Efficiency at 1920x1200

E

elleana

2[H]4U
Joined
Apr 15, 2006
Messages
2,590
What's the lowest end card that will run games at a decent frame rate? With decent levels of AA/AF if possible. Or, not necessarily lowest end, but the card that is most power/heat efficient. Am putting together a HTPC and am contemplating throwing in a decent graphics card to game on occasionally.

I'm thinking 8800 GT - used to have one before I got my current GTX 260 and it ran at 1920 x 1200 decently but I'm wondering if either (i) going up one grade is worth it for much more performance at little excess heat or (ii) I can make do with going down a grade. Something along the lines of 9600 GT -> 8800 GT -> 9800 GTX. 4630 -> 4670 -> 4850 even. Budget isn't really a constraint, I'm more worried about heat.

PS when I say 'games' I mean anything from WoW (which I play regularly) to Fallout 3 (which I am contemplating picking up). Sorry for the vast range!

PPS a card which vents air out of the back (dual slot cooler) would be awesome.
 
4870 1gig, 260, or a 260 max core. They can all be had for a good price, and do what you want.
 
Proxy said:
4870 1gig, 260, or a 260 max core. They can all be had for a good price, and do what you want.
Click to expand...

I could, except that I have a 260 currently and I find it runs a little too hot for my tastes. I'm trying to find something a little lower end.
 
What exactly is your definition of too hot and what specific problems are you having with the GTX260.
Can you consider upgrading your GTX260 cooling?
To address your question the 4670 is probably the coolest performer from your list.
 
Get a water block for it then and call it a day. Your 260 is fine.
 
The cooling solutions for the 260/280 and 4870's are fine in an HTPC. Whenever temps get to high they'll just ramp up RPM's and exhaust more heat until the temps are acceptable again. What is you main concern with heat?
 
if you are looking for a decent card for an HTPC rig that would be good for HiDef viewing and occasional gaming this is the card for you http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102759
It will more than exceed your needs
I have a HIS 1GB 4850 and run it on a BenQ 24" 1920x1200 LCD Monitor.
I use it for gaming and blu-ray.
The only suggestion would be to increase the fan speed to at least 60% to keep the temps down.
If you prefer a dual slot cooler to exhaust heat out the rear try this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161245&Tpk=HIS 1GB 4850
Thats the one I have. You can't go wrong with either. Especially for the price.
 
8800GT can play most games well at 1080p but not with high levels of AA and will be a bit slower at 1920x1200.
I would recommend at least a GTX260 / 4870 and if they run too hot, improve your case cooling or fit an aftermarket cooler.
 
elleana said:
I could, except that I have a 260 currently and I find it runs a little too hot for my tastes. I'm trying to find something a little lower end.
Click to expand...

sell the GTX260 (no after market cooling sucks) and get a 4870 or a 4870 1GB with an AMC. several options around and you will be cooler and quieter.
 
Sorry I wasn't clear enough - The cooling etc is fine, but I just don't want my HTPC to be producing so much heat. It'll be in a pretty enclosed space (media rack) so ideally it would be as cool-running as possible otherwise things will get pretty hot real quick. An aftermarket cooler isn't really the solution as though it cools the card better, the heat still gets produced and has to go somewhere.

Perhaps a better question would be - which 1920 x 1200 capable card has the most efficient TDP at idle/load?
 
elleana said:
Sorry I wasn't clear enough - The cooling etc is fine, but I just don't want my HTPC to be producing so much heat. It'll be in a pretty enclosed space (media rack) so ideally it would be as cool-running as possible otherwise things will get pretty hot real quick. An aftermarket cooler isn't really the solution as though it cools the card better, the heat still gets produced and has to go somewhere.

Perhaps a better question would be - which 1920 x 1200 capable card has the most efficient TDP at idle/load?
Click to expand...

To reduce heat output you need to use less power (Watts), so the high performance cards are not an option.
8800GT is the next best.
 
elleana said:
Sorry I wasn't clear enough - The cooling etc is fine, but I just don't want my HTPC to be producing so much heat. It'll be in a pretty enclosed space (media rack) so ideally it would be as cool-running as possible otherwise things will get pretty hot real quick. An aftermarket cooler isn't really the solution as though it cools the card better, the heat still gets produced and has to go somewhere.

Perhaps a better question would be - which 1920 x 1200 capable card has the most efficient TDP at idle/load?
Click to expand...

a 4850 would be be ok but really your not going to be saving that much without killing your performance at those specs.

I hate to say it but either give up the gaming eye candy or invest in some ventilation. you would be surprised at how much heat a drier hose will remove from a room
 
4850 definitely if your just gaming occasionally. I know you can run that card passively on an accelero s1 so it's good for an HTPC. I was going to go that route but I didn't think that card could play Crysis.
 
you can get away with passive and the HD4650 if your looking for silence, but aside from that the GTX260 stock cooling solution is pretty good, mind you a 5V yate and something like the thermalright HR03, or new T-rad, or the arctic cooling S series, will be wisper quiet.

But in terms of performance/watt, the 4670 is your best bet. It wont have any trouble with wow at all and will have little trouble with fallout 3.

kuyaglen said:
GTX280 + Hybrid Power Mobo
Click to expand...

and yeah, i could agree with that. the GTX 280 pretty well turns itself off in that scenario. Its pretty cool.

put if its purely an HTPC, theres alot more going on on the ATI side over the intel side right now.
 
HD4870
ecstatic.gif
eeek.gif
 
MrWizard6600 said:
the GTX 280 pretty well turns itself off in that scenario. Its pretty cool.

put if its purely an HTPC, theres alot more going on on the ATI side over the intel side right now.
Click to expand...

What about the newly put out Asus 9300 built off the 730i? I believe it's a hybrid with some really good early reviews. If you can wait a couple weeks for some additional testing to be done, this may be your winning ticket.
 
I stoppped keeping track of NV chipset silicon after 780i. That board is a mess. If 730i is the same chips used by 750i then yeah the board will have a nice feature set to be sure but have no doubt that northbridge will not co-operate with a fanless/few fan chasis. You are going to need to get a couple 12CM exausts up to decent speed to keep that little thing happy.

780G, and an HD4650 is what I'm looking at for an HTPC build a few months down the road (boxing day?), that is, if they dont release another all-in-wonder (fingers crossed).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top