Which graphics card for HTPC? Need help about GPU fan noise

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Which graphics card for HTPC? Need help about GPU fan noise

nzwogboy

93 posts

Master Geek

#30322 4-Feb-2009 15:38

As per this thread which is now closed http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=84&topicid=28092 I am still looking for a graphics card.
My last question is about the fans on these Grphics cards. I have always avoided buying GPU's with fans but find it slim pickings these days, so are the fans noisy? Which brands have the most quietest fans on them? I am looking at th geforce 9400-g800GT's. I have always liked Gigabyte but it does not actually matter what brand. The card will be used purely for HTPC (No gaming) and needs to handle 1080P on both outputs simultaniously.

rhysb

435 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#194092 4-Feb-2009 19:16

Have you looked at the Gigabyte GV-NX96T512HP? It a passively cooled 9600GT, so will be silent.
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/VGA/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2912

I have a MSI 9600GT that I replaced the HSF with a ThermaRight HR-03 GT mounted with the fins on the rear side of the card and passively cooled. It works well.
http://www.thermalright.com/new_a_page/product_page/vga/hr03gt/product_vga_cooler_hr03gt.htm?art=MTQyMywxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

Nety

2584 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#194094 4-Feb-2009 19:18

You do have another option... get one with a fan then use something like this

http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=371169

Will cost a bit on top of the video card but will sort out the fan issue.

My experience is that there is no noisier then a GPU fan baring MOBO's that have chipset fans.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#194121 4-Feb-2009 22:05

I seem to remember a geek around here was recommending a Palit 9*00GT passively-cooled card recently. It should still be on one of the recent threads, so you shouldn't have to go too far from the front page.

Silverstone LC14 HTPC Case/Intel E4600 CPU/GA-EP35-DS3 MOBO/Asus EN9500GT graphics/2GB RAM/total 2TB HDD space/HVR-2200 & 2X 150MCE tuner cards/LG GGC-H20L BD Drive/MCE2005/Mediaportal/TVServer 1.1.0Final/LG 55"3D LED-TV/Denon AVR-1803 receiver/X1 projector

nzwogboy

93 posts

Master Geek

#194197 5-Feb-2009 09:25

Thanks for your help guys. Looks like it is a toss up between the Gigabyte GV-NX96T512HP 9600GT and the Palit 9400GT. Will have to do some research to see if the 9400GT can handle 2 x 1080P screens running high def, if not looks like Gigabyte 9600GT will be more than capable.
Thanks again

ajst2duk

170 posts

Master Geek

#194208 5-Feb-2009 10:04

I've used on of the Gigabyte 9600GT passive for a while now - they do need a bit of airflow as they get very hot, aside from that it's been mint.

elkano

160 posts

Master Geek

#194210 5-Feb-2009 10:08

The Palit has the added bonus of only taking up one slot too, the Gigabyte looks as if it will be a little stout to fit a card next to it (only important if you can't afford to give away a slot).

ajst2duk

170 posts

Master Geek

#194215 5-Feb-2009 10:29

elkano: The Palit has the added bonus of only taking up one slot too, the Gigabyte looks as if it will be a little stout to fit a card next to it (only important if you can't afford to give away a slot).

Yep very good point, I had troublr running a card next door with both heat and interference issues

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nzwogboy

93 posts

Master Geek

#194228 5-Feb-2009 11:23

9600GT should fit fine, currently using the GA-MA780G-DS3H so will only take up 1 maybe 2 of the 3 PCI Express x1 slots it has onboard.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#194319 5-Feb-2009 16:36

nzwogboy: 9600GT should fit fine, currently using the GA-MA780G-DS3H so will only take up 1 maybe 2 of the 3 PCI Express x1 slots it has onboard.

Ah, but what the future when NZ has 20 FreeviewHD channels ALL broadcasting brilliant programmes at the same time & PCI tuner cards are extinct

nzwogboy

93 posts

Master Geek

#194320 5-Feb-2009 16:43

1gkar:
nzwogboy: 9600GT should fit fine, currently using the GA-MA780G-DS3H so will only take up 1 maybe 2 of the 3 PCI Express x1 slots it has onboard.
Ah, but what the future when NZ has 20 FreeviewHD channels ALL broadcasting brilliant programmes at the same time & PCI tuner cards are extinct

I am sure by then I will have gone through another 2 motherboards/HTPC's and my TV will be less than 1mm thick

elkano

160 posts

Master Geek

#194321 5-Feb-2009 16:43

1gkar: Ah, but what the future when NZ has 20 FreeviewHD channels ALL broadcasting brilliant programmes at the same time & PCI tuner cards are extinct

Won't we have 12-in-1 tuners by then? (and for sure someone will have a 100 TB drive) :-)