Need something quieter!

[m0rte]

I'm currently running an XFX 4890 card which is performing just fine but makes a ridiculous amount of noise when under load. It's like a bloody jet engine..
I put up with it as its performing on high settings in most games just fine but I've been thinking about adding a 3rd monitor lately and have a couple of questions:
Which high-end cards/brands tend to be quieter?
With noise in mind: what sort of setup is recommended for 3 monitors?

I'm not after ultra silent or anything, just not stupidly noisy.
Small and big budget suggestions would be great - Thanks!

 

[An Exception]

6870 or 5850 or 6850 or 460 (not palit or gainward)

 

[crackerman]

The Gigabyte 460 GTX will be very quiet. Although it wont be much of an upgrade from your 4890. May not be a bad idea to wait for the new ATI cards to come out if your budget is around the 250 mark.

 

[Marine-RX179]

If you want quiet high-end, than you'd probably be best wait for 6950/6970 (although there's no guarantee they are quiet since the actual card is not out yet).

 

[m0rte]

*Begins waiting*

I'd be looking to replace the 4890 completely as opposed to pairing it so is 2 cards the best option for 3+ monitors or 1 card + that box thingy that splits 1 DVI into 2?

 

[d_brennen]

Isn't it two sceens via DVI and one Display Port to VGA adaptor on AMD cards the cheapest/easiest way?

 

[Cleeecooo]

I would wait for the new ATI 69XX GPU's to come out. Many current ATI cards are quiet. My 5850 isn't load at all (unless i do any ridiculous o/c). It's an XFX card aswell. The brand doesn't matter that much (as long as you go for the well known ones). I personally would stick with XFX.

 

[m0rte]

I only mention brand because they sometimes use different hs/fans, some being quieter or more efficient than others.
What's required to play games, such as ArmA2, across 3 screens? in terms of graphics + connectivity hardware?

 

[Freddie1980]

The 460's are good value at the moment but they don't support 3 monitors. The 6850's would make a fairly non expensive upgrade and ticks all of the boxes you have outlined in your OP.

 

[Vimes]

I have just gone from a 4870 512mb to a Gigabyte 460 1gb and the silence is most welcome after the jet engine noise of the 4870. I never thought it would make that mush of a difference but playing Civ V now is an enjoyment rather than an endurance because of the loud fan of the 4870.

 

[JTrickle]

I'm not after ultra silent or anything, just not stupidly noisy.
Small and big budget suggestions would be great - Thanks!

For the big budget suggestion, what about watercooling? There is a argument as to whether its necessary for anything other than big clocks on cpus, but for GPUs there aught to be more gain. My thinking on why watercooling on GPUs is less popular boils down to 5 main reasons. Initial oulay cost. Potential case mode requirement. The warranty aspect of pulling off the stock cooler. That and a never quite 100% assurity of future compatibility. And perhaps a lack of larger overclocking culture on GFX cards in general.

The benefits of overclocking a cpu have never been worse for gaming and yet we still want those magical CPU percentages of yore. But the gains on gfx cards still provide a noticeable output in terms of extra fps.


A quick head tot up of watercooling components required suggests a figure of around £120-140. £30-35 gpu block (when OCUK get the EK one back in stock). £30-35 240 rad. £5-12 120 fan. £30 combined bay res and pump (likely to be the most controversial item). £15 6x fittings and pipe. £5 fluid. £5-10 ram chip sinks.

Excuse the tie wraps not cut off during testing
Move it onto your next gpu when you are done with the 4890 for £0. £55 full card blocks that are only compatible with one card look nice, but are not necessary.