Ati 2600XT for HTPC queries...

[jonathan_phang]

Hello Y'all

A while back, when the whole google checkout thing was on, I started amassing the pieces for a media PC. Its all built now apart from the GPU. The barebones was the following:



I've been umming and ahhing about the GPU and initially settled on an Asus silent 8500GT:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=586390

That should be fine for video and its quiet and reviews state that the power draw isnt that great. However, graphically it doesnt seem to do it. I dont want to game THAT much, but want the option to be able to run some lesser games at HDTV native resolution (1366x768).

After reading up a bit more it seemed that the Ati HD2400 is more or less equal, except not as silent, and a bit more unavailable...So I am left with the HD 2600XT. Now i think that this should be okay graphically for the resolution mentioned above (In all fairness, its to play things like Lego Star Wars and maybe racing game like NFS MW/Carbon), but have a few questions. I have read around a few generic reviews for the series but i have just spotted this:

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Compo...qcType=new#rqc

However, I just would like to know the following before i jump:

1) Is this card (the sapphire one) a single slot cooler? I believe the Ati reference was, and Sapphire usually dont do much, but I ask because the shuttle i have has the PCIe slot right at the edge of the mobo, and some cards cheat by having a single PCIe bracket cover, but the cooling solution may just peek out a bit over the slot... Anyone know what this card is like?

2) There is a 250w silentx PSU in my shuttle - I only have a X2 3600+ 65w version, one HDD, and a DVD drive installed, so do you think that this PSU can take it?

3) Do you think that my justifications are right for getting this card instead of the 8500gt? Ie. Should it be fine to do things at that res? Or what would be YOUR suggestion?

Thanks for any help

JP

[this_is_gav]

Luckily for you, Hexus actually reviewed the Sapphire one here

In short, yes, the cooler is single-slot - I don't actually know of a non-reference cooler yet, so I guess every HD2600XT will be.

It should work fine in your shuttle too - it doesn't even need additional power, so it'll have roughly the same power consumption as an nV 6600GT.

[jonathan_phang]

Cheers for the link Gav, but that is a 2600 PRO, and I think that the XT would be better suited to my needs. I only ask about the cooler because of something that I saw on guru3d - I think that between the 2600XT, the memory type may determine the cooler. Check out these pics:

GDDR4:
http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/440/10/

GDDR3
http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/440/12/

Shame most retailer dont show actual card pics instead of a picture of a box....

Cheers for the advice tho!

JP

[this_is_gav]

Ohh, my apologies, so it is