I'm thinking about upgrading my current passively cooled PCIe graphics card in my HTPC setup. And, as the subject says it, I'm having my setup in a Antec Fusion case. Currently, I'm lookin at the range GT 640 - GTX670, and I can find several good candidates. But the problems come from the size of the cards the market has to offer. Are there any other (casual gamers) here with a similar case? What have you managed to fit in this case (or a similar one)?
Here are my requirements:
- - NVidia (as a Linux user, ATI is still too buggy, last time I've checked)
- Faster than the current one (no point in downgrading! A passive Gainward GT430 is the my current graphics card)
- Quiet (at least when idle / not running graphics intensive applications)
- Small enough it will fit!:- - Height: full height but not an inch more! i.e. ~115mm / 4.55 "
- L: max. ~250-270mm / ~10 "
- SLOTS:1-2 (or, in case I'm forced to, 3)
- - Height: full height but not an inch more! i.e. ~115mm / 4.55 "
About passive vs. active cooling: I believe most recent graphics card (at least non-low-end ones) scale their cooling quite well, i.e. they don't run their fan at full speed all the time. And, also because the case is quite cramped by design, a passive card might not be a good choice (or, I would need to install an extra fan in that case, which makes the point of buing a passively cooled card quite moot). In any case, I can't find a passively cooled stock card with decent performance that would fit (all of them have the heatsink and / or heatpipes protruding past the upper edge, for several inches). Even if the card is too power hungry (at peak), that might not be an issue, if it will be silent (quiet) when not gaming.
GT640 and GTX650 (non-TI) have lower TDP, but if I will go for more horsepower I will also get more heat, too - but that might not be an issue, if my thoughts about scalability above are correct?.
I've looked at the ohter MSI Power Edition cards, they would be quite quiet (according to reviews), and also they have more horse power. But all have some of the cooling device / shroud going past the PCB edge, and might be too high (if they will fit length-wize). The Cyclone wont fit, but a non-cyclone-one just might??? One good candidate (on the lower TDP / lower performance end) is MSI GTX 650 Power edition, but at 265mm, probably too long for the fusion?
Also, ASUS sells these cards that are energy efficient, but the cooler does not look like it is efficient (noise / dissipated heat -wise). Also, they might not be the best solution, performance-wize. At least it would fit.
Maybe I should just buy one with a good TDP/performance -ratio, a PCB that will fit, ditch the stock cooling solution and buy a separate heatsink? I'm a bit lost with the amount of options for cooling. Does anyone have any good personal experiences? I'm even considering bending the Accelero S1 as some have done - but I have only two (to three) slots to spare, and can't bend it over the card, so that might be a bit difficult!
Any other suggestions or comments?
Cheers!