Best "Low-Profile" Graphics Card Available ?

Ogs · 17 May 2008 at 02:07

Looking to buy the best possible graphics card for a HTPC i just bought in the MM, which takes graphics cards called "Low-Profile" as there smaller and more compact to fit in the slim HTPC. The best ive found so far is an 8600GT with 256MB of GDDR2 memory, it also has a native HDMI port on it. This seems perfect to me, and is the best i could find, but i wondered if anyone else had anything worth checking out ? Also, when using HDMI, am i only limited by the HD resolutions (720p, 1080i etc) ? Thanks in advance

.

BAMBI · 17 May 2008 at 13:37

I think thats the best you are gonna find.

Ogs · 17 May 2008 at 23:37

Seems so, dont think theres any higher cards available. Will the GDDR2 make a big difference between GDDR3 ?

Trunks9486 · 17 May 2008 at 23:41

What about HD3650 series? The ATi cards are supposingly better for HTPCs

GDDR3 offers a lot more bandwidth, important for gaming. Dunno about anything else though.

sarge78 · 18 May 2008 at 00:00

I recently got a sapphire 3400 series card for an HTPC build and its absolutly brilliant.

Check out this ultra low profile version here (Although you could prob get away with any of the others)

Less than ?30 and passive cooling too... if your not playing games then its a much much better option!
________
TOYOTA AYGO SPECIFICATIONS

theforce · 18 May 2008 at 01:27

The 3450 is the way to go mate.

matthew2456 · 18 May 2008 at 10:59

whats the best low profile for gaming?

Ogs · 18 May 2008 at 18:45

The 3450 does look nice (and cheap !) but it doesnt have as much gaming power as the 8600GT surely ? I read that the 8600GT can run Crysis on medium respectfully, so any other game would be fine

. I am looking for some oomph in the gaming department

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aproctor · 18 May 2008 at 20:18

9800gx2 + dremel

Margaret · 18 May 2008 at 20:19

8800GT is a damn slim card if you ask me.

Edit: Oops I didn't read the entire first post, not sure if the 8800 will go in a low-profile, but seeing as you have one yourself you've probably realised this.

Ogs · 18 May 2008 at 21:56

Hehe yeah, there far too big sadly

Anyway ive ordered the 8600GT, best one i could find and i looked hard. This is the one here -

http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=1232&maincat_no=130&cat2_no=136

Should be able to run anything with reasonable graphics

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aslco · 18 May 2008 at 22:45

GRRRRRRR how many times do people mistake 'low profile' as just a low heatsink. No No No and NO!

Low profile means the actual card is half / 2 thrids the width. In the pictures its obvious as the card is smaller than the bracket that it comes with. People who actually specifically need a very slimline graphics card for their case i.e. me, need to change the bracket to fit the card.

The 7300, 8400 ect are all low profile.

If your lucky you will find a low profile x1650, 7600GS or 8600GT.

Just look lots and research, after 2 months i finally found an x1650 low profile.

Anyway, i found msi and galaxy displaying the low profile 8600GT in their product range yet couldnt find any resellers, so well done to you matey, mind you its been some time since i was looking.

aproctor · 19 May 2008 at 11:58

lozzick said:
GRRRRRRR how many times do people mistake 'low profile' as just a low heatsink. No No No and NO!

Low profile means the actual card is half / 2 thrids the width. In the pictures its obvious as the card is smaller than the bracket that it comes with. People who actually specifically need a very slimline graphics card for their case i.e. me, need to change the bracket to fit the card.

who cares, ADD boy

Ogs · 19 May 2008 at 15:40

Thanks lozzick, it was quite a hunt, barely any of these type of cards are available. Lets hope its the best one

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Chimerical · 19 May 2008 at 18:56

http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=277701

Some HTPC users just don't want to use a crappy 8400GS or HD 2400 in their highly polished rigs, so here is a chance: Galaxy showed us a low profile 9600GT.

Though the card becomes smaller but its spec did not change a lot: G94, 8 16x32 Samsung DDR3 memory module on board, providing 256bit 512MB memory, 8 layer PCB for stability, and one HDTV and one HDMI connectors. because of the tight area, the card did not provide MIO connector for SLI but guys at Galaxy told us that the card can do a "software SLI"(but this time we don't got a chance to see it). Don't forget NV have done some color enhancement in driver that excucively for 9 series.

The price and availably is not clear, but I guess it will be one of the highest low profile GFX card.

Ogs · 22 May 2008 at 11:53

Well i recieved the 8600GT today, and sadly the fans too big and it wont fit (unless i make it bend.....)

That 9600GT looks mighty tasty (and thin !) so i might just have to pick that up if and when it gets released. For now im just going to have to use the HD 2400 Pro.

Ogs · 22 May 2008 at 15:25

Sorry to bump this again but..... Gibbo, any chance of bringing in some more low-profile cards ?

Janesy B · 22 May 2008 at 15:31

Chimerical said:
http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=277701

Some HTPC users just don't want to use a crappy 8400GS or HD 2400 in their highly polished rigs, so here is a chance: Galaxy showed us a low profile 9600GT.

Though the card becomes smaller but its spec did not change a lot: G94, 8 16x32 Samsung DDR3 memory module on board, providing 256bit 512MB memory, 8 layer PCB for stability, and one HDTV and one HDMI connectors. because of the tight area, the card did not provide MIO connector for SLI but guys at Galaxy told us that the card can do a "software SLI"(but this time we don't got a chance to see it). Don't forget NV have done some color enhancement in driver that excucively for 9 series.

The price and availably is not clear, but I guess it will be one of the highest low profile GFX card.

this is the one for you sir

IT Troll · 22 May 2008 at 17:09

New nVidia 9300/9400 and 9500 cards are due out soon which are well suited to HTPC use.

The G98 based 9300/9400 is of particular interest for HTPC as it features PureVideo HD Gen 3 which has full hardware decode of both H264 and VC-1 material. These should be available with passive cooling. It will be pants for 3D though.

The 9500 has better 3D but only has PureVideo HD Gen 2.

I'm waiting on the 9300/9400 for my own HTPC.

kylew · 22 May 2008 at 17:13

IT Troll said:
New nVidia 9300/9400 and 9500 cards are due out soon which are well suited to HTPC use.

The G98 based 9300/9400 is of particular interest for HTPC as it features PureVideo HD Gen 3 which has full hardware decode of both H264 and VC-1 material. These should be available with passive cooling. It will be pants for 3D though.

The 9500 has better 3D but only has PureVideo HD Gen 2.

I'm waiting on the 9300/9400 for my own HTPC.

Apparently, NV is just reusing the 8600s for the lower 9 series cards. So they should be about the same 3D performance wise.