What do you all suggest?

[vcl_X1]

Hi,

My ageing 3870*2 is not the quietest card around, as I don't seem to play many games anymore I want to replace it with something quieter and maybe cooler running (cooling isn't an issue though in an Antec 1200)

I'd like it to be able to easily drive an Apple 27" while running Photoshop and/or Lightroom, so displayport output would be nice but not essential.

I've no preference for Nvidia or AMD and only want one card.

What better option is there to a 5770?

Budget - whatever it takes, 3870*2 has enough performance for my needs atm.

 

[arc@css]

5850 / 460.

 

[Randomface74]

5770 sounds like a good bet. the vapor-x models are quietest. stretch to a 5850 if you can.

 

[Xelene]

Gigabyte make a passive 5770

 

[Marine-RX179]

Gigabyte or MSI Cyclone GTX460 768MB/1GB. 5770 Vapor-X is overpriced for being more expensive than the GTX460 768MB but slower than it...but if you can find a 5770 Vapor-X at £110 or less, then may be it's worth considering.

 

[arc@css]

I really cant see a 5770 having quite enough grunt for titles on a 27", even with one or two features disabled. Some titles yes, some....nah. Frame rates will dip quite a bit.

 

[Marine-RX179]

I really cant see a 5770 having quite enough grunt for titles on a 27", even with one or two features disabled. Some titles yes, some....nah. Frame rates will dip quite a bit.

I know. But the OP himself says 3870x2 has enough performance for his need...who are we to argue with him on what's enough for him?

Also, I guess it's down to how much he would like to pay.

 

[arc@css]

Yes, some people will be happy to play most titles at medium settings. In fact in the odd title you might be hard pressed to be able to tell that much difference between medium / high and high / very high quality. If thats suits then fair enough. Not what I'd recommend for the majority of situations though.

 

[vcl_X1]

Thanks for the suggestions, as I don't have the 27" screen yet I can't tell how well the current card would drive it, so a good point there, I'll have to think about that - perhaps the 5850/460 come into play.

As to budget - the monitor's going to cost me £900 so I'm not looking for a cheap as chips solution, I could spend upto £250, maybe more but do I need to if I'm not playing games? It's noise reduction that's my main motivation here, then less heat so I can turn the case fans down even lower and have a near silent pc.