Need a cool-running second video card.

[johngvo]

Hi,

I am currently using a Geforce 9800GX2 to drive a 30"Dell and a 24" Dell. Of course, I have the card set to Multi-monitor mode and I feel it is such a waste. So, i've been throwing around the idea of getting a second card to drive the 24" so that I can set the 9800gx2 to Mutli-GPU mode and take advantage of it's onboard SLI capabilities so that I can play at higher quality settings on my 30". Will this work?

If so, can someone suggest a cheap second video card that runs cool? I don't want to add too much heat to my current rig. The second card does not need gaming performance since I won't be gaming on it. It will just be used to run the 24" which i use for outlook browsing, IM, etc. I would prefer to stay with nvidia so i don't have to install a different set of drivers. Most important is that I want the card to run cool so another 9800/8800 would be a waste.

 

[flogge]

TDP on a 8500GT is only 40W or 43W.
There is also an 8400 that is only 64 bit memory. Some of those are fanless designs.

If you want to stick with a 9-series then the 9600GSO is the least powerful of those at this time.

 

[johngvo]

Do the fanless ones run hot?

 

[flogge]

No idea. I'm basing it on the TDP rating, power in = heat out. Most likely if you never drive 3d with it they won't ever be loaded to full capacity anyway. If your really serious about it you could underclock and undervolt whatever card you get but anything is going to be a drop in the ocean beside your GX2.