x850XTPE upgrade to ? (PCIe) advise pls

[Its_Me]

I currently run an X850XTPE gfx card in my shuttle SN25P (with Opty @ 3Ghz).
With news of current price drops I feel its time to upgrade it, but:

1: noise is of concern to me, so dont want a card that sounds like a vacuum when under load.

2: idealy i want a single slot cooler on the card, this is not as important as the noise requirement though.

3: I don't fancy having to pay out £300+, so idealy on the look out for a card of Members market.

4: I will want to run native res (where possible) , so thats 1280x1024 for my 19" screen - decent FPS would be nice.

Your advice most welcome, but pls pls pls do not trash this thread as I have run both ATI and Nvidia from years and like both sides of the fence a few FPS either way is not important to me as meeting the real requirements.
If you have no advice as to what to buy, but know what NOT - thats also useful too me.
Thanks in advance

 

[charltonfan1]

Try and pick up a 7900GTX for £250ish from MM
or a X1900XT and fit a quieter cooler

 

[Magnum_Force]

Or, you could get a Connect3D X1800XT 256mb for £164.44 brand new and fit either a zalman for Arctic X2 cooler to it .

Seriously, at your native resolution, a higher end card isn't really needed (a single X1900XT(X) or 7900GTX are good for 1600x1200 rez tbh).

So, the grand total is (Inc VAT):

X1800XT: £164.44

aftermarket cooler (Arctic X2): £23.44

Plus delivery (circa £10)

total: £197.88

Woot, a complete solution for under £200, not bad, not bad .

 

[Its_Me]

cheers , thats some food for thought, but looking at the Arctic X2 I'm not sure if it will fit in the shuttle SN25P due to its projection over the top of the card.
Dont suppose anyone has any measurements do they ?

 

[Magnum_Force]

Id the X2 doesn't fit (sry, missed where you said it's for a shuttle), you could try the Zalman VF900-cu (£24.62 inc VAT). I'm pretty sure that would fit, and it's also quiet.

Edit: Alternatively, you could get a BFG 7900GT OC for £193.82 (Inc VAT but not delivery) - this is a special this wek only deal. The 7900GT's run cooler than there ATi counterparts (you can tell by the size of the stock cooler), and so unless you overclocker, the stock cooler (the cooler that comes with the card) should suffice.

Edit No.2: Also, what's your PSU like?? if it's less than 350watt you might want to go with the 7900GT as this uses less power than ATi offerings.

 

[easyrider]

7900 GT for a shuttle.

Cool and doesn't suck juice.

 

[OV3RCLOCK3R]

Considering it's going in a shuttle. Definatly the 7900gt

 

[charltonfan1]

Agree, also 7900GT's are dropping in price tomorrow. Gibbo mentioned them at £149+VAT which is roughly £175

 

[david25]

How about

http://www.giga-byte.com/Awards/VGA...GA&ProductID=2235&ProductName=GV-NX76T256D-RH

I went from an 800xl to this, its a little faster, uses less power and is totally quiet (i also run in 1280x1024 only)

 

[Its_Me]

How about

http://www.giga-byte.com/Awards/VGA/Awards_List.aspx?ClassValue=VGA&ProductID=2235&ProductName=GV-NX76T256D-RH

I went from an 800xl to this, its a little faster, uses less power and is totally quiet (i also run in 1280x1024 only)

thanks but don't consider a 7600 an upgrade from a 850XT PE.

ill keep an eyeo n the 7900GT , thanks all.
looks likely prices are dropping next week too.

 

[ken1307]

Agree, also 7900GT's are dropping in price tomorrow. Gibbo mentioned them at £149+VAT which is roughly £175

^

plus an NV5 Silencer rev2 = fast&silent&cheap solution the silencer can fit onto the 7900GT no problems with little cutting its better than the vf900, specially when you use the card in ** shuttle