Passively cooled GPUs?

[TheMastr13]

hey everybody!

I have a quick question.

I need to get a new graphics card for my HTPC, and want to know if i should get a passively cooled one or actively cooled one. I'm looking at the Nvidia GT730, and my local fry's offers both of the cooling types.

 

The case it will be in doesn't have very much airflow, but the card needs to be quiet because it is an HTPC, mostly used for netflix.

 

Thanks!

-TheMastr13

 

EDIT: here is the one i was looking at

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Profile-Graphics-02G-P3-1733-KR/dp/B00LJZQEV4

[ANewFace]

Ge this. Sapphire R7 250 Ultimate. http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Ultimate-PCI-Express-Graphics-11215-04-40G/dp/B00ILALU28/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1434655425&sr=8-9&keywords=r7+250

[PineappleHolidays]

does it have intergrated graphics ?

[TheMastr13]

does it have intergrated graphics ?

it does,but its an old core 2 duo that stutters alot when playing full 1080p videos

[TheMastr13]

Ge this. Sapphire R7 250 Ultimate. http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Ultimate-PCI-Express-Graphics-11215-04-40G/dp/B00ILALU28/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1434655425&sr=8-9&keywords=r7+250

thats a bit out of the budget. I need it to be less than $80 USD

[ANewFace]

thats a bit out of the budget. I need it to be less than $80 USD

You can get them for $100, you can go $20 over budget. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sapphire-Ultimate-AMD-Radeon-R7-250-1GB-GDDR5-DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort-pci-e-Video-/191579079301?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c9b00c285

[TheMastr13]

You can get them for $100, you can go $20 over budget. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sapphire-Ultimate-AMD-Radeon-R7-250-1GB-GDDR5-DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort-pci-e-Video-/191579079301?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c9b00c285

ill search around and try to find one, maybe on craigslist

[Sir Asvald]

hey everybody!

I have a quick question.

I need to get a new graphics card for my HTPC, and want to know if i should get a passively cooled one or actively cooled one. I'm looking at the Nvidia GT730, and my local fry's offers both of the cooling types.

 

The case it will be in doesn't have very much airflow, but the card needs to be quiet because it is an HTPC, mostly used for netflix.

 

Thanks!

-TheMastr13

 

EDIT: here is the one i was looking at

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Profile-Graphics-02G-P3-1733-KR/dp/B00LJZQEV4

http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-Express-Graphics-11216-00-20G/dp/B00DR3M050/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434655761&sr=8-1&keywords=r7+240

[berserker]

if i were you i would put there a custom drilled cpu cooler to the graphics card with a fan (with a pwm controller) directly connected to your mobo... great cooling and really silent

[TheMastr13]

if i were you i would put there a custom drilled cpu cooler to the graphics card with a fan (with a pwm controller) directly connected to your mobo... great cooling and really silent

i really cant afford a cooler and a gpu... 

otherwise i would

[berserker]

man !! scrap parts!!! 

look at my neat well done work ahah https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=5C587ABB732FC0C2&id=5c587abb732fc0c2%2183755&v=3

[MrBucket101]

@TheMastr13

 

If all you are doing is playing 1080p video, why not just get one of these?

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102882

 

AMD 5450, no need to break the bank its an HTPC. I had the same exact card in my HTPC for 2 years. Played 1080p video stutter free, over the network, and locally.

[Curufinwe_wins]

If you grab a passive cooled one I would buy a 10 dollar fan and tie it to the top for better thermals.

[TheMastr13]

@TheMastr13

 

If all you are doing is playing 1080p video, why not just get one of these?

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102882

 

AMD 5450, no need to break the bank its an HTPC. I had the same exact card in my HTPC for 2 years. Played 1080p video stutter free, over the network, and locally.

I like that, but how does it compare to the gt730 in my original post? I want a bit more power just in case 4k comes along to my tv

[MrBucket101]

I like that, but how does it compare to the gt730 in my original post? I want a bit more power just in case 4k comes along to my tv

doesn't much matter, there isn't any 4k native content available atm to play in 4k on your 4k tv.

 

I mean I guess you can count, House of Cards on netflix, but then you have to consider your internet connection being fast enough to stream 4k.

 

I would just go with the cheap option, and if/when you get a 4k TV, maybe there will be 4k content, and there will definitely be more powerful GPU's in the low end of the spectrum. I mean you only benefit by waiting.