Full Vista Aero Glass Support with Lowest Power Usage?

Edwood · Post by **Edwood** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:02 pm

I'm rebuilding my main workstation to Vista 64.

It's only going to be a 2D workstation (Photoshop, Illustrator, and Painter mainly, with maybe some Non-linear Video Editing).

So I won't be playing games on it.

I'd like to get a video card with the lowest power usage, but still supports full Vista Aero Glass stuff.

Preferrably a passively cooled card, or at least one that would be easy to mod with a passive cooler.

Anyone have some advice? Insights?

Thanks,
-Ed

aaa · Post by **aaa** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:17 pm

Most of the newer integrated graphics support Aero. The NV 7050 for example, maybe the Intel 3100 too.

porkchop · Post by **porkchop** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:42 pm

i've read reviews indicating that the nvidia 7050/7025 supports vista, but the effects(eg. windows shrinking and expanding) are sometimes laggy and not smooth.
the review in question was of a 690 mobo, which is reportedly flawless.
any dedicated cards should be able to support vista no problems- though it seems ati is slightly better when it comes to power consumption, a 2400pro does about 10/15w at idle/load.
see viewtopic.php?t=44420

not sure about the intel stuff.

Edwood · Post by **Edwood** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:48 pm

I just want to know which would be a good model. My ancient Matrox P650 doesn't cut the mustard.

-Ed

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:47 pm

Ati HD 34x0 cards could be strong choice...

hmsrolst · Post by **hmsrolst** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:48 am

I run 32-bit VISTA on a Mac Mini, which is just Intel 945 on-board video, and AERO seems to run just fine allocating 224MB of RAM for video.

sjoukew · Post by **sjoukew** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:19 am

Aero eats video memory, real video memory is more important then hyper memory, turbo cache etc.

Palindroman · Post by **Palindroman** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:17 am

porkchop wrote:i've read reviews indicating that the nvidia 7050/7025 supports vista, but the effects(eg. windows shrinking and expanding) are sometimes laggy and not smooth.
the review in question was of a 690 mobo, which is reportedly flawless.
any dedicated cards should be able to support vista no problems- though it seems ati is slightly better when it comes to power consumption, a 2400pro does about 10/15w at idle/load.
see viewtopic.php?t=44420

not sure about the intel stuff.

I got a score of 3.0 for a system with a Sempron LE-1100, 1024 MB of 667 MHz RAM and the nVidia 7025 chipset. Didn't test it thoroughly though. System consumed around 25 watts at idle. Aero didn't make much of an impact on power consumption. I started a thread recently on OS power consumption.

Edwood · Post by **Edwood** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:20 am

I was thinking of perhaps the Nvidia 8500GT, there are quite a few passively cooled models.

-Ed

kieran45 · Post by **kieran45** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:19 am

I have an Nvidia 8600 in one PC, works fine. An old PC had an Nvidia 6200 (couple of years old, real bottom end) and that worked fine too. Pretty much anything graphics card wise will be able to run Aero with no dramas.

If Vista Aero is your most demanding application, I suggest just find a passive card in your price range and go for it.

loimlo · Post by **loimlo** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:09 am

I've successfully ran Vista Aero on VIA K8M890, Intel GMA900, I think you would be fine with any products on the shelves nowadays. As for discrete display cards, even a low-end 5200 was enough for Aero. But Vista 64 drivers aren't as mature as their 32 counterparts, beware. I suggest you to grab a discrete passive cooling AMD or nVIDIA card for safety. Intel/VIA/SiS VGA drivers are inferior to A & N, especially on Vista64.

fri2219 · Post by **fri2219** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:40 am

Have you looked at AMD/ATI FireMV based cards?

I'm using one on my (Linux) based WS, replacing my old Matrox- it's been rock solid and sips power when not in use. I initially installed Vista64 on it for laughs, and it ran Aero without any problems.

Edwood · Post by **Edwood** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:32 pm

fri2219 wrote:Have you looked at AMD/ATI FireMV based cards?

I'm using one on my (Linux) based WS, replacing my old Matrox- it's been rock solid and sips power when not in use. I initially installed Vista64 on it for laughs, and it ran Aero without any problems.

Ouch, those are way too expensive.

-Ed

loimlo · Post by **loimlo** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:56 am

If you are on a tight budget, AMD HD3450 seems to be a good fit for you. Low cost, low power draw, and passive cooling. Anyway, anything beyond DX9 generation would be enough for you.

KenAF · Post by **KenAF** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:43 pm

Running Aero and running Aero fast are two different things.

If you want Windows to be responsive, especially at higher resolutions, then you really need a card that will get you 5.0 or better in the Vista Aero graphics test (Windows Experience Index).

I would look at a 8600GT or Radeon 2600XT. IIRC, both of those score in the 5.5 range and are available in passive versions for about $100. The Radeon 3650 would be another alternative.

porkchop · Post by **porkchop** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:26 pm

I would look at a 8600GT or Radeon 2600XT. IIRC, both of those score in the 5.5 range and are available in passive versions for about $100. The Radeon 3650 would be another alternative.

i have to disagree. my brothers been running vista premium for a few months now on an ati 1300xt (24" dell, 1920x1200), no problems and smooth as silk.

derekva · Post by **derekva** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:11 pm

I've successfully run Vista Aero on an x300 and an x600 (as well as x1600 PRO, 7600GT, 6600GT and x800XL). Not sure what the power consumption is of these various cards, but I assume the x300 is probably the lowest consumper of the bunch. However, I much prefer my current 8800GT.

-D

bendit · Post by **bendit** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:12 pm

Nvidia 7300gs handles aero just fine and is a low power chipset.

charonme · Post by **charonme** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 2:34 am

loimlo wrote:...HD3450 seems to be a good fit for you. Low cost, low power draw...

Low enough for a Pico-PSU? How many watts exactly?

loimlo · Post by **loimlo** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:04 am

7~10 watts more compared to IGP at idle, at most. I am not sure full running state cause the machine didn't run any intensive 3D games at all.

All figures were measured by Seasonic Powerangel from wall socket.

Edwood · Post by **Edwood** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:51 am

I ended up with a 8600GT. Should be enough for Vista. :p

Going to try to use Coolbits to underclock it for regular use.

-Ed

Full Vista Aero Glass Support with Lowest Power Usage?

Full Vista Aero Glass Support with Lowest Power Usage?

how many watts?