New GFX card...

[HarryPainful]

I am thinking either 8800GT or 3870XT

One thing that bothers me is noise, are the GT's noisey as I know they have a smaller fan so I guess it runs faster...

What about the ATI?

 

[theforce]

Well not sure about the cooling solutions for the 8800GT but generally stock coolers are noiser but from what i remember the 8800GT's got a new cooler recently. As for the 3870it really depends which brand you shall choose since they come with various coolers.
In addition you can set the speed of the fan with 3rd party proggies that should solve the noise problem.

 

[RaiderX]

the 8800 GTs are noisy and the 3870s are near silent

 

[fraps]

my advice would be to get 3870 - quieter and almost as fast

could try over clocking to push even higher