Fastest and Quietest Graphics Cards

Imy · 10 Dec 2009 at 20:50

Hello all,

I'm looking for a graphics card for 1080p gaming around the ATI 5850 performance level. Only catch is it's to go into a HTPC that's mainly used for watching movies, tv, etc so must be quiet. I was wondering which are the fastest cards which could still be considered quiet.

Oh dear I can see this is going to go badly.

bigjimmyauk · 10 Dec 2009 at 20:58

Imy said:
Hello all,

I'm looking for a graphics card for 1080p gaming around the ATI 5850 performance level. Only catch is it's to go into a HTPC that's mainly used for watching movies, tv, etc so must be quiet. I was wondering which are the fastest cards which could still be considered quiet.

Oh dear I can see this is going to go badly.

think your going to be on a shortfall for this one have you heard some of the fans when running a full load.

Imy · 10 Dec 2009 at 21:01

Yes I heard my 8800GT for 5 minutes before I decided to rip off the cooler and passively cool it.

For reference then, I think the stock cooler on the 8800GT is too loud.

Azza · 10 Dec 2009 at 21:07

So basically you just want a quiet HD5850?

Put some kind of 3rd party cooler onto it? Surely if you are going to be using it to watch movies, play games then the sound from them will drown out the noise of the fan.

Martini1991 · 10 Dec 2009 at 21:08

Watercool a 5870.

tmaxxthomson · 10 Dec 2009 at 21:09

well if ur only gonna be watching movies and stuff. the 5850 shud be silent! u shud expect a bit of a noisy fan when playing games, whats wrong with that? wear headphones or crank up the volume

Azza · 10 Dec 2009 at 21:11

Martini1991 said:
Watercool a 5970.

Fixed.

Imy · 10 Dec 2009 at 21:11

Azza said:
So basically you just want a quiet HD5850?

Yes. I have no idea if the reference design is quiet or not though.

Azza said:
Put some kind of 3rd party cooler onto it?

Is that possible? If so which one is best?

Azza said:
Surely if you are going to be using it to watch movies, play games then the sound from them will drown out the noise of the fan.

Games yes, but not always for movies/tv. There are quite often quiet scenes when you can even hear the hard disk, let alone the GPU.

Imy · 10 Dec 2009 at 21:13

Martini1991 said:
Watercool a 5870.

I really don't have a clue about watercooling - haven't even tried it with a CPU yet. I'm even less enthusiastic about putting water near other expensive A/V equipment!

Besides which I doubt the extra equipment would fit in the HTPC case (Thermaltake DH103).

Azza · 10 Dec 2009 at 21:32

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18088709

I'm not sure when OcUK will be getting it in though. You can adjust the fan speed using the controller. Only problem is you can't change the fan if that one is too loud because its 12mm not 25mm like normal fans.

Fudzilla review - http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/16556/40/1/4/

Tolmekian · 10 Dec 2009 at 21:38

This is an alternative to Azza's.
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18088015&highlight=prolimatech

Also not sure if/when OcUK will be getting it in though.

PakJai · 10 Dec 2009 at 22:48

Azza said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martini1991
Watercool a 5970.
Fixed.

+1

Imy · 10 Dec 2009 at 23:06

I will take a closer look at those coolers tomorrow.

Does anyone know if Sapphire are going to release a Vapor-X model for the HD5850?

magicroundabout · 10 Dec 2009 at 23:08

Imy said:
Yes. I have no idea if the reference design is quiet or not though.

it is silent. very silent. my 5870 runs idle: sub 30ºc @ 21% fan.

Whilst gaming it hits late 50's @ 26% fan. i can't hear it above my other fans in my case. it is silent

Imy said:
Is that possible? If so which one is best?

See first reply. no need for afermarket fan

Imy said:
Games yes, but not always for movies/tv. There are quite often quiet scenes when you can even hear the hard disk, let alone the GPU.

again see first post

Addicted · 10 Dec 2009 at 23:15

uh, that aftermarket fan doesn't cool the memory chips at all? o.0
is that a good idea?

Imy · 10 Dec 2009 at 23:16

What case fans do you have magicroundabout?

I'm going to be running a couple Noctua ultra quiet ones and the CPU may be passively cooled so the graphics card almost certainly will be the loudest component.

magicroundabout · 10 Dec 2009 at 23:18

take a look at my build log in my sig but basically i have 3 Xigmateks. 2 on the TRUE and one exhausting. also a Noctua on the Kama Bay

Imy · 10 Dec 2009 at 23:19

Addicted said:
uh, that aftermarket fan doesn't cool the memory chips at all? o.0
is that a good idea?

The Prolimatech MK-13 seems to come with memory heatsinks. Appears to be the better of the 2 coolers but takes up an extra slot (with fan attached)

Imy · 10 Dec 2009 at 23:26

magicroundabout said:
take a look at my build log in my sig but basically i have 3 Xigmateks. 2 on the TRUE and one exhausting. also a Noctua on the Kama Bay

Noise can be a very subjective thing I guess but if other people also say the HD5850 reference design is silent then I see no reason not to get it.

Worst case scenario then I disagree and still have the option to fix a 3rd party cooler - but I do miss out on e.g. a Sapphire Vapor-X model or future HIS ICEQ model.

Imy · 11 Dec 2009 at 14:52

Accelero Twin Turbo Pro

I've just come across the Accelero Twin Turbo Pro which according to the manufacturer, is compatible with the HD5870 (which I can stretch to).

Main features

Unmatched cooling performance - 120 Watts
Dual ultra quiet 92mm PWM fans with low noise impeller
Excellent heat dissipation via 4 heatpipes
RAM and voltage regulator cooling
Pre-applied MX-2

Product homepage

What are your opinions on it?