Server video card

[PaulCa]

I am recomissioning my old gaming PC as a server.

Can anyone suggest a cheap, minimal, silent video card?

Needs to be PCIe with an HDMI output.

It will spend 99% of it's time disconnected and 1% or less connected and running BIOS or a Linux text console only.

I found a whole load of NVidia Quadro 300s on ebay for like £4 each, do these sound like a good idea?

 

[d_brennen]

Anything will do but preferably something modern that clocks down to single digit watts when not in use. The NVS300 you mention is sub 18w in operation so probably a good cheap shout.

Edit: be careful of the video out that the card has, some of them will be low profile cards with a funky dual VGA out breakout cable

 

[PaulCa]

Edit: be careful of the video out that the card has, some of them will be low profile cards with a funky dual VGA out breakout cable

Good catch thanks. I thought it looked like an odd DVI port. Seems I would need an adapter.

An NVS 300 + adapter is about £15... or I can buy a brand new GT 710 for £26 from OCUK

 

[BongoHunter]

I think the NVS 300's are getting on for being 10 years old now? I would grab a cheap passively cooled 710

If you want to free a x16 slot for something more "servery" like a fast NIC or storage controller then get a Zotac GT 710 (ZT-71304-20L) - as these run in a PCIEx1 slot (quite new and not as cheap - but very useful if you want to free up lanes/slots)

 

[PaulCa]

I think the NVS 300's are getting on for being 10 years old now? I would grab a cheap passively cooled 710

If you want to free a x16 slot for something more "servery" like a fast NIC or storage controller then get a Zotac GT 710 (ZT-71304-20L) - as these run in a PCIEx1 slot (quite new and not as cheap - but very useful if you want to free up lanes/slots)

Thanks. A single gigabit network is grand for my purposes. I think I'll grab a fanless 710 for £26 and move on.

Just wondering how much of the £100 my GTX970 is worth I can get my brother to actually pay for it.

 

[Habakkuk]

I like the 5450 for this - low powered, has hdmi and is fanless.

 

[Kei]

I've got a quadro NVS 310 in my server. Does a great job and uses very little power. Significant improvement on the quadro FX 3500 I had before.

 

[LuckyBenski]

Just wondering how much of the £100 my GTX970 is worth I can get my brother to actually pay for it.

Remind him that the going rate is more like £150 and that's what it's worth to other buyers