Video card suggestions

[Rapscallion]

I've tracked down an intermittent fault to my video card. Fortunately, I have onboard graphics, so I'm OK for now, though games are slow even on low graphics settings.

I was on a Zotac 8600, so I'm now looking for a PC-E video card that will:

1. Fit in a shuttle (bear in mind that the fan section of the card will fit alongside the case, and it's small). In short, huge heat fans are right out.

2. Work on a 250 W power supply.

Suggestions?

Rapscallion

[Chromatix]

At the moment ATI are the best value - they've done at least one top-to-bottom refresh since NV released their last new chip. However, the 5000-series all have dual-slot designs, so you'll need to pick a 4000-series card.

It looks like the 4670, at least, has the right size of cooler, but if you can find a 4850 or 4870 with a slimline cooler, that will have better performance.

[Broomjockey]

I don't think you're going to find much nowadays that's going to work on a 250W PSU. The cheapest (and therefore most likely oldest, and least requirement-y) card I can find still needs 270W, and that was just PCI, not PCI-E. Probably your best bet is to go to a local tech shop and ask if they have anything. Power requirements should be listed on the box.

[lordlundar]

And Raps, get a new Power Supply, honestly. 250W just isn't going to cut it these days. Even a 450W would be a heck of an improvement and it's not terribly expensive. Opens up a much larger range of cards as well.

[Rapscallion]

It's a shuttle - small components and relatively low power requirements. The current available PSU for this is 400W.

Rapscallion

[Broomjockey]

Actually, 400W opens up a huge range itself. Even 300W would give you a bunch of options to play with.

[EricKei]

Also, kep in mind that you want to avoid using 100% of your PSU's "capacity". IF your PSU is rated for 250W, then even a 250W card would put a strain on the system -- the rest of the components need juice as well. I suspect that it may be hard to get a beefier PSU that fits in a shuttle, though, due to the cramped space requirements.

Did you mean that you have a 400W PSU now, or that you have found a 400W one that's available?

[Broomjockey]

Also, kep in mind that you want to avoid using 100% of your PSU's "capacity". IF your PSU is rated for 250W, then even a 250W card would put a strain on the system -- the rest of the components need juice as well.

The way I understood it was if you have a card rated at 300W, that's what you need to have in an average system in order for the entire thing to work. They assume certain levels of power consumption, and unless you've got way more than average hooked in, you'd be fine having a 300W card in a 300W system. However, the actual danger is that your PSU becomes less efficient as you approach maximum capacity, and the power flow can even become dirty in the cheap ones.

[Rapscallion]

Taken a risk on a card that's very similar to the one I had. Should just fit in the case. Mate of mine looked at my system and reckoned there would be plenty of power. It's not got a huge amount of drain in there.

Rapscallion

[crashhelmet]

In addition to the wattage of the PSU, you need to make sure it puts out the right voltage and amperage across the rail(s). Otherwise you'll run the risk of blowing the PSU and other components.

For example, the ATI HD3850 requires a 450Watt or greater power supply with 30Amps on the 12 volt rail. I had to buy a 750 Watt PSU to get that. Trying to run it on my old 600W failed miserably.

CH

[Rapscallion]

Just got it out of the box. That fan's sodding huge. Sod me sideways, but that's big.

I don't think it's going to fit in there with the case top on.

*wince*

Asus EAH 4670 for those interested.

Rapscallion

[Rapscallion]

Works fine. Fan is well psat the boundaries of the case. Considering I went for a shuttle on the grounds that I want something portable, this is not good.

*ponder*

Rapscallion

[Chromatix]

Picture please?

[Rapscallion]

Bug me and I'll upload one. Maybe even two!

Rapscallion

[Andara Bledin]

I am not a fan of Radeons. I've not had good esperiences with them, and it's tainted my opinion of them forever-more.

^-.-^