Fast and Silent

[WhatBackHand]

Hi guys,
can someone recommend a silent or VERY quiet AGP card as fast as possible please?

It's for my old(ish) 3GHz P4 XP Pro machine that I've moved into the lounge to use with the wide screen TV and it needs to be wisper quiet or silent.

I was looking at the ATI 9550 256MB, but that has a fan. I don't really want to go for a lower spec.

Any ideas or recommendations?

[Klone]

just a quick question.... are you able to mod a graphics card? you could buy the graphics card you want.. and mod it with a heatsink

[WhatBackHand]

Tecnically, yes I have the ability. I also have some room in the current case, but I'm probably goint to change that as well soon and I'm going to be looking for something "more compact".

What are you thinking?

[Klone]

i was just thinking that you could mod the card. you wouldnt really need that much room for put a heatsink on it.

I was going to mod a graphics card, but in the end... i bought a PCI-E card with a heatsink as standard :)

[WhatBackHand]

Trying to do the expenditure in stages...

First gripe is noise, then size/look. Not looking to replace motherboard for the near future so need to stick with AGP.

[Klone]

well then my advice would be to mod the graphics card. because unless your going to make a cube pc... your card will fit in almost every case that you can get your current motherboard in.

Just look on the web and find a guide to fitting a heatsink... and then viola! quieter PC.

You should look at doing these things for a silent PC:

1:mod gfx card with heatsink
2:get a cpu cooler that you can turn down the speed
3:sound proof case?
4:silent case fans (if any)

[WhatBackHand]

Currently have a Zalman cooler on the CPU, the standard abit cooler on the motherboard and 2 fans on the case which are currently disconnected. The PSU is a "quiet" antec, can't remember the model but it is quiet. Also have a 4 channel speed controler, but that is not likely to survive the case upgrade due to space.

Best card I have for this PC is an ATI AIW 8500DV, but currently using a nviia GeForce4 4800Ti, which is where most of the noise is coming from. "upgraded" PC needs to be able to play HD or 1366x768 output via DVI. Games wise, MSFlight Simulator and Civilization 4, no current shop 'em ups but that could change at Xmas...

Suggestions for performance increase and noise decrease?? Current budget is around £70.

[teknokid]

look @ http://www.quietpc.com they do silent gpu's.

[Taxation]

does your current gfx card do the trick when playing games??
if so, just buy a new cooler
i had an albatron 6600 AGP 256mb and that fan is very very quiet, i couldnt even hear it. (my fingers felt the blades moving tho :( )

or try a 256mb fx5500
they have quite a bit of horse power, better than the Nv 6200 but doesnt do HDR

[WhatBackHand]

What I have kinda works, but I'd say I'm at the limit so don't feel inclined to spend money on that. I'm not sure if I'm going to get any great performance benefit and get quiet for my budget of £70. I looked at another recommended web site but then I'm spending £100, but I do get silent.

Anybody got any other recomendations/advice?

[Taxation]

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spec ... NOV-GF6225 (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NOV-GF6225)
mate has one
doesnt have a fan on so it is silent

[teknokid]

the 8800gtx is very quiet. but its rather expensive and large. have you ever thought of lcs? Tt do a dedicated gpu lcs system for avout £30!

[JDowdall]

what are you on about tekno? he wants a silent AGP card for under £100 about £70 if i were you i'd save up an extra £30 odd and get a 7600 gs passive or and aftermarket cooler as a 7600gs would be much better http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/119460

[teknokid]

7600gs is very gd value!