Looking for a new quiet card
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 10:08 pm
Hi, long time reader, first time poster.
I ve got a Lian Li PC-60FN case with an i7-4770k processor cooled by a Noctua Cooler along with a Coolermaster 140mm fan in the front and a 120mm Gentle Typhoon as an exhaust. Both are connected to a lian li fan control switch and they are undervolted.
I currently have a fanless Powercolor 5750 card, but I ve tentatively reached the conclusion that it doesn't cut it anymore for the things I want to do (not games though).
I am looking to upgrade to something at least 3-4 levels up the TomHardware's hierarchy chart or something with a 256 bit memory bus as opposed to the 128 bits I ve got now.
I also have a preference for AMD over Nvidia cards.
All of this means that I ve narrowed down my search to either an HD 7850 card or the newer R9 270.
One obvious option would be the passively cooled PowerColor HD 7850 although from what I read from reviews it needs to be in an adequately ventilated box. I don't know however if my box counts as one. Does anyone has this card and care to share their experience? Does the fact that my current fanless card doesn't go higher than 65 degrees Celcius indicate that I won't have a problem with the powercolor?
My other option is to get one of the dozen models with fans, but I am not sure how to make a proper decision. I keep reading user reviews for most of these cards and for a good chunk of them, you will find a fair number of people saying that this or that card is as quiet as they come.
Since everyone's point of reference is different, I am not sure who to trust.
So what say you, silent pc review denizens?
Thanks
I ve got a Lian Li PC-60FN case with an i7-4770k processor cooled by a Noctua Cooler along with a Coolermaster 140mm fan in the front and a 120mm Gentle Typhoon as an exhaust. Both are connected to a lian li fan control switch and they are undervolted.
I currently have a fanless Powercolor 5750 card, but I ve tentatively reached the conclusion that it doesn't cut it anymore for the things I want to do (not games though).
I am looking to upgrade to something at least 3-4 levels up the TomHardware's hierarchy chart or something with a 256 bit memory bus as opposed to the 128 bits I ve got now.
I also have a preference for AMD over Nvidia cards.
All of this means that I ve narrowed down my search to either an HD 7850 card or the newer R9 270.
One obvious option would be the passively cooled PowerColor HD 7850 although from what I read from reviews it needs to be in an adequately ventilated box. I don't know however if my box counts as one. Does anyone has this card and care to share their experience? Does the fact that my current fanless card doesn't go higher than 65 degrees Celcius indicate that I won't have a problem with the powercolor?
My other option is to get one of the dozen models with fans, but I am not sure how to make a proper decision. I keep reading user reviews for most of these cards and for a good chunk of them, you will find a fair number of people saying that this or that card is as quiet as they come.
Since everyone's point of reference is different, I am not sure who to trust.
So what say you, silent pc review denizens?
Thanks