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Graphic card confusion.

TheSwede

TheSwede

TheSwede

Soldato
Joined
27 May 2007
Posts
3,341
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Front of the monitor
Slightly confused n00b here..

I have been recommended by hp7909 to buy the 8500GT for my PC build.. [I am not a hardcore gamer, only strategy games such as Civilization, SimCity4 and the like].. the card will be connected to my Acer 1913 and to my PHILIPS 26PF3320/10 26" HD Ready widescreen LCD TV [link for spec opens a PDF file]. Which is all fine since it will probably be a huge improvement compared with my Ti4200 :eek:

What is confusing me though is that I had a read through in this section regarding the 8500GT and other users been suggested to pick the "passive cooled 8500GT".. I had a look at OcUK's 8500GT cards and none of them says it passive.. how will I know which one is and is not? :confused:

Btw, when I got the suggestion about the card hp7909 did not know what TV I was going to connect it to, only that I was going to use it for a HDTV/LCD TV also.. will the 8500GT be ok for this? :confused:

Really appreciates your help here guys! :)

Cheers
Tom
 
If your PC currently has a Ti4200, then it has an AGP motherboard and the 8500GT is not compatible with it. All 8*** series cards are PCI-Express, so you'd need a 7 series AGP card.

If you really want a passive card, then the 7600GS is around the same price as the 8500GT:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-116-AS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=411

A 7600GT would be better, but OcUK don't have a passive version.

As for powering the HDTV, performance should be almost the same as the Acer, as they have a similar native res, 1280x1024 and 1366x768
 
Ops my bad! :o

I should have mentioned that the recommendation for the 8500GT is for a new rig I am going to build, with a Gigabyte Ga_P35C_DS3R mobo.. going from AMD and AGP to Intel and PCI Express..

Thanks for your reply Sir Random! :)

Cheers
Tom
 
All of the 8500s are DDR2 by the looks of it, and the OcUK only has a 1 year warranty. If you insist on having a passive card, the Asus 8500 looks like the best value.
 
flexo786 said:
you might be better off buying the ocuk one as its ddr3 and then buy a heat sink yourself
Click to expand...
& void warranty? Besides its a 8500 not 8800 which means it can't be that noisy, i.e. say over HSF.

TheSwede, the Asus GeForce 8500GT from OcUK pic is passive (which basically means no fan).

Also, like I said in previous thread, the 8500GT should do up to...
hp7909 said:
  • Maximum VGA Resolution: 2048 × 1536 @ 85Hz, 32-bit color
  • Maximum Dual-Link DVI Resolution: 2560 × 1600 @ 60Hz, 32-bit color
  • Maximum HDTV Out (Component) Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (1080i)
  • Maximum TV Out (S-Video) Resolution: 720 x 480 (480i) NTSC, 720 x 576 (576i) PAL
  • HDCP
Click to expand...
:cool:

EDIT: Don't think the Asus is passive, see here. Best to drop OcUK a web note to confirm :(
 
Last edited:
hp7909 said:
& void warranty? Besides its a 8500 not 8800 which means it can't be that noisy, i.e. say over HSF.

TheSwede, the Asus GeForce 8500GT from OcUK pic is passive (which basically means no fan).

Also, like I said in previous thread, the 8500GT should do up to...
:cool:

EDIT: Don't think the Asus is passive, see here. Best to drop OcUK a web note to confirm :(
Click to expand...

Yes indeed it may not be passive. It doesnt say its passive on the OcUK site, but the pic is for a passive card.

Asus do have a passive 8500GT which looks like the pic on OcUK... see below ...
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=2&l2=6&l3=515&l4=0&model=1628&modelmenu=1

but they also have a standard 8500GT as posted above.
Best to confirm which it is OcUK have.
 
TheSwede said:
Btw, when I got the suggestion about the card hp7909 did not know what TV I was going to connect it to, only that I was going to use it for a HDTV/LCD TV also.. will the 8500GT be ok for this? :confused:
Click to expand...
Yes, the LCD TV prolly has a resolution of 1366*768 (720p) which compared to computer TFT's is a low(ish) resolution.

A 8500 will be fast enough for strategy games as they are generally CPU limited, but should you want to play other games it might struggle to deliver acceptable framerates.
 
Thank you for your replays guys! :) Very much appreciated!

Reason I am asking is that I want my PC be as quite as possible and I read post that mentioned the card was very loud, and other users suggested for him to go for the passive card instead..

Now I know what the 8500GT's here at OcUK are and can proceed from there.. :)

hp7909 said:
Best to drop OcUK a web note to confirm :(
Click to expand...
I have sent them a web note and awaiting confirmation.. will let you know what the outcome is..

