Quite Geforce card for CUDA development

[Admetos]

I’m purchasing a Geforce card for CUDA development in Windows. The card won’t be driving any graphics output, and will simply be used for my own software in CUDA.

My development rig is near silent, and would like a GeForce card that’s as quiet as possible when not in use. I don’t mind the card being heard when in use, but ideally very quite when sitting idle. As reference I use to own a Point Of View GTX 260 and at idle fan was louder than my entire system below.

My rig, sits 3 feet away from where I work.
Silverstone evolution Raven case (board spun at 90 degrees, 3 x 180mm fans temp controlled)
I5 750 with Artic Freezer 7 (normally dead silent with PWM fan setting)
Seasonic X650 (dead silent)
Nvidia NVS 450 (passive cooled)
SSD drives.

The NVS 450 will still be used for display output, benefit being a CUDA program crash won’t crash the entire system. I will be using Nvidia Nsight for Visual Studio.

Was looking at this 670 that's on offer until tomorrow morning, however I don't have to purchase today and can wait a couple of weeks. Would consider a 680 but reluctant to go above £400.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-031-KF

Also given I have the Silverstone Evolution case, I've read graphics cards that expel air are more suitable for that cases airflow.

Any other recommendations for cards?

 

[OptimaLnrg]

Also given I have the Silverstone Evolution case, I've read graphics cards that expel air are more suitable for that cases airflow.

The problem isn't the airflow, it's the heatpipes not functioning correctly at the 90degree mounting. I can tell you from my own experience that a 680 lightning (msi twin frozr iv cooler design) will be quiet at idle and load and shouldn't get too hot in the case at stock speeds. So a 680/670 msi twin frozr 3/4 should be alright. Can't comment on other non-ref coolers without testing them though. Although I'd say if the heatsink fins are perpendicular to the airflow from the intake fans then you should probably forget that card (asus direct cu II for example).

Another option:
The 680 reference cooler is reasonably quiet at idle, the evga 670 ftw card uses it. It's 2gb card though (don't know if you need 4gb for whatever it is you do?)

 

[Admetos]

OptimalLnrq,

Thanks for your info, I never considered any heat pipe issue with the cards rotated at 90 degrees. Are these the cards your referring to

MSI 670
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-170-MS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2294

MSI 680
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-171-MS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2255

On the MSI 680 above I presume the 12 PWM controller makes the card more stable, similar to how more expensive motherboards are? I don't mind stretching above £400 if I'm getting something better.

Looked at the EVGA 670 fan design, fan design looks similar to the Point Of View 260 I use to own, that fan was louder then rest of system at idle.

Re memory, I really don't expect I need 4GB but was choosing if only a bit more money. Application is processing an AI system, there will be a tremendous amount of floating point calculations being made. I already have my code working in x86 but it's far to slow and must port to CUDA.

 

[Dicehunter]

I have the EVGA GTX 680 SC Edition with backplate and can tell you its the quietest card ive ever owned, literally whisper quiet and at load its still quiet and i have nearly the same case as you, Silverstone Raven RV-01 with the motherboard rotated at 90' and i have no problems with heat, if anything it runs cooler in my own expeirence, Hope this helps

 

[OptimaLnrg]

Yes those and the standard 680 twinfrozr 3 (although that's overpriced).

The 680 is a massive jump in price for a relatively little jump in performance (idk if the extra smx units will be more beneficial for you than for a gamer.

The lightning is an overclocking/uber gaming/epeen card tbh. As for the extra pwm, it's useful for overclocking at extremes but otherwise probably not.

the reference-style blower on the 260 is significantly louder than the 680/670ftw version (670 version buzzes apparently). A silverstone rep said in another thread that the 680 reference cooler (blower style) is as quiet at load as the 580 reference is at idle.

 

[Admetos]

Thanks for the information, I've learned much. OptimalLnrg I did read the thread your referring to where Silverstone said 670/680 reference cards ran well in their cases.

I'm favouring one of the EVGA cards with reference cooler. I have some CUDA development to start and can manage for a week or two, in the mean time I will check daily for any offers that appear. Will update when I purchase a card.