New card for HTPC power limits...

[macker515]

I am in the middle of upgrading my HTPC...a Silverstone LC11 case so I've only got 240w to play with...looking for the best GFX I can go for within my PSU limit. Rest of the system will be 1 IDE HD, 1 DVD, E6400, 1GB DDR2-800
Last system had same HD/DVD/1GB DDR400 and a OC'd Norhtwood C @3.0
with a 9800Pro AIW and never really had any probs...looking at either the 7600GT and X1600XT cards I know the NV pulls around 40w at load and the ATI pulls about the same...OCUK has the GT for 93 and the XT about 80...
Any other cards spring to mind.

 

[fornowagain]

The 7600GT is on special at £88 if your quick. That's what I'd get, I have a 6600GT and its perfect for the HTPC

 

[macker515]

Never going to run beyond 1360x768(LCD TV over VGA) how do the 7600GT compare with to the 6800GT's?

 

[mcwildcard]

What are your PSU stats?
Most importantly, your 12v rail?

 

[Bomag]

The 6800GT does not support all the purevideo acceleration features, the 7600 does. The 7600 should also draw less watts. If you are switching from a northwood cpu to a conroe you should have plenty of extra capacity.

I would avoid ATI cards if you are connecting one up to a LCD TV, the nvidia driver has much more advanced tweaking options, particularly in forcing 1360*768 over dvi

 

[macker515]

Never had any probs with the 9800Pro over VGA to the TV(Samsung R74 32") but I am leaning towards the 7600GT lower power and really liked the 6800GT I had...the move to Conroe should get me about 20-30watts....12v rail gives between 15-18amps...only add in card will be GFX(7600GT?)1GBPC6400 1HD, 1DVDRW and 2 ultra quiet fans(low power Akasha) everything else onboard sound/lan, etc....

 

[pcoltrane]

Why do you need such a powerful gfx card for an HTPC? It's just unecesasry heat and noise. On board 6150gfx handles everything i throw at it in media center. If you aren't gaming I'd be thinking more along those lines

 

[macker515]

Like to do a bit of gaming on it....GTA Vice City/San Andreas nothing major have a Zalman 700 GFX cooler ready and waiting for a new home....I know the NV cards have Pure Video and now the HD version so want a bit of security for the future...have a X1900XT in my main rig so I'm not looking for that sort of performance but would be nice to play the odd 3D shooter nice and smooth if I could......

 

[Cyber-Mav]

Never going to run beyond 1360x768(LCD TV over VGA) how do the 7600GT compare with to the 6800GT's?

if thats the only resolution your going to run then you would be far better off getting the 7600gs. will probably come with silent cooler too.

 

[macker515]

Not too worried about the cooler as I have the Zalman VF700 to sort that out had it on the 9800pro and was very quiet...the 7600GT OCUK have for 130euro is very tempting as I've heard the onboard GFX on the 965G is pants.