6950 in Htpc case, may need a cooler card.

413x · 31 Oct 2012 at 20:26

Hi, I want to be able to play some games on my big tv, atm I have a 6950 in there but it is literally squeezed in. I haven't tried any games but really think heat will be a problem

Is there anything I can do in regards to changing gpu to improve this?
Other non desirable option is a long hdmi cable from main pc to tv across the living room (don't really want this.

What would you do?

mickyflinn · 31 Oct 2012 at 20:48

You could sell the 6950 and get something else or get a larger case.

413x · 31 Oct 2012 at 21:43

mickyflinn said:
You could sell the 6950 and get something else or get a larger case.

not going to get a larger case, there's not really room for a bigger case, yes im open to selling it, but am not sure what to replace it with.

lowest 78xx or 6850?

mickyflinn · 31 Oct 2012 at 21:54

Probably would go for a 7850 as less heat with the die shrinik.

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI HD 7850 OC 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Cards w/ FARCRY3, Nexuiz & Sleeping Dogs PC Games £119.99
Total : £129.89 (includes shipping : £8.25).

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/510?vs=549

413x · 31 Oct 2012 at 22:30

mickyflinn said:
Probably would go for a 7850 as less heat with the die shrinik.

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI HD 7850 OC 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Cards w/ FARCRY3, Nexuiz & Sleeping Dogs PC Games £119.99
Total : £129.89 (includes shipping : £8.25).

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/510?vs=549

looks like the only viable option really! Playing on a HDTV so resolution isnt the highest. Im wondering if i will need a reference design, just to help shift the heat out of the case?

mickyflinn · 31 Oct 2012 at 23:11

YOUR BASKET
1 x HIS HD 7850 IceQ 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (H785Q2G2M) **OcUK Exclusive** w/ FARCRY3, Nexuiz & Sleeping Dogs PC Games £179.99
Total : £190.79 (includes shipping : £9.00).

413x · 31 Oct 2012 at 23:14

mickyflinn said:
YOUR BASKET
1 x HIS HD 7850 IceQ 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (H785Q2G2M) **OcUK Exclusive** w/ FARCRY3, Nexuiz & Sleeping Dogs PC Games £179.99
Total : £190.79 (includes shipping : £9.00).

holy **** thats a price and a half!
The cooler is £50!

Davedree · 31 Oct 2012 at 23:22

not forgetting the 7870 pcb and the extra gig of ram

rids57 · 31 Oct 2012 at 23:23

there's also twice as much memory

* beaten by seconds

413x · 31 Oct 2012 at 23:24

It looks amazing I have to say. It does however look fairly lengthy!
Indeed there is.. Is 2gb needed at 1080p?

Davedree · 31 Oct 2012 at 23:30

I agree it is pricey when a custom cooler 7870 is near the same price, but 1gb isn't really enough now at 1080p unless you lower a few settings and aa.

Cleeecooo · 31 Oct 2012 at 23:32

1gb is enough... but for a powerful card like the 7850, 2gb is certainly preferable

413x · 31 Oct 2012 at 23:36

OK, i should probably add that the cpu in the Htpc is only an I3 2120 (to reduce heat)
Does that have any bearing/create a bottle neck?

mickyflinn · 31 Oct 2012 at 23:42

al4x said:
OK, i should probably add that the cpu in the Htpc is only an I3 2120 (to reduce heat)
Does that have any bearing/create a bottle neck?

No bottleneck with the I3 2120 , most games are only optimized for 2 cores.

413x · 31 Oct 2012 at 23:46

Thanks, The the I3 I got appears to be very capable cpu!

I guess I'll need to find out the length of it (any longer than a ref 6950 and it won'tfit , even by 5mm)
Still,will be hard to swallow a 50 premium.. I'll have to decide if it's worthit

mickyflinn · 31 Oct 2012 at 23:52

al4x said:
Still,will be hard to swallow a 50 premium.. I'll have to decide if it's worthit

LOL , Still could get a new case

Davedree · 31 Oct 2012 at 23:56

mickyflinn said:
LOL , Still could get a new case

and still keep the 6950 too

413x · 1 Nov 2012 at 00:09

Davedree said:
and still keep the 6950 too

The case was picked to match my other kit.. It also cost near 100, was a hard task finding a Htpc case with multiple Hdd bays

413x · 2 Nov 2012 at 11:57

ok i think i may need 2gb, im going to try and find a reference for about 130 or below, that card is just too expensive, probably because it is exclusive. Should rcoup most of it from 6950 sale

edit, are the only rear exhaust cards the reference ones and the one linked?

Clav · 2 Nov 2012 at 14:49

If you are going to be gaming at 720p you could go for a 6670 or 7750 and get perfectly playable fps. They don't even need an extra power connector from the psu either.