct...erformance-passive-cooler-x4-heatpipes-(4850)

Take a look at the support list, practically all the popular Nvidia and ATI cards within the last 6 years are supported.

http://www.arctic-cooling.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=2_&mID=105&language=en


Edit:

Darren, can you tell me more about your thoughts on the potential bottleneck situation with my Intel Dual Core 2.0GHz CPU? I would not wish to spend more on a motherboard than is necessary or worthwhile.

You would be bottlenecked because your system will not be balanced, you are attempting to run 3 year old processor which was probably low-end on release with today's midrange video cards. I'm not saying that you can not enjoy those games you listed but I'm saying that you'll be enjoying them at a considerably lower frame rate, resolution, and detail than someone with a more modern processor.


Edit 2:

Thank you for clarifying this.

Would it still be the same even if I overclocked the E1400 from 2.0Ghz to 3.0Ghz?

It depends on the motherboard and whether it has enough features for you to apply an overclock. But if you were able to achieve an overclock of around 3.0 GHz it would eliminate most of the bottleneck and would probably perform between the Intel E5200 and E6600 which is around the speed of an AMD 6400+. But even these CPUs are not fantastically fast by today's standard but is enough for one to almost exploit the potential of the video cards we've suggest which are below £100.

 

[Pipps]

You would be bottlenecked because your system will not be balanced, you are attempting to run 3 year old processor which was probably low-end on release with today's midrange video cards. I'm not saying that you can not enjoy those games you listed but I'm saying that you'll be enjoying them at a considerably lower frame rate, resolution, and detail than someone with a more modern processor.

Thank you for clarifying this.

Would it still be the same even if I overclocked the E1400 from 2.0Ghz to 3.0Ghz?

 

[Pipps]

Finally...

The Thermalright HR-03 GT can handle the GeForce 9800 GT cards.

And tests show that it is superior even to the Sparkle!

More to the point - it's actually for sale in the UK!

Now I have found exactly what I want, I can happily purchase a stock 9800 GT (according to this source) and fit the HR-03 GT and enjoy perfect case ventilation.

That is because attaching a 120mm fan to the HR-03 should negate any requirement for a CPU fan. I should be able to go with just a CPU heatsink.

This is all thanks to proper case ventilation.

Although it will still work out at £100 for the full GPU setup.

Is this extortionate, or realistic?

 

[Pipps]

...But even these CPUs are not fantastically fast by today's standard but is enough for one to almost exploit the potential of the video cards we've suggest which are below £100.

But then my office rig would be noisy!

Of course, you're right, though. This just proves that I am not a proper gamer!