On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 3:55 PM, Volker Armin Hemmann <volker.armin.hemm...@tu-clausthal.de> wrote: > On Donnerstag 11 Dezember 2008, Paul Hartman wrote: >> On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 11:10 AM, James <wirel...@tampabay.rr.com> wrote: >> > Hello, >> > >> > I've been looking for an ATI graphics card >> > with a water cooling system built in. I'm very >> > tired of listen to the roar of a video card fan. >> > >> > Any suggestions? It does not need to be the latest >> > smokin card, just reasonable at video games >> > and quite as can be. R580 engine or above. >> > Low dB is the primary concern, but it must be decent at video >> > games. (PCI express 16) is the slot it must fit into. >> > >> > I prefer ATI over nvidia. >> > >> > After days of googling and nothing attractive >> > (sub 200 USD) and pre assembled, I'm more open >> > to the cost effectiveness of DIY. Any suggestions >> > are most appreciated. Your experiences with DIY >> > water cooled video cards and your happiness with >> > such endeavors is of keen interest to me, regardless >> > of the type of video card. >> >> It's not ATI or water cooled, but I got a GeForce 9600 with a giant >> aftermarket heat sink preinstalled >> (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134050), >> totally passive fanless and silent, for under $100 at the time I >> bought it. I get steady 200fps at 1600x1200 in Sauerbraten, and FIFA >> 09 plays nice and smooth in wine. Temperature readings have been >> consistently low. I don't think water cooling is necessary if you're >> not doing anything special to torture the card (unless you just want >> to do it just for the fun of doing it, of course). I've gone the >> fanless, heat sink route on 2 systems now and have had no problems at >> all after having 2 video card fans die after less than 1 year each of >> use. > > passive is nice - but you need good air movement throughout the case - or > everything will warm uo a lot. So passive cooled card does not solve the noise > problem - it just moves it to the case ventilation.
That's true, he only specifically asked about video card noise and that's all I considered, I didn't even think about the case. I have a gigantic case with numerous intake & ventilating fans and a nice warm breeze blowing out of the back of it :) But, it's still quieter than it was with the added noise of one extra fan. If he wants a totally fanless system then obviously there is more to worry about.
