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Advice on old (2006/07-ish) video card for gaming

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ahh, yes Tomshardware; I remember the days when I read their stuff as well.

That said, of that list of applications you posted, he might use about 3-4 of them, so... buzzkill?... On top of the fact that its not gaurantee to make a 25% clock. These newer steppings are pretty binned down and a pretty solid amount of people are having issues simply gettting past 2.75-2.8

Mine made 3.3 on the other hand... so you can always pull out a good chip.

Look, I'm not saying NOT to overclock the thing - but christ sake, if your going to invest the extra cash in ANYTHING, it might as well be the GPU.



P.S.

You take things a bit... litterally, dont you?
 
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I am not sure where my question became so confusing, but I am looking for a recommendation on a good, albeit underpowered (or crippled) passive video board. I am looking for something a gen or two old on the chipset, that way I can shop around for a shrunk down, low profile version of the board that won't generate a lot of heat. The most demanding app this system will probably ever run is WoW, which is 2004 tech.

This is an mATX system in a family room. I am not concerned about the top end performance, nor has it ever even been an issue. My requirements on this machine are that it must be (1) cool and (2) silent. Thus far, rather than answer the question, I've gotten recommendations to upgrade the RAM, overclock my CPU and add a bigger heatsink with a bigger fan, and install a 9600GT which requires 95W of additional power via a 6-pin AUX connector and has another big fan on it. :(

Thanks, but these suggestions are not what I'm looking for with this machine.

So, I'm guessing an 8600 GT is probably the way to go? What would be the equivilent from ATI?
 
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Dryden;1461798; said:
I am not sure where my question became so confusing, but I am looking for a recommendation on a good, albeit underpowered (or crippled) passive video board. I am looking for something a gen or two old on the chipset, that way I can shop around for a shrunk down, low profile version of the board that won't generate a lot of heat. The most demanding app this system will probably ever run is WoW, which is 2004 tech.

This is an mATX system in a family room. I am not concerned about the top end performance, nor has it ever even been an issue. My requirements on this machine are that it must be (1) cool and (2) silent. Thus far, rather than answer the question, I've gotten recommendations to upgrade the RAM, overclock my CPU and add a bigger heatsink with a bigger fan, and install a 9600GT which requires 95W of additional power via a 6-pin AUX connector and has another big fan on it. :(

Thanks, but these suggestions are not what I'm looking for with this machine.

So, I'm guessing an 8600 GT is probably the way to go? What would be the equivilent from ATI?
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Did you look at the ATI card linked under the 9600GT? If not that one, here is one step lower

Newegg.com - MSI R4650-D512 Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Those are your two ATI options (4650 and 4670)

For NVidia

8600GT for upfront cost, but uses more power and performs in the middle
Newegg.com - EVGA 256-P2-N753-TR GeForce 8600 GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
9500GT costs a little more, but uses less power and performs the best (although with rebate makes this one cheaper than the 8600GT)
Newegg.com - MSI N9500GT MD512 D3 GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
9400GT same cost as 8600GT, lower power, but lower performance
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N947-LR GeForce 9400 GT 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Low Profile Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

With the rebate right now on the 9500GT that appears to be the best NVidia option, although the ATI cards are great options.

The overclocking comment was supposed to just be a little comment, but took on a life of it's own. As for the 9600GT, I was focused more on the performance for the dollar. It blows away all of the above.

For the record, bigger fan usually means less noise. Fan design also plays a role in noise. Tough to tell noise from looks.
 
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scott91575;1461894; said:
With the rebate right now on the 9500GT that appears to be the best NVidia option, although the ATI cards are great options.
Click to expand...

+1....


scott91575;1461894; said:
For the record, bigger fan usually means less noise. Fan design also plays a role in noise. Tough to tell noise from looks.
Click to expand...


Bingo. Give me a low RPM 120mm any day over some 80-90-100 design.

Just becuase its a larger fan, doesn't mean it will produce more noise.
 
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BTW...one last thing. Deciding which company to buy from. I linked MSI and EVGA. I have heard mixed reviews from MSI, but I have had no problems with EVGA and buy almost exclusively from them. Customer service is top notch, and everything has a lifetime warranty (the step up program is also nice). If you wanted EVGA for a 9500GT it will cost a little more, but may be worth it.

