New GPU For PC? (for BF 3 mostly)

[Nexus18]

Ok, with BF 3 coming out soon, I need to upgrade my HIS 4850 512MB turbo iceQ4 to something around the £200 mark.

However I am pretty limited in choice due to my case and PSU (granted it is a very good quality one).

My current specs:

i5 750 at stock
4GB G.skill RAM at stock
antec sonata 3 case (only got the 1 120mm fan at back not got one attached to the hard drive cage)
antec earthwatts 500W PSU
4 hard drives (2 are WD green, 1 Samsung F3 and one general 500GB samsung)
2x monitors (primary one for gaming is 1920x1080)


So I would kind of like the 6950 2GB for the extra VRAM as I reckon it will be very handy for BF 3, however I don't think most models will fit in my case, I have googled to check and some people have said that some 6950s just about fit in (with the power connectors on the side not the end and without the front fan installed).

So which of the 6950 2GB models would fit in my case?


And if it isn't possible to get one that would fit in my case, would the 560TI MSI OC fit in my case ok (I think it would as it is smaller than my current card iirc) and I presume that it will work on my PSU ok?


Just want some advise to be sure before I do anything.

TIA

 

[tommybhoy]

Iirc the His 6950 is shorter than stock 6950's.
This one:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=gx-036-hs

according to this review, they used your case:

'we place the cards in an antec sonata 3 casing and measure noise levels at idle and in load.'

http://www.behardware.com/articles/...n-hd-6970-6950-single-and-in-crossfire-x.html

 

[Nexus18]

Ah right nice, shame that it is butt ugly though , but better than nothing and it is a good brand as well for ATI cards

So the stock 6950s seem to fit in my case then, it is just a question of finding cards which don't have massive after market coolers installed now (would like the MSI twin frz one but apparently the cooler on it is very long )

Also forgot to mention I would like the card to be quiet (I know the 560TI are very quiet, but have heard that the 6950s are quite noisy, which is one thing that leads me to the 560TI), especially a lot quieter than my current 4850 at load as my pc is right next to me on the desk.


Are there any sapphire models, which would fit my case ok?

 

[Nexus18]

I have just measured my case there and I have room of about 26-27cm (not exactly accurate but about that), so are the majority of the 6950s 2GB longer than that or about that size, however the PCI connectors diff have to go on the side as this was from the brackets at the back all the way to hard drive cage so there wouldn't be room for the connectors at the end.

Also this is my current card:

http://www.hisdigital.com/gb/product2-28.shtml

And the size of the card according to them:

12.5 x 24.6 x 4 cm (HxWxD)