Anyone else notice the lack of HD 4670 low profile cards?

[TheInternal]

Hey all.

I know AMD is currently kicking butt and taking names in the GPU wars (let's hope that makes up for the CPUs not competing with the core i7), but I've found a lack of options from AMD for low profile graphics cards.

I'm looking for an HD 4670 (or even 4650) for an older Dell computer for some folks I work with (pretty sure it's PCI-express and not AGP-pro), but the case is a low form factor, thus severely limiting the options.

I'm trying to find a card for 1280x1024 gaming. Something that can run WOW at maxed out settings and that could run modern games at reasonable settings.

From looking through newegg a number of times, it looks like my options are all from the NVIDIA side, with the 9500 GT being the lowest I'd feel remotely comfortable suggesting for a budget upgrade, and the 9600 GT being a more comfortable (albeit more expensive than I had hoped) option.

Does anyone know of or if any low profile HD 4670s will hit the market?

Thanks.

 

[Bateluer]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814187061

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102754

Found these in a 5 minute Newegg search. The 9800GT is obviously the better card by a good margin, but the 3650 is half the price, will consume less power for the likely crappy Dell PSU, and will play WoW just fine.

 

[TheInternal]

Like I said in my OP, I found the 9000 series cards in low profile on newegg.

I'm reluctant to go with a 3650, considering how good the 4670 and 4650 is... though your point on the power is a very valid observation, so thanks for that bit. I'll do another google search or two for some reviews on the 3650.

Anyone see a low profile 4670/4650 yet?

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Here's one from Powercolor... Not sure where to buy it.

HD 4650, but GDDR2

 

[TheInternal]

Thanks for the link, Blue. Sadly, Google searches aren't yielding much yet for that card in retail channels. It gives me some hope, but I really was hoping to get one ASAP, rather than go with the 3650 from previous generation.

 

[yh125d]

A 3650 would barely play WoW, even at that res. Definitely go with something better than that...


I'm seeing low profile 9500GT only being about $10-15 cheaper than 9600. For that small a price margin I'd definitely go with a 9600gt

 

[cusideabelincoln]

The 9500GT is only a tad slower than the HD4650, while the 9600GT is a bit faster than the HD4670.

 

[TheInternal]

ah, so the 9600 GT would be the best bang for the buck for an MMO graphics card then? (1280x1024 res)

Something like this perhaps?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814162016

I worry about the dell PSU being able to handle the NVIDIA cards, which is one of my big reasons for leaning towards the ATI solutions.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: TheInternal
ah, so the 9600 GT would be the best bang for the buck for an MMO graphics card then? (1280x1024 res)

Something like this perhaps?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814162016

I worry about the dell PSU being able to handle the NVIDIA cards, which is one of my big reasons for leaning towards the ATI solutions.

Read through the reviews for that card you will see it works fine in quite a few Dells. Give it a shot, but don't be surprised if the Dell PSU burns out quicker than expected.

 

[s44]

No help, but I'm LOL at the low-profile 9800GT. That's sort of nuts.

 

[yh125d]

The Dell PSU will have no problem running a 9600GT. They actually put pretty beefy PSU's in there these days

 

[TheInternal]

So it sounds like the majority are suggesting the 9600 GT. Considering the special going on at newegg.com, perhaps I'll recommend that one after double checking the available connections on the Dell PSU.

On an unrelated note:

yh125d, if I've not said it before... I think you may have the best forum sig EVAR. (I played a feral moocow when I was WOWin' though)

 

[TheInternal]

And, of course, it turns out the Dell doesn't have any spare power connectors at all, so the 9600 GT isn't an option.

 

[Denithor]

If it's a standard ATX PSU just replace it.

There's a Corsair 400CX on newegg for $40 after a $20MIR (free shipping too).

EDIT: A 9600GT can handle WoW fine. I have one in my HTPC & WoW runs smooth at 1366x768.

