Cheap Silent Card

[Slime]

Hi,

The fan on my gf's 7300LE sounds like it could be on it's last legs. It's making a worryingly loud noise.

Can anyone recommend a replacement card which is passively cooled, or as close to silent as possible. I don't mind going second hand, have a budget of around £30 and would need one that doesn't require additional power from the PSU.

Cheers

 

[gt_junkie]

Something like an ATi 2400 or 3450 would be ideal.

Very cool running and many are passive designs.

Alternatively - have you considered a passive cooler for the 7300? How much space is there in her case?

gt

 

[Slime]

I think there's plenty of space to play with. I posted a while back actually as I wanted to replace the noisy fan with something quieter but was told there was no such replacement. Has something been released since?

 

[PwnDirect]

tbh its not cost effective to change the cooler imo
As it will set you back £15-30 you could go for

choice 1£32

OR

Choice 2£58

Now when you consider that the 4650 has a zalman cooler worth £20 on it.
For £6 your getting much better bang for your buck

 

[gt_junkie]

I think there's plenty of space to play with. I posted a while back actually as I wanted to replace the noisy fan with something quieter but was told there was no such replacement. Has something been released since?

The S2 will suit your card from the compatibility list: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...87&name=Arctic Cooling Accelero S2 VGA Cooler

If you had 250 posts you could also take advantage of free delivery with OCUK meaning it would cost you less than £13.

It's up to you though - as PwnDirect says, for a little more you could get a new replacement card.

gt

 

[cpatain-chaos]

have a nosey around a passive 7300/7600 should be available for £15 ish

 

[Slime]

Thanks for all the advice.

GT, although I don't have 250 posts, I think I qualify for free shipping as I have been a member for longer than 12 months. I got free shipping on some memory I ordered yesterday so the cooler could be a decent option.

I didn't really want to replace the card but like PwnDirect said, the difference between a cooler and new card isn't that great. I just don't think she needs something more powerful than what she's got at the mo so i'm leaning towards the cooler.

Cheers

 

[PwnDirect]

Also reamber even with a new cooler the cards getting old so who knows when it will give up the ghost

new card = new warrenty + more power & only £20 more for the 3450

& tbh £20 wont buy you much these days

 

[Slime]

You're very persuasive Pwn, but if it does give up the ghost, she can have my ageing X1900XT and that gives me an excuse to splash out on a new card for myself

 

[PwnDirect]

an excuse to splash out on a new card for myself

I endorse this plan

I would advise removing the current cooling & overclocking to hassen this process

Based on what you said the Ac rev2 would be a gd choice gd cooling & uts compatiable with lots of cards so you can use it again else where

 

[Slime]

*sigh*, I bought the cooler but it's definitely not compatible with the card, or the motherboard infact. The cable which runs from the graphics card to the vga out prevents the cooler from sitting flush to the card and when I finally forced it on and tried putting it back in the PCI-e slot, there's something on the motherboard that prevents it from going back in properly. I think it's the southbridge.

I'm glad it was only a tenner. Little bit confused as the manufacturers site states that the 7300 is supported, but there's no possible way it can fit onto my 7300 properly.

 

[arc@css]

I bought the Sapphire ATI 3450 256 mb as a backup card when my nvidia cards kept overheating, at least then I knew I'd have a picture. It gives me well over 100fps on css at very low res which is what I have the settings on for online play anyhow re : frames. For 35 squid inc vat and delivery in some ways its thee best card I ever had re : bang for buck. Its also totally silent.