Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: TheBoy on 11 May 2009, 17:44:06

Title: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: TheBoy on 11 May 2009, 17:44:06
Just got round to installing the RC of Windows 7, so as the machine was 'clean' decided to an Experience Index test, which didn't come out so well  :-[

(http://theboy.omegaowners.com/oofpics/odds/11may09.JPG)

That said, I don't really play games, and its nice to have a passively cooled, quiet video card (its a BTX system), so a little undecided  :-/
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 11 May 2009, 17:47:30
Using MSI Geforce 8600 GT..fairly cheap and adequate for games ;D :y
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: TheBoy on 11 May 2009, 17:50:03
Quote
Using MSI Geforce 8600 GT..fairly cheap and adequate for games ;D :y
Think the Media Center downstairs has an 8500 in it - a LP card, passively cooled, but gets pretty warm...
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 11 May 2009, 17:54:35
Quote
Quote
Using MSI Geforce 8600 GT..fairly cheap and adequate for games ;D :y
Think the Media Center downstairs has an 8500 in it - a LP card, passively cooled, but gets pretty warm...

8600 is also silent.Never had problems except the first installation as my mobo have an on board gpu which it doesnt like to disable ;D >:(
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: TheBoy on 11 May 2009, 17:57:53
Quote
Quote
Quote
Using MSI Geforce 8600 GT..fairly cheap and adequate for games ;D :y
Think the Media Center downstairs has an 8500 in it - a LP card, passively cooled, but gets pretty warm...

8600 is also silent.Never had problems except the first installation as my mobo have an on board gpu which it doesnt like to disable ;D >:(

When its finished installing a load of crap, I'll see what video card is currently in there.  Had a feeling it was the onboard one you get with 965 chipsets - X3100 - but then it looks to be a plug in card  :-/



You can tell who doesn't get particularly enthused about his own PC, can't you ;D
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 11 May 2009, 18:00:16
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Using MSI Geforce 8600 GT..fairly cheap and adequate for games ;D :y
Think the Media Center downstairs has an 8500 in it - a LP card, passively cooled, but gets pretty warm...

8600 is also silent.Never had problems except the first installation as my mobo have an on board gpu which it doesnt like to disable ;D >:(

When its finished installing a load of crap, I'll see what video card is currently in there.  Had a feeling it was the onboard one you get with 965 chipsets - X3100 - but then it looks to be a plug in card  :-/



You can tell who doesn't get particularly enthused about his own PC, can't you ;D

yep ;D
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: tmx on 11 May 2009, 18:04:43
ive gone for a 9600 Series cheapish as i play games on the PS3 but vista gives it an experiance rating of 6.9
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: TheBoy on 11 May 2009, 18:16:55
Quote
ive gone for a 9600 Series cheapish as i play games on the PS3 but vista gives it an experiance rating of 6.9
Noisy?  My PC is utterly silent, and I want to keep it that way...
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: TheBoy on 11 May 2009, 20:27:46
sod it, it does what I need it to do, why mess with it....
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: Del Boy on 11 May 2009, 21:30:49
Quote
ive gone for a 9600 Series cheapish as i play games on the PS3 but vista gives it an experiance rating of 6.9
I got a 9600 GT too, 5.9 on vista which is top I think works good for games, runs CoD4 & CoD5 at a steady 60-80 FPS
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: MindlessJD on 11 May 2009, 21:45:41
Quote
Quote
ive gone for a 9600 Series cheapish as i play games on the PS3 but vista gives it an experiance rating of 6.9
Noisy?  My PC is utterly silent, and I want to keep it that way...

Don't get an 8800GTX then...  :D
Not incredibly loud itself but overall my PC is quite loud and I would love a silent one haha  ;)

Getting a MacBook soon though which will be rather good!  8-)

 :y
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: TheBoy on 11 May 2009, 21:51:23
Quote
Quote
Quote
ive gone for a 9600 Series cheapish as i play games on the PS3 but vista gives it an experiance rating of 6.9
Noisy?  My PC is utterly silent, and I want to keep it that way...

Don't get an 8800GTX then...  :D
Not incredibly loud itself but overall my PC is quite loud and I would love a silent one haha  ;)

Getting a MacBook soon though which will be rather good!  8-)

 :y
No reason for loud desktops in this age - BTX format has been out for 7 or 8 years now...
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: tunnie on 11 May 2009, 22:10:13
no idea about video cards these days, used to be clued up on them when i had a decent spec PC of the age.

Now i have the xbox, i don't have the need to keep changing graphics cards (one reason i bought the xbox)

Geforce cards used to be the ones to have few years ago, last time i looked it was ATX, bet its moved on again  ;D
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: tmx on 11 May 2009, 22:12:04
its not reaally noisy you cant hear it over the system fans its got a thermo fan so under load hits fan speed increases but as i say its a hell of alot quieter than my old ATi Radeon 9800SE bloody turbine!

im running a zalaman cpu cooler with the standard 2 fans 1 in 1 out setup in an old Cheiftec Dragon case
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: HerefordElite on 11 May 2009, 22:26:19
what about a motherboard with built in Hybrid Sli Nvidia GPU and then run a seperate Hybrid Sli compatible card for Hybrid power.

