2600XT 8600GT or 8600GTS for Shuttle (SFF XPC)

[AllUsernamesRTaken]

Hi,

I have been looking for a graphics card for my shuttle SK22G2.

I think that finding the right graphics card is the hardest part of building a PC...with so many opinions. However I need some more please.

I have finally whittled it down to 3. I don't game at all but it would be nice to know it could handle the odd game from time to time if I wanted to play.

Please tell me which is the best for running dual monitors, Vista 64, the odd game or two but most importantly is the quietest and near silent! I have tried a silent MSI RX 2600XT but the heat pipes get in the way!

Inno3D 8600GT 256MB 128bit DDR3 DVI PCI-E Graphics Card
Innovision 3D 8600GTS 256MB GDDR3 Dual DVI PCI-E Graphics Card
Sapphire HD 2600 XT 256MB GDDR4 Dual DVI-I TVO PCI-E Graphics Card

I have liked ATI for a long time now and have a X1950 in my home shuttle which runs fine but is loud (I guess cause its a 200W supply).

I have also ordered a Shuttle SilentX PSU 300W if that helps at all. I think you will say that the 8600GTS is the best but I have read several times that the fan is really loud which would drive me crazy!

Thanks in advance!

Chris

Edit: I appreciate there are a lot of posts comparing these cards (and I have read them all) but they are only comparing them for speed but no personal opinions into noise or specifically against these models. Thanks

[PeterStoba]

Hi,
Inno3D 8600GT 256MB 128bit DDR3 DVI PCI-E Graphics Card
Innovision 3D 8600GTS 256MB GDDR3 Dual DVI PCI-E Graphics Card
They are the same card

[mac124]

Afraid not Peter, the GT is less powerful than the GTS.

If you can afford the 8600gts i'd say get that as it is the most powerful of the 3, as shown here.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1064&model2=1058&chart=314

[Nifty]

If fan noise is a problem you can get a passively cooled 8600GTS like this one:

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/PCI-E/nVIDIA+GeForce+8+Series/MSI+GeForce+8600GTS+256MB+PCI-E+%28Passive+Heatpipe+Cooler%29+?productId=26874

[PeterStoba]

I missed the S

[Lynx]

I would get a HD3850, single slot and draw so little power but deliver more than a X1950 in terms of graphics, so you would be taking a step up rather than a step down imho...

[mac124]

True Lynx and its not that much more, £25 - £30 and its quite a bit more powerful than the 8600gts.

[LSIkevin]

toooo true :P

[AllUsernamesRTaken]

Thanks for all the responses!

I don't think I was clear enough for my reasons to buy a new graphics card.

The 1950 is in my home system and I now need one for work. The 1950 is too loud at home to be honest so I want to see if I can swap it with my work graphics card.

When I play a game on the 1950 the noise really ramps up as the fan spins faster and faster. Noise is a really important thing for me!! It might also be partly because of the 200W PSU so hopefully going to a 300W might make a difference.

A passively cooled one is great but I have brought that MSI one and had to return it because there was no way it would fit into my shuttle. The pipes are too high!

HD3850 is sounding good though! IS THIS QUIET? Or will it be very simialar for the 1950 ? I'm guessing that if it draws less power then the fan might run slower due to it being a cooler card? am i wrong?

[Lynx]

You can get a dual slot one that will be quieter, but the single slot is said to be quiet just read reviews, there aplenty and talk of all issues including sound.

[Sl4x0r]

Thanks for all the responses!

Is it just me - or is that a cool username?