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Recommended Gaming/HTPC video card

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Name: SN
Date: November 6, 2007 at 10:08:34 Pacific
OS: Vista 64-bit
CPU/Ram: C2D 6750/2GB
Comment:

Hello-
I'm building a PC that I intend to use both as an HTPC for playing downloaded and ripped videos and as a gaming PC. I need a video card that will play all or most games at something close to 1366 x 768 for my 50" plasma. Since it's in the living room, it needs to be practically silent. I had an MSI 8600GTS but the fan was so freakin noisy I RMA'd it. Right now I'm looking at this MSI 8600GTS with passive cooling, but I could find very little info on it online so I'm a little wary.

I prefer NVidia because I've had consistent bad experiences with ATI drivers and software, but it's not set in stone. I'm willing to spend a little extra to get the right card, but I don't see any reason to get top of the line for my modest requirements.

Any recommendations?

Thanks!
SN



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Response Number 1
Name: ledge2edge
Date: November 6, 2007 at 13:35:08 Pacific
Reply:

I would recommend the 8800GT that just came out it is about the same cost and i know if you use rivatuner you can set the fan speed on your card to max or min speed, adjust it as needed. Currently have dual 8600gts and i would say go for the next big card.

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"


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Response Number 2
Name: jackbomb
Date: November 6, 2007 at 14:25:35 Pacific
Reply:

Definitely the 8800GT. Even though the name would suggest otherwise, the 8800GT is quite a bit faster than the 8800GTS-640MB, and almost as fast as the 8800GTX.

Plus, it's got all sorts of awesome video acceleration features that other 8800 models lack (such as Purevideo 3.0, which will decode HD-DVD/Blu-Ray with next to no CPU utilization).

The best part is that this kick-ass card only costs around $220.

The Movie PC:
Pentium III-S CPU: 1.66GHz, 158MHz FSB, 512K
2GB DDR333
7950GT AGP
Vista/XP
X-Fi
Optoma 1280x720 projector
JBL 5.1 audio
and now 89 upconverted WMV-HD flicks


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Response Number 3
Name: SN
Date: November 6, 2007 at 15:32:37 Pacific
Reply:

Thanks for the recommendation...I checked all the usual suspects (buy.com, zipzoomfly, and newegg), and couldn't find any 8800GT cards in stock for anywhere near the $220...Where can I pick one of these badboys up? Is there any specific model that will be quieter than the others? I don't mind giving up a little performance for silence.

Thanks a ton!
SN


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