Highest performance passively cooled video cards for <$200?

[pm]

I've been reading a lot of video card reviews and looking over what Newegg stocks and it's not an easy thing to find out which video cards are the fastest but are fanless. What are currently the highest performing video cards under $200 from Newegg or another reputable online merchant that have no fans at all?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[AmberClad]

The Gigabyte 4850 is probably the most powerful passively cooled card I remember seeing.

 

[Leyawiin]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
The Gigabyte 4850 is probably the most powerful passively cooled card I remember seeing.

Yep, that is a pretty well reviewed card and the price is petty decent after rebate.

 

[BenSkywalker]

Was saying video cards intentional?

For single cards, the 4850 is going to be the fastest. For fanless solutions under $200(AR), SLId 9600GTs would be faster.

 

[happy medium]

Here take your choice.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...1&bop=And&Order=PRICED

 

[MrK6]

If you want to DIY, you can slap an Accelero S1 v. 2 on a 4870, although you'll need good case airflow.

 

[bluemax]

Makes more sense to buy the affordable 4850 w/ silent cooling right off the hop, rather than a car + aftermarket cooler (=more money) or a SLI rig which requires an expensive motherboard upgrade too.

Dollar for dollar, the Gigabyte 4850 passive that was mentioned looks like the best competitor.... so far.

 

[pm]

Originally posted by: BenSkywalker
Was saying video cards intentional?

For single cards, the 4850 is going to be the fastest. For fanless solutions under $200(AR), SLId 9600GTs would be faster.

Yeah, the words "video cards" was intentional - but I didn't mean it in terms of SLI. I was thinking that people would probably not agree on any one card/GPU type and so I was trying to be open to multiple possibilities.

Originally posted by: happy medium
Here take your choice.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...1&bop=And&Order=PRICED

I am embarrassed to admit that in my searching - I didn't find that switch. Thanks.

Although posting here does save me the work of going back and forth for each card and looking through the results. But it looks like that's the top result at Newegg... so I'm back to being embarrassed again.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll do some more reading, but it looks like that Gigabyte 4850 is the one to go with.

Thanks again.

 

[Fox5]

What's the point of going with a fanless card if it runs so hot that it requires fantastic case airflow? You'll have to have fans somewhere, why not on the card?

 

[vj8usa]

Originally posted by: Fox5
What's the point of going with a fanless card if it runs so hot that it requires fantastic case airflow? You'll have to have fans somewhere, why not on the card?

Good airflow will help keep every component cooler. On the other hand, good GPU cooling mostly helps just the GPU.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: Fox5
What's the point of going with a fanless card if it runs so hot that it requires fantastic case airflow? You'll have to have fans somewhere, why not on the card?

Even with not so great airflow the Gigabyte 4850 did really well (read the xtreme torture test part):
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com...gb-passive-review.html

 

[Leyawiin]

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: Fox5
What's the point of going with a fanless card if it runs so hot that it requires fantastic case airflow? You'll have to have fans somewhere, why not on the card?

Even with not so great airflow the Gigabyte 4850 did really well (read the xtreme torture test part):
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com...gb-passive-review.html

Exactly. I've read some really good things about it. If I were in the market for a single HD 4850 its the one I would buy - regardless of fan or no fan.

 

[taltamir]

get a really REALLY quiet after market fan... fanless is just not realistic for a performance card.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: pm

Originally posted by: BenSkywalker
Was saying video cards intentional?

For single cards, the 4850 is going to be the fastest. For fanless solutions under $200(AR), SLId 9600GTs would be faster.

Yeah, the words "video cards" was intentional - but I didn't mean it in terms of SLI. I was thinking that people would probably not agree on any one card/GPU type and so I was trying to be open to multiple possibilities.

Originally posted by: happy medium
Here take your choice.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...1&bop=And&Order=PRICED

I am embarrassed to admit that in my searching - I didn't find that switch. Thanks.

Although posting here does save me the work of going back and forth for each card and looking through the results. But it looks like that's the top result at Newegg... so I'm back to being embarrassed again.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll do some more reading, but it looks like that Gigabyte 4850 is the one to go with.

Thanks again.

Not many people use the advanced search option.:beer: good luck