Shuttle graphics Solution

Sparky · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:10

Adding another HTPC to the house for the bedroom.Need a decent-ish Graphics card for it as i would like the odd game of BF2.

Budget would be about £100-£130 and not a FANBOY so either Nvidia or Radeon.Would also consider 2nd hand but would like to know what would fit plus be quiet enough for my needs.

Any thoughts?

Edit:- it's a PCI-E Shuttle.

Stephen B · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:13

better to tell us the Shuttle model, as psu wattage and card location may be a factor, but I'd hazard a guess the x1950 may be high on the list at that price point

Sparky · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:15

ST20G5

Thanks.

Minstadave · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:25

You're a bit pushed with the ST20G5 as it will only take single slot coolers unlike the newer Shuttle P-chasis.

The Sapphire ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 256MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) or the Connect3D ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 256MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)would do nicely.

A few reviews have mentioned issues with the ST20G5 and non-ATI cards, so the X1950Pro would definately be a good choice, and for £120 inc VAT you can't go wrong. Its a shame an arctic silencer won't fit too as the HIS comes with one ready fitted for £125.

Sparky · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:29

Thanks for deleting the other thread and for answering here.Do either of the cards you mention support HDTV?Have a 32" Samsung LCD that this will be plugging into.

Sparky · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:29

Sorry just spotted it does

Sparky · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:33

That looks like a cracking deal. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-134-SP

Been out of the "leading edge" graphics market for quite sometime,well in PC terms anyway.Last decent card i had was a X1900XT.Are these cards anywhere near the performance of that as they seem remarkably cheap?

Minstadave · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:40

CS||nuTs said:
That looks like a cracking deal. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-134-SP

Been out of the "leading edge" graphics market for quite sometime,well in PC terms anyway.Last decent card i had was a X1900XT.Are these cards anywhere near the performance of that as they seem remarkably cheap?

Its a little bit slower than the X1900XT but not a lot, and the price is fantastic

They're well loved cards:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17668879

Sparky · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:45

Is this a single slot and if so how would it compare to the X1950?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-089-LT

Minstadave · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:47

Yup its single slot, think its slower, have a look at some of the reviews in the X1950Pro thread see if you can find a comparison

If you look on Tomshardware interactive comparison chart the X1950Pro beats it soundly across the board.

Sparky · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:49

Will do mate,thanks for all the help

Minstadave · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:50

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/graphics/charts.html?modelx=33&model1=607&model2=584&chart=198

X1950Pro beats the 7900GS across the board.

Sparky · 30 Jan 2007 at 20:00

By a surprisingly high margin as well.Ok you have convinced me time to hit the CC.Thanks again mate.

Minstadave · 30 Jan 2007 at 20:01

CS||nuTs said:
By a surprisingly high margin as well.Ok you have convinced me time to hit the CC.Thanks again mate.

Anytime mate

Have fun

FrankJH · 31 Jan 2007 at 07:36

dave - the X1950 series is slower than a X1900XT?

Im contemplating putting My X1900 (master card) into a 37P, as an HTPC build, along side a E4300 and 2gb 6400 DDR2, hopefully this should be a good combo then

A true shuttle convert after having a 25P (still in everyday use) for the last year or so

Minstadave · 31 Jan 2007 at 10:58

FrankJH said:
dave - the X1950 series is slower than a X1900XT?

The X1950Pro is slower and the X1950XT is faster than the X1900XT

WoZZeR · 31 Jan 2007 at 13:07

From what I understand though the X1950 PRO has much lower power consumption than the X1900 XT, so less heat, less noise and less stress on our PS's.

Minstadave · 31 Jan 2007 at 13:15

WoZZeR said:
From what I understand though the X1950 PRO has much lower power consumption than the X1900 XT, so less heat, less noise and less stress on our PS's.

Yeah its fabbed on a smaller process iirc

FrankJH · 31 Jan 2007 at 20:21

thank you

- hadnt seen any X1950 XT's,

After having a quick look at the relevant page am I right in thinking there are no 512MB X1950 XT's (all 512MB cards seem to be Pro or XT-X?)

WoZZeR · 31 Jan 2007 at 22:35

I have seen 1950 XT's with 512mb knocking about on the net but there does seem to be a price hike from bog standard XT's.

Certainly OCUK don't seem to have any.

You could always get a 1950 PRO and then Crossfire it when the prices tumble.