New Video Card or New GPU Cooler?

[burnsy]

i have a bit of a dilemma. my current card, ATI X1800XT, is starting to artifact a little, as i'm sure it's because it's getting too hot and i haven't cleaned it out in a while. it only has it's stock cooler on it, and it is extremely loud. i know that other manufacturers such as diamond or HIS have better coolers, but didn't know that at the time, and got an ATI branded one.

So, my question is, what do the FG members think i would need? Either a new, HD Series ATI card, or an ARCTIC COOLING ACCELS1 Rev 2 VGA Cooler with the turbo fan module to put on it. My system specs below, and games and stuff used on the system below that:

• ASUS P5W DH DLX
• Intel Core2Duo E6600 @ Stock speed
• 2GB OCZ (don't remember speed)
• ATI Radeon X1800XT 256MB
• ATI TV Wonder 650
• 650W Antec PSU
• 250GB + 500GB WD HDD's
• Vista Premium

• LFS (70-80% of time used)
• GTA4 (not IV (not on PC yet ))
• CoD4
• Flight Sim X

stipulation: right now, the current video card is the loudest thing in the case. even the stock CPU cooler is far quieter than the GPU. so, if the recommendation is to go ahead and get a new HD Series card, the one you recommend has to be as quiet as possible, as this system is more of a Media Center than gaming system.

so please FG community, i can't decide, so please help me .

[Lilleput]

Why don't you just clean it out then ?

[Vette Boss]

I think his complaint is, that even when it is clean, the stock cooler is very noisy. Stock coolers usually have loud fans, especially with ATI cards.

Are you pleased with the performance of your current card? You mention it mainly being for media, gaming being a secondary activity. If you're happy with it, just pop the new cooler on and be done with it.

[jeffy777]

I personally wouldn't invest any more money on an outdated card. I recommend an 8800GT. You'll get much better performance in games such as CoD4. And the stock fans on the 8 series are very good as far as cooling and noise levels.

[MadCow809]

Depends on how much you want to spend.

The cheapest video card thats worth your money should be well over $100.

A nice GPU cooler is around half the price, and it might even fit on your next card, if you decide to upgrade at a later stage.

its your call.


edit - i will post some nice gpu cooler choices up here later.

[burnsy]

Originally Posted by Lilleput

Why don't you just clean it out then ?

yeah, like stated below, just too noisy.

Originally Posted by Vette Boss

I think his complaint is, that even when it is clean, the stock cooler is very noisy. Stock coolers usually have loud fans, especially with ATI cards.

Are you pleased with the performance of your current card? You mention it mainly being for media, gaming being a secondary activity. If you're happy with it, just pop the new cooler on and be done with it.

yeah, the current card is ok. runs most of my games at max quality, except for FSX, and when i get myself an HD TV, it'll do 1080i nicely. but, there's always room for improvement, and some of the HD Series cards look nice.

Originally Posted by jeffy777

I personally wouldn't invest any more money on an outdated card. I recommend an 8800GT. You'll get much better performance in games such as CoD4. And the stock fans on the 8 series are very good as far as cooling and noise levels.

in some ways, i agree with this too, but i'd like to stick with an ATI chipset, since i already have an ATI TV card, and just kinda prefer ATI more (not a fanboy ). not that i have anything against Nvidia, but my dad has one, and he's always cursing upon it. also, ATI seems to do well for media centers and Nvidia doesn't do as well.

Originally Posted by MadCow809

Depends on how much you want to spend.

The cheapest video card thats worth your money should be well over $100.

A nice GPU cooler is around half the price, and it might even fit on your next card, if you decide to upgrade at a later stage.

its your call.


edit - i will post some nice gpu cooler choices up here later.

i already posted on my OP the cooler i would probably get if i stayed with this current GPU. mischief007 has it, says he likes it alot. but, if there are others, with similar, or smaller profile, then i'd take a look at them. (smaller profile because of the TV card, and maybe in the future a nice theater sound card).

[MadCow809]

Problem with the ARCTIC COOLING ACCELS1 cooler is that its a passive cooling unit, you might want to strap a 80/120mm fan on the side to help with the cooling.

Most of the 120mm fans are pretty inaudible, so yeah.. I'd say that artic cooling fan is quite a nice choice.

[cvrefugee]

Don't get anything by Arctic Cooling if it has movable parts. I've had three different products of theirs and all three fans developed noisy fan bearings after a year. They claim to have a 6-year warranty, but good luck in getting anything replaced or repaired.

http://www.arctic-cooling.com/service.php

Yes, that is a flowchart.

[Crazyjeeper]

I would get something like this if you are going to stick with ATI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121219

[awdrifter]

Looks like quietness is important factor for you, this HD3870 is complete fanless, so it should be silent.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131089

[jensked]

Originally Posted by jeffy777

I personally wouldn't invest any more money on an outdated card. I recommend an 8800GT. You'll get much better performance in games such as CoD4. And the stock fans on the 8 series are very good as far as cooling and noise levels.

I'm with Jeffy, as always