Full on gaming gets the Powerfull noisy seperate GPU (you won't hear it over the gunfire etc) and for the less intensive applications the MB switches to the silent passive cooled on board GPU ;)
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: willyboy on 11 May 2009, 23:36:07
Quote
Quote
Quote
ive gone for a 9600 Series cheapish as i play games on the PS3 but vista gives it an experience rating of 6.9
Noisy?  My PC is utterly silent, and I want to keep it that way...

Don't get an 8800GTX then...  :D
Not incredibly loud itself but overall my PC is quite loud and I would love a silent one haha  ;)

Getting a MacBook soon though which will be rather good!  8-)

 :y

They also run far too hot & even need twin power connections just sold mine gone back to my trusty quieter/cooler 7800GTX
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: willyboy on 11 May 2009, 23:40:30
Quote
no idea about video cards these days, used to be clued up on them when i had a decent spec PC of the age.

Now i have the xbox, i don't have the need to keep changing graphics cards (one reason i bought the xbox)

Geforce cards used to be the ones to have few years ago, last time i looked it was ATX, bet its moved on again  ;D

You mean ATI ??  Both outfits have good performers these days but ATI drivers were always a pain in the arse  ..Nvidia  piece o' cake   to  set up  so stuck with them since selling my old ati 9800pro.. :y
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: LaserLance on 12 May 2009, 06:32:56
Hate to say but the best value for money in video cards are ATI ,read any of the techie computer mags and they rate the range of http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140617 these cards very highly a lot of bang for little bucks
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: TheBoy on 12 May 2009, 07:59:14
Quote
its not reaally noisy you cant hear it over the system fans its got a thermo fan so under load hits fan speed increases but as i say its a hell of alot quieter than my old ATi Radeon 9800SE bloody turbine!

im running a zalaman cpu cooler with the standard 2 fans 1 in 1 out setup in an old Cheiftec Dragon case
Remember, my system is SILENT, so any fans would be too intrusive.

Zalman coolers too noisy for me, mainly because they use shite fans, but also poor manufacturing of the heatsink in the 3 samples I've had...
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: richardirv on 12 May 2009, 08:14:00
If you need passive then what about something like this?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-194-SP

I rekon you'd be able to find it cheaper elsewhere though.

Prefer Nvidia personally but bang for buck ATI is better I think.
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: TheBoy on 12 May 2009, 08:24:17
Quote
If you need passive then what about something like this?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-194-SP

I rekon you'd be able to find it cheaper elsewhere though.

Prefer Nvidia personally but bang for buck ATI is better I think.
I'd never buy another passively cooled Sapphire card again.  Had 4 of them, all be a right pain in the arse, every single one has overheated at some point, one melted its PLASTIC retention clips holding heatsink in place.


I've decided, the ATI1300 heap that is currently in there does everything I currently need it to do - as a non-gamer, a faster video card isn't really going to do much for me.  I was nearly suckered into the 'fastest is best, must get best performance figures possible' mindset, despite my needs.

My needs on my desktop, revolve around Visual Studio, so raw CPU, disk performance, and network performance are more key for me :)
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: richardirv on 12 May 2009, 08:32:22
Fair play, I agree about Passive cooling. Maybe ok on a extreme low end card but anything more need fan cooling. If you don't need the hardware for gaming or blu-ray etc. Then there is no need to upgrade.

Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: willyboy on 12 May 2009, 19:46:03
Mrs willyboys pc is  one i put together with bits I had (spares) + the odd item I bought eg the Nvidia 6600gt passive cooled agp Gr crd she too liked no fan noises (if poss) well with a slow running PSu fan & cpu fan turned down low the outfit is hard to tell when it is on if screens off..
Eg 35 deg Cpu
     53-55 deg  Gpu,
Admittedly I did have Antec 550w fan & rails controllable PSU spare so  very bloomin quiet !! :y
My gaming pc however is a totally different kettle of fish with Straight thro' exhausts & external down pipes with ram air LOL !!! :D
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: MindlessJD on 12 May 2009, 21:50:27
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
ive gone for a 9600 Series cheapish as i play games on the PS3 but vista gives it an experience rating of 6.9
Noisy?  My PC is utterly silent, and I want to keep it that way...

Don't get an 8800GTX then...  :D
Not incredibly loud itself but overall my PC is quite loud and I would love a silent one haha  ;)

Getting a MacBook soon though which will be rather good!  8-)

 :y

They also run far too hot & even need twin power connections just sold mine gone back to my trusty quieter/cooler 7800GTX

True, it does get pretty hot but compared to the dual 8600GT SLI setup I had, it is really fast.
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: tmx on 12 May 2009, 22:32:39
are NForce Chipsets on the Gay List???

if not thought about an intergrated BTX board? with an intergrated 8600/8800 or something ? complete silence then!
Title: Re: Think I need to splash out on a new video card
Post by: semisheen on 13 May 2009, 00:10:07
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Using MSI Geforce 8600 GT..fairly cheap and adequate for games ;D :y
Think the Media Center downstairs has an 8500 in it - a LP card, passively cooled, but gets pretty warm...

8600 is also silent.Never had problems except the first installation as my mobo have an on board gpu which it doesnt like to disable ;D >:(

When its finished installing a load of crap, I'll see what video card is currently in there.  Had a feeling it was the onboard one you get with 965 chipsets - X3100 - but then it looks to be a plug in card  :-/



You can tell who doesn't get particularly enthused about his own PC, can't you ;D
Thats how i feel PC's dont impress me anymore i see too much / many at work & cant be arsed with me own