Once again, thank you all very much for your help! :)

Cheers
Tom
 
You definitely don't want something a little more powerful that will be able to play 3D games well too?

If you will actually only ever be using it for Civ and sim city then the 8500 would be fine but if you are tempted by Bioshock or crysis then you should consider atleast the 8600GT or X1950Pro.
 
Darg said:
You definitely don't want something a little more powerful that will be able to play 3D games well too?

If you will actually only ever be using it for Civ and sim city then the 8500 would be fine but if you are tempted by Bioshock or crysis then you should consider atleast the 8600GT or X1950Pro.
Click to expand...
To be honest, not heard of either Bioshock or crysis.. but then again I am a bit out on the loop when it comes to games nowdays.. but yeah you do have a point there..

Never used ATI cards so don't have a clue about them.. nVidia is the only graphic cards thats been in my PC's.. is it much difference between them in performance? [I aint opening a can or worms with that question am I? :eek: ]

In any case, I want the PC as quite as possible so if either the 8600GT or the X1950Pro comes with silent cooling then I am all ears.. fact is I will have a search and see what I can come up with! :)

Thanks for your replay!

Cheers
Tom
 
If it's for HTPC duties alone a 128MB PCI-E is more than suitable, just get passive model (ATI X300-X700, Nvidia 7300GS/GT) 8500/8600 has HD acceleration.
 
squiffy said:
If it's for HTPC duties alone a 128MB PCI-E is more than suitable, just get passive model (ATI X300-X700, Nvidia 7300GS/GT) 8500/8600 has HD acceleration.
Click to expand...
Nope, its going to be my main PC and used for other things also.. i.e. games, internet, Dreamweaver/PhotoShop and connected to a 26" LCD TV for watching films/DVD's..

Found this one, its a this week only offer.. any good? Also, there is 256 and 512MB versions.. [and the description on both the cards are exactly the same so that don't help me much! :( ] whats the difference? [doh! Just different speed.. should have learn not asking question when I am dead tired..] Which one would you recommend of the ones available here though?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-066-PC&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=404

There was quite a few silent ATI cards, more then there is silent 8500/8600 cards though.. but as I mentioned.. don't have a clue about ATI so def need some help if I would go for them instead! :rolleyes:

Cheers
Tom
 
Last edited:
Sorry for double posting, just thought I would post my reply on the webnote just in case anyone might be interested in regards to the ASUS 8500GT [passive or not]..

hp7909 said:
EDIT: Best to drop OcUK a web note to confirm :(
Click to expand...
This is the reply I got from them..
Thank you for your webnote.

Unfortunately unless listed on the website I can not guarantee that the item you will receive will be passive.

However it appears that the cards we currently have available for shipping are passive I can not guarantee this.
Click to expand...
Not very reassuring I must say.. the ones in now seems to be passive but it can not be guarantee that they are.. :(

In regards to the AtI V nVidia, even if there is more passive ATI cards [the X1950Pro], are they DX10 capable as the 8xxx series?

Cheers
Tom
 
If OcUK's current stock is passive, I'd say there's a very good chance of getting one if you order now. You could wait until monday and ask Gibbo to check it out for you, he's good at taking care of things like this.


The HD2900XT is the only ATi DX10 capable card atm, and they are definitely not passive ;)
 
Sir Random said:
If OcUK's current stock is passive, I'd say there's a very good chance of getting one if you order now. You could wait until monday and ask Gibbo to check it out for you, he's good at taking care of things like this.
Click to expand...
Thank you Sir Random! Only one little problem.. how will I be able to get hold of Gibbo and ask him to check it out for me?!? Not sure if he will be reading this post of all the 100/1000's posts that been created this weekend.. or would a web note reach him?!?

But in your opinion a 8500GT would do the job ok.. or should I go for a 8600GT/S?!? Me confused.. lol

Cheers
Tom
 
Well if you want to play games, I would recommend getting an 8600GT, or even go for an 8800GTS if your budget allows. I don't know about the 8600's, but The 8800 cards are very quiet.
 
As mentioned earlier.. right now mostly Strategy games,, but as Darg said.. if I ever want to play 3D games I need a bit more kick.. argh! My head is a mess! lol

Can probably stretch to a 8800GTS.. I have seen a few 8800GTS 320MB [which i am sure will be enough if I get one].. one is a Sparkle for £179 and a BFG for £182 [overclocked].. heard that BFG is not a bad card, plus lifetime warranty.. Don't know much about Sparkle cards though.. [even if the cards are from the same factory, everything else differs..].. anyone have/had a Sparkle card?!?

Cheers
Tom
 
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