Graphics Cards - Recommendations

klipp · Sep 14, 2010, 22:25:00

Hi there.

I recently noticed the most terrible noises coming from my posh spanky new computer. Sounded like when you rub a stick against a turning bicycle wheel!!

After running it with the side panel removed and listening closely it became apparent that the noise was coming from the graphics card fan. I further confirmed this by removing the thing and replacing it with an old geforce 8800GTS. Trouble is, this replacement card makes a background hum of its own (probably due to its age) and also the performance is not the best.

Sooo, what I am looking for is a graphics card which will allow me to run windows applications eg. Visual Studio 2010, Office 2007, Internet Explorer to a high level of performance. I do not play computer games so I'm not looking for a gaming level card. Most importantly it must have a super quiet fan.

Your thoughts and suggestions would be most helpful to me.

Thankies.

Niall · Sep 14, 2010, 22:30:51

http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/vga-cards

They should have something for you

klipp · Sep 14, 2010, 22:40:08

Thanks Niall. This one looks ideal...

http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/vga-cards/zo-gt240

esh · Sep 14, 2010, 23:35:52

We used fanless GeForce 7000 series cards in our Linux workstations and they were ideal. The other option is running some of the lower 9000 series with a resistor attached to the fan cable to slow it down. Pretty much any non-Intel card will run the apps you are talking about decently.

Technical Ben · Sep 15, 2010, 17:02:14

Quote from: esh on Sep 14, 2010, 23:35:52
We used fanless GeForce 7000 series cards in our Linux workstations and they were ideal. The other option is running some of the lower 9000 series with a resistor attached to the fan cable to slow it down. Pretty much any non-Intel card will run the apps you are talking about decently.

Hmmm, could you use the Nvidia software to just underclock them instead?

esh · Sep 15, 2010, 23:27:47

You can do that too. I don't know how far you can underclock them, I don't really like playing with graphics cards that much; and they tend to downclock themselves when not in heavy use these days anyway. I just suggested adding a resistor cable to lower fan noise more than anything.

Technical Ben · Sep 16, 2010, 15:31:18

Quote from: esh on Sep 15, 2010, 23:27:47
You can do that too. I don't know how far you can underclock them, I don't really like playing with graphics cards that much; and they tend to downclock themselves when not in heavy use these days anyway. I just suggested adding a resistor cable to lower fan noise more than anything.

Adjusting it in software mode, to within the manufactures limits within their own software, is much safer than doing so with some home made electronics. Not saying that you shouldn't. I'd love to do the same myself!

But only that doing it in software mode is infinitely simpler and less dangerous. (Your not risking soldering the wrong bit, or the card over heating and melting)

esh · Sep 16, 2010, 20:46:40

I'm a bit lost here, I'm not touching the card speed or chip at all. You'll find the low end GF9xxx models have a fan with a wire that plugs into the card where it draws power from. If you simply pull this plug out of the jumper (it's not glued or anything) then just add your resistor cable and plug it back in, you create a larger potential drop to the fan and hence it runs slower, which is fine if you're not blitzing the card in 3D or whatever. There is nothing permanent done, or the actual graphics board fiddled with at all. It's not as drastic as I think you are probably imagining.