Newegg.com - EVGA 01G-P3-N959-TR GeForce 9500 GT 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

As for ATI products I cannot speak too much on them. EVGA does not make ATI GPU's. I have heard good stuff about Sapphire, but I can't speak from experience. Again, a little more expensive but may be worth it (although I think VisionTek and Diamond are the best...again I am not an expert on the ATI stuff and may be wrong).

regular
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100253DDR3L Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

low profile
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100253HDMI Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Low Profile Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

People can debate how important the brands are since the cards themselves are often built right alongside one another. Yet some are better than others for warranties, customer service, and some unique designs tweaks.

Finally, if you really want zero noise there are fanless versions of both. Not sure I would go that way, but up to you.
 
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That's where I can come in.

I've owned two VisionTek, and never had issues.

Diamond on the other hand....:(

MSI doesn't make a bad board either, but its been a while.

If I'm buying ATI, my personal preference is either Sapphire or Gigabyte.
 
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Buckeneye;1462224; said:
That's where I can come in.

I've owned two VisionTek, and never had issues.

Diamond on the other hand....:(

MSI doesn't make a bad board either, but its been a while.

If I'm buying ATI, my personal preference is either Sapphire or Gigabyte.
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Agree with your assements. If I've followed Diamond correctly the "new" Diamond is not the same company as the "old" Diamond of about ten years ago, but in any case, I will never buy another Diamond product as long as I live. I built a number of machines with their 3Dfx/Voodoo Banshee/Viper series boards back in the day and every single one had some problem or another. Even their ISDN and dial-up modems gave me issues, and I replaced or repaired a fair number of modems on my workbench back when dial up ISPs still existed.

I usually buy Sapphire and Gigabyte now. Whenever possible, I'll buy Gigabyte-anything due just to the all solid-cap design. I've put several dozen Sapphire ATI boards in our companies' workstations (went with them because they were cheap and available in large OEM quantities) and have been pleasantly surprised that not a single one of them has gone belly-up.

Between my reading here and elsewhere, I guess I'm settled on either trolling eBay and buying a used Gigabyte 8800GT 512, or a new Gigabyte 4650 off NewEgg.
 
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Dryden;1462327; said:
Agree with your assements. If I've followed Diamond correctly the "new" Diamond is not the same company as the "old" Diamond of about ten years ago, but in any case, I will never buy another Diamond product as long as I live. I built a number of machines with their 3Dfx/Voodoo Banshee/Viper series boards back in the day and every single one had some problem or another. Even their ISDN and dial-up modems gave me issues, and I replaced or repaired a fair number of modems on my workbench back when dial up ISPs still existed.

I usually buy Sapphire and Gigabyte now. Whenever possible, I'll buy Gigabyte-anything due just to the all solid-cap design. I've put several dozen Sapphire ATI boards in our companies' workstations (went with them because they were cheap and available in large OEM quantities) and have been pleasantly surprised that not a single one of them has gone belly-up.

Between my reading here and elsewhere, I guess I'm settled on either trolling eBay and buying a used Gigabyte 8800GT 512, or a new Gigabyte 4650 off NewEgg.
Click to expand...

Please tell that is a typo. After shooting down the 9600GT for power, heat and noise reasons you may go after a card that uses more power (10-20 more Watts), generates more heat, and is louder (well, they are almost the same for noise).
 
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scott91575;1462353; said:
Please tell that is a typo. After shooting down the 9600GT for power, heat and noise reasons you may go after a card that uses more power (10-20 more Watts), generates more heat, and is louder (well, they are almost the same for noise).
Click to expand...

Oops. :p Yeah, meant the 8600GT.

Any experience with the XFX brand?
 
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Dryden;1462384; said:
Oops. :p Yeah, meant the 8600GT.

Any experience with the XFX brand?
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XFX and EVGA are essentially identical hardware, yet customer support is a little worse in the US. XFX is bigger in Europe, while EVGA is bigger in the States. If you are buying used there is no difference since you won't be under warranty anyway, and if you ever need decent website/forum support the EVGA one is pretty active. Since it's the same hardware all EVGA issues are essentially XFX issues and people there are more than happy to help. Heck, I am running a XFX BIOS on my EVGA motherboard.
 
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