Good midrange silent graphics card for MacPro (WIN)?

[alien2108]

I am about to order MacPro 2.66Ghz/2Gb RAM tommorow with stock GeForce 7300. I won't wait another 3 weeks for X1900 and anyway is way to expensive.

Now I have ATI X800 in my PC and suits all my gaming needs. So for MacPro I am currently thinking on getting ATI PowerColor Radeon X1800 GTO/256Mb ram. Based on benchmarks card is even better as X800 and it costs only 180 EUR (compared to >300EUR for X1900/512Mb). Also card is noisless in idle based on reviews. Since my monitor has two inputs I'll just switch the input for OS X/XP.

Another alternative is GeForce 7600GT/Noisless (also 170EUR) which has NO fans and has similar benchmarks! So with it Macpro should be almost silent I guess...

AFAIK it should pose no problems for either to work in MacPro in WIN XP?

 

[Chone]

I think what you need is a passively cooled card (heatpipes\heatsink) like the "noiseless" 7600GGT you mention, whats your price range? 180E or how much are you looking to spend? What are your needs? What games do you play?

This would be the best solution, zero noise (no fans) and they perform just as well as their actively cooled cards, the only downside is that the cards will probably run a little hotter and they might not be as overclockable.

Yeah the cards will work just fine in Windows XP.

 

[alien2108]

That's why I am considering Asus/Gainward/MSI GeForce 7600GT/256Mb/Noisless. It is pasive cooled card. 100% noisless!

 

[MacProGuy]

That's why I am considering Asus/Gainward/MSI GeForce 7600GT/256Mb/Noisless. It is pasive cooled card. 100% noisless!

Don't forget...

THE CARD may be noiseless (not noisless, learn to spell)... but you may end up introducing so much heat into the case that the MAC FANS will be running much faster / louder...

So, for the same sound db you could just get a really nice 7900GTX or other high end card that has a fan.

Just FYI...

 

[alien2108]

MacPro thnx for thoughts! Well I'll try to get some fanless card that has heatpipes connected to outside of the case...Or maybe I'll try to see if some fan cards are really near whisper on idle...

About spelling -> Not everyone is english native speaker