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Okay, my current [email protected] with a 5870 will probably permanently be demoted to a file server in about 48 hours...
A 5870 is obviously overkill for a file server... (never mind an OCed [email protected]...)
But... I stress that I've used the term "probably"... Who knows if I may decide to dual-boot this machine with XP or something to play old games (that obviously won't require much of a video card, certainly not a 5870...)
Thus, I've stalled at just replacing the 5870 with the absolute cheapest POS video card, as maybe it will end up doing light gaming...
But, the 5870 is too big for shoving HDs into the case, so although I can afford to leave it in there, it's really gotta come out.
(I can afford everything, otherwise I'd just sell the system...)
The case is adequate for a file server, so I'm not considering moving it into another case...
So...
What's the best/suggested video card to throw into it? Definitely prefer single-slot cooling, probably prefer (but not a demand) that it not take any additional power, or just a single 6-pin at most... And keep it short, the 5870's only coming out as it's too long...
Card's I've considered:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127416
MSI R4650-MD1G Radeon HD 4650 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express
$71 shipped, $46 AMIR, ~$25 after selling Metro...
Probably not a bad gaming card (dunno, I've only every bought top models...), but is short and requires no additional power...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127412
MSI N94GT-MD512 GeForce 9400 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express
$49 shipped, $19 AMIR
Cheap in the end, all three video connectors, no extra power, short...
But sucks for games(?) and still has a fan...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127368
MSI N8400GS-TD256 GeForce 8400 GS 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express
$35 shipped, $15 AMIR
Cheapest solution (in the end) available currently on Egg, has three video connectors, no extra power...
Still has a fan, can I still watch movies on this, can it even play Pong?
That's what I've come up with after a week of debating with myself...
Ignoring MIRs (but Metro will sell...), the 4650 and 9400GT are even in price... And basically even when factoring in AMIR...
So, I imagine it's really a toss-up between a 4650 and an 8400 GS?
Anyone suggest a better card?
(I'm willing to even get a better card than a 4650 BTW... Just minimum single 6-pin power and single-slot cooling and has to be short...)
BTW - Gaming res will either be 2560x1600 (if the card can do it, why not?), or 1280x800 (that's pretty low already...), and yes, I'm willing to turn settings down, just want the game to run... I will not game if it's a slideshow...
Thanks for any suggestions/thoughts! Low-end cards is something I typically completely and utterly ignore!
A 5870 is obviously overkill for a file server... (never mind an OCed [email protected]...)
But... I stress that I've used the term "probably"... Who knows if I may decide to dual-boot this machine with XP or something to play old games (that obviously won't require much of a video card, certainly not a 5870...)
Thus, I've stalled at just replacing the 5870 with the absolute cheapest POS video card, as maybe it will end up doing light gaming...
But, the 5870 is too big for shoving HDs into the case, so although I can afford to leave it in there, it's really gotta come out.
(I can afford everything, otherwise I'd just sell the system...)
The case is adequate for a file server, so I'm not considering moving it into another case...
So...
What's the best/suggested video card to throw into it? Definitely prefer single-slot cooling, probably prefer (but not a demand) that it not take any additional power, or just a single 6-pin at most... And keep it short, the 5870's only coming out as it's too long...
Card's I've considered:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127416
MSI R4650-MD1G Radeon HD 4650 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express
$71 shipped, $46 AMIR, ~$25 after selling Metro...
Probably not a bad gaming card (dunno, I've only every bought top models...), but is short and requires no additional power...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127412
MSI N94GT-MD512 GeForce 9400 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express
$49 shipped, $19 AMIR
Cheap in the end, all three video connectors, no extra power, short...
But sucks for games(?) and still has a fan...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127368
MSI N8400GS-TD256 GeForce 8400 GS 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express
$35 shipped, $15 AMIR
Cheapest solution (in the end) available currently on Egg, has three video connectors, no extra power...
Still has a fan, can I still watch movies on this, can it even play Pong?
That's what I've come up with after a week of debating with myself...
Ignoring MIRs (but Metro will sell...), the 4650 and 9400GT are even in price... And basically even when factoring in AMIR...
So, I imagine it's really a toss-up between a 4650 and an 8400 GS?
Anyone suggest a better card?
(I'm willing to even get a better card than a 4650 BTW... Just minimum single 6-pin power and single-slot cooling and has to be short...)
BTW - Gaming res will either be 2560x1600 (if the card can do it, why not?), or 1280x800 (that's pretty low already...), and yes, I'm willing to turn settings down, just want the game to run... I will not game if it's a slideshow...
Thanks for any suggestions/thoughts! Low-end cards is something I typically completely and utterly ignore!
