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New video card time!

BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
in Zocalo v2.0
The fans on my current video card are starting to be rather [url=http://www.ece.auckland.ac.nz/~gbig005/gallery/random/img_0891]annoying[/url] and noisy, so I'm using it as an excuse to upgrade so that Dreamfall will look all nice and pretty.

I'm going to get a 6600 GT. [url=http://ascent.co.nz/mn-product-spec.asp?pid=337604]This[/url] is the card I'm considering. I like the idea of passive cooling (you know, 'cause it's quiet and all). Has anyone had any experience with this card, or the similar Gigabyte that has a fan? I haven't had any luck finding reviews that mention video quality nor how well the passive cooling works.

Comments

  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    Passive cooling in this case means the other fans inside your case will have to deal with the excess heat. Not sure that will be enough and $400 is quite a bit of money to take chances.
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Well the fans are going to have to move that heat anyway, given that a vid card fan only moves it off the card, not out of the case.
    Secondly, keep in mind that it's $NZ400, not $US400.
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    Yes, but there will be a lot more heat. An additional fan will give additional air flow which a simple heat sink just can't.

    Anyway, let us know how it goes. ;)

    Speaking of NZ, loved your appearance in the LOTR movies. :D
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Stingray [/i]
    [B]Yes, but there will be a lot more heat. An additional fan will give additional air flow which a simple heat sink just can't.

    Anyway, let us know how it goes. ;)[/b][/quote]

    Basically the question of "is a passive heatsink good enough?" comes down to how good the airflow in my case is. I have 2 intakes and 2 outtakes (one a dual-fan PSU, the other right above the video card), so I'm hoping it is. Also, my current video card, as you can see in the photo, is operating with just one pifling little fan that isn't even working properly at the moment.

    [quote][b]Speaking of NZ, loved your appearance in the LOTR movies. :D [/B][/QUOTE]

    Why thank you, I did my best. ;)
  • EclecticonautEclecticonaut Elite Ranger
    With a fan: [url]http://www.legionhardware.com/html/doc.php?id=385[/url]

    6600GT roundup (though PCI-E versions): [url]http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2295[/url]
  • SpiritOneSpiritOne Magneto ABQ NM
    I have the asus model 6800GT, and really the fans are not that loud. The card itself though does rock, and I have had no problems with it.
  • the_exilethe_exile Kupo!
    You can't use NewEgg for computer parts in NZ, can you? How barbaric!
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    No, but I can use any one of a number of NZ online retailers, most of whom provide free shipping. :)
  • AnlaShokAnlaShok Democrat From Hell
    I have the MSI 6600GT (AGP) and have had no problems with it.
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Well, I went with the passively cooled Gigabyte 6600 GT. The cooling surprised me a lot. After an hour of HL2, GPU temperature was 67C. Not exactly cold, but pretty good for something without a fan on it.
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