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This video card is for my HTPC which currently has integrated Radeon HD 3200. CPU is AMD64 X2 @ 3ghz. I can play Blu-Ray with no problems right now, games not so much. This is connected to my 50" 720p Plasma tv. The case is a Antec Fusion 430 (430 watt). Sound is using the onboard optical out to a receiver. Motherboard is ASUS M3A78.
I've narrowed it down to 3 cards:
SAPPHIRE 100225L Radeon HD 3870
Price: $79.99 (on sale)
Pros: 256 bit, DDR4
Cons: Higher power consumption, potentially noisy fan
SAPPHIRE 100255U Radeon HD 4670
Price: $80.99
Pros: Silent, no fan, HDMI (7.1 audio) out, lower power consumption
Cons: Might be 1cm too tall to fit in the case with the cover on, 128 bit
SAPPHIRE 100255DDR4 Radeon HD 4670
Price: $79.99
Pros: DDR4, HDMI (7.1 audio), lower power consumption
Con: Fan that could be loud, though I've read it's not too bad.
These 3 cards are almost the same price apiece which leads to my dilemma. I'm not a heavy gamer anymore, infact the only thing I'm playing now is Lord of the Rings Online which has some surprisingly intense graphics. I don't want something thats going to be loud or audibly noticable when watching movies, which makes me thing I need to go for option 2. The third choice from what I've read has a slight speed increase over the 2nd due to the DDR4 memory. The only reason I'm putting the 3870 in the list is because of the price point and it seems to be faster than the 4870, despite the higher power consumption.
Please dispense the advice!
I've narrowed it down to 3 cards:
SAPPHIRE 100225L Radeon HD 3870
Price: $79.99 (on sale)
Pros: 256 bit, DDR4
Cons: Higher power consumption, potentially noisy fan
SAPPHIRE 100255U Radeon HD 4670
Price: $80.99
Pros: Silent, no fan, HDMI (7.1 audio) out, lower power consumption
Cons: Might be 1cm too tall to fit in the case with the cover on, 128 bit
SAPPHIRE 100255DDR4 Radeon HD 4670
Price: $79.99
Pros: DDR4, HDMI (7.1 audio), lower power consumption
Con: Fan that could be loud, though I've read it's not too bad.
These 3 cards are almost the same price apiece which leads to my dilemma. I'm not a heavy gamer anymore, infact the only thing I'm playing now is Lord of the Rings Online which has some surprisingly intense graphics. I don't want something thats going to be loud or audibly noticable when watching movies, which makes me thing I need to go for option 2. The third choice from what I've read has a slight speed increase over the 2nd due to the DDR4 memory. The only reason I'm putting the 3870 in the list is because of the price point and it seems to be faster than the 4870, despite the higher power consumption.
Please dispense the advice!