 

[TheInternal]

it's not a standard ATX PSU. it's some weird low profile super odd shaped thing I've never seen before in all my ten years of working on computers professionally and as a hobbyist. Thus, it looks like I have to find a PCI-E card that's both A) low profile and B) does not require an additional power connector.

Teh suck

 

[TheInternal]

Somewhat good news:

I got a reply from Powercolor.

Dear Mr. Duvall,

Thank you for interesting in PowerColor Products.

We will have HD4650 512MB low profile card (HD4650 512MD2-LH) available in US etailer by 2nd week of March.

Best Regards
Amy Chang
Customer Service
Powercolor

yay ^.^

 

[Selbatrim]

I ordered the Powercolor. Was told it would be in stock in Australia 18th Feb, then on the 18th they told me ETA 11th of March... Kind of tempted to get the 9600gt instead. Sick and tired of waiting. That's a month after ordering it now cause I pre-ordered. Thing is I reaaaaally would rather have an ATI due to dx10.1, tesselator (which may or may not get used) and the open source GPGPU which I'm pretty sure will go further than CUDA with Nvidia. And I've had one graphics card die on me and it was a high end Nvidia. Couple that with the problems with the 8000 series, makes me want to shy away from them. I suppose in general I want to support Amd at the moment cause they really pulled off the 4000 series very well.

Ideally someone should release a 4670 low profile. That would've been just about the perfect mid-high range low profile card.

 

[TheInternal]

I feel yah. I'm baffled it's taken this long to even hear someone acknowledge release of a low profile part for this chip.

 

[bluemax]

Originally posted by: BlueAcolyte
Here's one from Powercolor... Not sure where to buy it.

HD 4650, but GDDR2

NCIX now sells it thanks to me.

 

[bluemax]

Originally posted by: TheInternal
ah, so the 9600 GT would be the best bang for the buck for an MMO graphics card then? (1280x1024 res)

Something like this perhaps?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814162016

I worry about the dell PSU being able to handle the NVIDIA cards, which is one of my big reasons for leaning towards the ATI solutions.

It did work in my Dell C521 but it's LOUD!! Go for the Sparkle card instead... cheaper and no MIR to fuss with. ***WHHHRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!***

 

[TheInternal]

still not finding either available in the USA yet.

 

[TheInternal]

Wow... I've STILL not found a US retailer for a low profile 4650 or 4670. Mind boggling, considering that these would be uber-HTPC/low profile cards.

 

[bluemax]

Sapphire and Powercolor both make LP 4650 cards.... they're just not HERE yet!

The Sapphire one looks just like the 3650... only much faster.

 

[octopus41092]

You know... you could probably pick up a 4830 for cheaper than that 9800GT AR.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: TheInternal
I've found a lack of options from AMD for low profile graphics cards.

I think it is more of a choice of the manufacturers in wanting to design a low profile card. Except for the lowest end units, typically there is no reference design kit for low profile cards thus they are rare for mid to higher end stuff.

It's kind of like where micro ATX was for years. Manufacturers thought there wasn't enthusiast demand so they didn't make enthusiast micro ATX boards. Enthusiasts through micro ATX were NOT for enthusiasts because there weren't any enthusiast micro ATX boards. Chicken/egg problem.

Manufacturers feel that there isn't demand for "better" low profile cards thus they don't make them. Heck, there are barely any low profile cards, let alone better ones. BFG has a low profile 9400 GT and that was barely done because the other guys (many who are enthusiasts) didn't think people wanted "low profile" as a feature. I made sure that the actual low profile bracket kit was included as part of the BOM**, and I was vindicated by some Newegg reviewers stating that they specifically bought it because it was low profile.

**Many cards that look low profile don't come with the bracket.

Anyways, departing from the "normal" stuff is pretty tough to do, so I'm pretty pleased to have had a (small) part in a few somewhat-special cards like the low profile 9400 GT and the passively cooled 9800 GT.