HTPC Graphics Card Selection

[BirdRobin]

Yo guys, anyone can recommend me a good PASSIVE cooled graphics card for my HTPC?

HTPC Specs: (Basically my old system.)
AMD AXP 1700+
384mb DDR266
1 DVD-Rom
1 IBM 5400rpm harddisk
Crappy 250W powersupply.

AMD A64 3200+ (2.2GHz Newcastle @ 2.4GHZ)
ThermalTake Polo735 HSF
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
1GB Corsair DDR400 ValueSelect (CL2.5)
R9600Pro @ 500mhz Core, 340mhz Memory

 

[georgebeee]

try the nvidia 6800ultra, they run pretty cool I hear

amd 2000+
gigabyte ga-7va
512mb samsung pc2700(2x256mb)
maxtor 60gb 7200rpm
LG cd-r/rw 48x24x48
soundblaster live 5.1
BBA radeon 9600xt 128mb
antec 550w true control

 

[Crashman]

Radeon 9600 is usually passivly cooled. 9600 Pro will run with passive cooling if you get a slightly larger heatsink.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[BirdRobin]

What about the ATi 9250?

AMD A64 3200+ (2.2GHz Newcastle @ 2.4GHZ)
ThermalTake Polo735 HSF
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
1GB Corsair DDR400 ValueSelect (CL2.5)
R9600Pro @ 500mhz Core, 340mhz Memory

 

[Crashman]

Never heard of it, but since the entire 9100/9200 series is based on old 8500 tech, I'd normally go with the 9600 first (passively cooled). But since I'm a modder, I'd PERSONALLY go with a 9600 Pro and a larger passive heatsink.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[BirdRobin]

Hmm, ok then. May be considering a GeXcube 9600 Pro, comes with fast memory. 2.5ns i think.

AMD A64 3200+ (2.2GHz Newcastle @ 2.4GHZ)
ThermalTake Polo735 HSF
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
1GB Corsair DDR400 ValueSelect (CL2.5)
R9600Pro @ 500mhz Core, 340mhz Memory

 

[pauldh]

How much gaming are you going to do on this HTPC? That is the only advantage of going with the pro over the standard 9600. I'd do the Sappire 9600 with passive cooler if I was you. My HTPC has my old Radeon 8500LE in it, but I hope to put a passive 9600 or AIW 9600 instead.

ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 1GB Corsair XMS 4000 Pro Series, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[Crashman]

2.5ns IS fast. Like I said, I'm personally not afraid to replace a small fan cooler with a large passive coooler, in fact I cut my own sinks from old PII sinks! But whatever you're comfortable with!

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

Yes, I keep treating an HTPC as a game console/DVD player/TiVO/WebTV combination part, but a lot of people would pass on the game console replacement concept.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[pauldh]

Got any pictures Crash? I have loads of old CPU heatsinks around and would be interested in trying to passively cool that Radeon 8500LE with one of them. Not something I have ever attempted though.

ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 1GB Corsair XMS 4000 Pro Series, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[Crashman]

No pictures, but I sold one to a community member if I could just remember who...

A lot of cards have room for a larger sink uncut, such as a PIII sink. And then if you want a larger thinner sink, a PII sink can be cut around the hardware that's already on the board. Just cut a sink so it looks right then notch out any clearence areas that would contact other parts.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[pauldh]

Thanks, I will have to try that. I have the heatsinks, a dremel, and even a spare 8500le in case I screw it up. So why not.

Saves me the money of buying a 9600. That 8500LE does fine for most of the games I'd play on that thing anyway.

ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 1GB Corsair XMS 4000 Pro Series, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[Crashman]

I don't see how you'd screw up the card, you cut the sink while it's dismounted!

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[pauldh]

LOL, thanks for that advice. I was more concerned with popping off the old heatsink/fan.


ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 1GB Corsair XMS 4000 Pro Series, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt