Best Single Slot Width Card?

[crazydavid]

Hey all, first post looking to upgrade the crappy 7300LE in my Dimension E521(i know i know) and was hoping to get a directx 10 card if possible. I've been trying to research myself, and iv came to the conclusion that i cant fit a dual width card, which rules out any of the high end cards - 8800 and hd 2900. Unless theres some way to make the wider cards fit into one slot size I think I'm going to have to aim lower. Does this basically mean an 8600 or is there a directx 9 card that will give decent framerates, fit into one slot, and not cost an arm and a leg so that i can eventually upgrade to directx 10 when a single slot option becomes available. Sorry to ask so much, but this is all a bit daunting to me...

[Pob255]

It depends on the resolution you want to run at and what games you want to play.
A 8600GTS looks like it's ok at 1280x1024 but not much higher.
But anything lower is pritty rubbish for gameing.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid...8-roundup.html

The main this I'd ask is that do you need a single slot card?
What other additional cards are you useing?

[Queelis]

A reference X1950PRO (for example Sapphire's) is single slot.
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=481911

From nVidia you can choose from either a 7900GS:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=488117
or a 7950GT:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=466117
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=588412.

The 7900GS is a bit slower than the 1950PRO, and the 7950GT is a bit faster. Personally I'd choose the 7950GT, as both of those (XFX and Leadtek's) come with non-reference coolers, which should be quieter than that of the 7900GS.

[NightshadowUK]

The 7950GT and X1950Pro are actually pretty even, it's swings and roundabouts from game to game.

Personally I'd choose the Pro as it's quite a bit cheaper:

- 256MB Sapphire Radeon X1950Pro ~ £90.96

- 256MB XFX 7950GT ~ £122.19

Plus it's nice to run AA and HDR together, which you can't do with the 7950GT.

[cptwhite_uk]

Tom's VGA Charts disagree. The Pro can match on some games (ATI optimised?) but the 7950GT is upto ~ 40% faster in others. Personally I think the extra performance is worth the extra cash in this case. Not that the X1950pro is a bad card...I have one myself

[danroyle]

Tom's VGA Charts disagree. The Pro can match on some games (ATI optimised?) but the 7950GT is upto ~ 40% faster in others. Personally I think the extra performance is worth the extra cash in this case. Not that the X1950pro is a bad card...I have one myself

that must have hurt for you to say that mate

but i agree the 7950gt is worth the little bit extra

[NightshadowUK]

Tom's VGA Charts disagree.

So it does, nice one.

[Pob255]

I'd also sugest a 7900GS for gameing if you want a nice card that runs 1280x1024 well.
I've been quiet impressed with mine so far.
Ebuyer has
XFX 7900GS 256MB Dual DVI TV Out PCI-E Graphics Card £67.40
EVGA 7900GS KO 256MB DVI PCI-E Graphics Card £95.96
Ok the EVGA is more expensive, but it's factory clocked and has both there 10year warranty and the 90day step up program, that in 3 months time when we should actually have a slightly better idea of dx10 performance, you can use the step up to get a better card with out haveing to pay the full price on it.

[Pob255]

On the tomshardware vga charts, you'll notice that on the games where the 7950GT beats the x1950Pro the 7900GS is just under the x1950Pro
And all these games are OpenGL based, which is still a real weakness for the ATi cards.

[crazydavid]

Thanks guys, I'm only running my games at 1280x1024. the problem with the computer is that it only has one PCI-e slot, and theres just enough room to fit a single slot card, any more and its blocked. I like the idea of the step up thing, I'll probably get that one.
EDIT - If it helps to know what games I'm into ,eh id wanna run FEAR , Oblivion, Black and White 2, Doom 3 engine games, HL2 and Bioshock when it comes out(not too bothered about Directx 10 features in that one)

[Pob255]

Most cards that are double height is simply because of the cooler, they don't actually take up additional slots on the mother board, it just means you could not put a card in the slot below the graphics card (or above depending on case)


although if this is the case I can see the problem.
You should be able to use a double height card, as long as it's not designed to blow directly out of the rear of the other slot. ( e.g. )
What you'll have to do is, if it's got a double height rear plate, ether trim the back plate or unscrew it and use your old single size backplate (if the connectors are in the same place) or could try contacting manufactors/re-salers and asking for a single height back plate.

[crazydavid]

Most cards that are double height is simply because of the cooler, they don't actually take up additional slots on the mother board, it just means you could not put a card in the slot below the graphics card (or above depending on case)

although if this is the case I can see the problem.
You should be able to use a double height card, as long as it's not designed to blow directly out of the rear of the other slot.
What you'll have to do is, if it's got a double height rear plate, ether trim the back plate or unscrew it and use your old single size backplate (if the connectors are in the same place) or could try contacting manufactors/re-salers and asking for a single height back plate.

Hmm sounds intruiging, but the 8800s all require blowing out the rear (immature laugh)slot would i be able to cut the bit of the case away that blocks this to allow decent circulation, im not bothered about warranty or anything...

[Pob255]

Hmm sounds intruiging, but the 8800s all require blowing out the rear (immature laugh)slot would i be able to cut the bit of the case away that blocks this to allow decent circulation, im not bothered about warranty or anything...

Probably, couldn't say for sure without looking a one of thoes cases in real life to check.

looking at that image I posted (is that the case you have?) you'll need to check that thoes two heat sinks on the motherboard wouldn't get in the way.

The total dimentions of 8800
GTS = 220×100×33 mm
GTX/Ultra = 270×100×33 mm

[crazydavid]

thats my case, forgot to mention, i measured the dimensions of the insides and it seems i would need 2 tweak the heatsink shroud to get it fitting properly

[Big Jake]

Hi there. I recently went through the exact same situation that you are in. I got a good deal on a Dell e520, but couldn't decide on a grapohics card.

1. You can go with an 8800, with the addition of an aftermarket cooler and the aforementioned plate modification. Thermalright has a very nice one for the 8800's you can find on newegg. (my first post, i can't use URL's ;-)

please note the 8800's will probably require an upgraded power supply to run them.

2. You can stay with the dual slot option, with modification to the cpu fan shroud and rear of the case.

3. I ultimately decided on an 8600GTS, for $150 you get dx10 compatibility and similar performance to the previous generation cards mentioned here.

I did a lot of looking before I decided which card to go with. I had high hopes for the ATI HD 2600XT but it was a disappointment, so i went with the best midrange dx10 out right now, and that's the 8600GTS. Hope this helps.


PS If you do go with the 8600GTS, be sure and get a ~8" molex power splitter, as my dell only had a single molex connector.

I forgot to mention I run all my games at 1440x900 on the max settings and have no issues with performance. CoH is slow at max, but fine at high setting.