Final AGP graphics card upgrade.. which one?

[AndyH]

Hi,

I've fallen out with my 9800Pro - it often causes the PC to beep on power up, complaining about not having the power lead connected.

I wonder if it might be a power supply issue, but I'm not convinced. It could also be a mobo issue as I've got probs running dual channel at full whack (even with decent memory).


Anyway, if I were to upgrade what options have I got that meet the following requirements:

* Modern gaming at 1280x1024

* Completely silent

* AGP


I'm thinking the middle requirement puts me in the mid range, not high end - but I'm stuck for recommendations...

[Kryten]

nVidia 6600GT with silent heatpipe cooling?

[AndyH]

Could be a plan - the VGA charts at TomsHardware suggests I might nearly double framerates at 1280x1024 - which'll be nice.

Is that the best chip with silent cooling?

[simion_levi]

6600GT with heatpipe is my recommendation - no fans = no noise, mine runs BF2 + CS:Source absolutely fine with decent settings at 1280x1024 plus it's in the mid-range pricewise too

[Kryten]

Is that the best chip with silent cooling?

I think so with AGP interface. I am not sure and of the higher-end ones offer silent cooling, or if they do the price will be stupid compared to the performance boost.

[AndyH]

Excellent - a quick poke around is bringing up a 128Mb card for just over 100 quid.

You've nailed it exactly with finding the one just before prices go silly (if, as you say, a more powerful alternative even exists).


next question.. I was lucky to get a 256Mb 9800Pro at the time for the price of the 128Mb. Well, it might've been lucky but I've never been convinced it was really a bonus.

But we're a couple of years on, so is 128Mb going to be restricting in this world of high quality textures?

[target]

I replaced a failed 9800Pro with 6600GT Silentpipe and while it is a nice replacement card - I can assure you - you won't double your frame rates :(
You can get an AGP x800 with silentpipe too but I'd imagine its near impossible to get hold of.

[AndyH]

Mm, ok - would it allow higher settings for same frame rate then? Or is a 9800Pro approx equal to a 6600GT?

[evilsly]

I'd say you would be looking at maybe 10-20% performance boost.

however, the 256 meg 9800 pro was actually a slower card than the 128 version, due to ddr 2 latency problems iirc. so your 'perceived' performance increase might be greater than targets.

[Paul C]

Depends on what cash you have. Nvidia now do an AGP version of the top of the range 7800 card.

[evilsly]

somehow I doubt a 7800 falls into the 'silent' category though

[AndyH]

Didn't really want to go that far..

So looks like 6600GT, 6800GS or 7800.

The only one I can find with passive cooling is the 128Mb 6600GT. Anyone know different?

[akira9000]

nVidia 6600GT with silent heatpipe cooling?


I've got the gigabyte version of this and it is not the last word in speed but a great card especially for being silent!

[AndyH]

Thanks everyone for the advice!

I've had a good shop around now and found lots more evidence to back up the suggestion that I'll only see a 10-20% improvement in some games (especially Doom3).

Not sure £100ish is worth fixing the occasional wobbly that my 9800Pro throws :)


Of course if the wobblies increase and it accidentally dies after being ripped out and hurled at a wall, I'll know what to get!

[KiLeAk]

I’m in a similar boat, playing Oblivion is stressing my 9800 Pro out! (although most cards are struggling with it!). I also think I have a overheating problem.

The GS range is what I was looking at, expected frame increase and newer features (shader 3.0, etc) and I can enable HDR :) but I don't expect double figures if fp/s (in Oblivion, that might just make it playable!)

[S1515]

somehow I doubt a 7800 falls into the 'silent' category though


I have two in an XPS600 and it just makes a low background air con type noise.

[Uncle Nick]

Hi,

I've fallen out with my 9800Pro - it often causes the PC to beep on power up, complaining about not having the power lead connected.

I wonder if it might be a power supply issue, but I'm not convinced. It could also be a mobo issue as I've got probs running dual channel at full whack (even with decent memory).
I'm pretty convinced... your PSU is probably on the way out, and can't supply the correct voltages for your system. Getting a new graphics card won't fix a PSU problem (and may even make it worse!), and a new PSU is much cheaper than the graphics cards you've been looking at!

[bigjonnyauk]

well i have a 6800gs from leadtek and while it isnt the quietest its damn good for the money

and a quick install of riva tuner allows you to set fan speed for 2d 3d 3d performance and it autos itself so when im browsing i set to 35 you can hardly hear it and when you play a game then it whips the fan to max or whatever i set it at is quite loud but i know its keeping it cool

[unrealnils]

yeah i have a leadtek 6800gt with a big hsf (takes up two slots) and its quiter then i expected

[Lunchpod]

ATI Radeon x800 Pro 256mb AGP

about 80 quid on eBay

miles better than any nVidia rubbish

[Gedalia]

You could always get a 6800 or 7800 based card and get an arctic vga cooler which is near silent. Ive got one on my 6800gt agp and it quite a bit quieter than the stock fan and it cools your card better.

[AndyH]

Yeah, I was wondering about that. I fitted a Zalman passive cooler to my Ti4400 - vowed never to do it again :)

Never had a single problem with it, but definately got a few gray hairs doing the DIY on the card!