8800gt vs 9600gt - which silent card?

[bengance]

I'm looking for a new passively cooled video card for my living room/gaming computer. I currently have a 8600gt from MSI that has done a good job, but as you probably know, the 8600 series wasn't quite up to par.

I'm thinking about either of these two:

ECS N8800GT-512MX+ GeForce 8800 GT $145
Newegg.com - ECS N8800GT-512MX+ GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

or

ASUS EN9600GT silent $135
Newegg.com - ASUS EN9600GT silent/HTDI/512M GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

I think the 8800gt's are slightly better at performance, even thought it's an older series card. Possibly running SLI in the future is remote as I'd have to get a new motherboard.

Thanks in advance!

 

[gurusan]

neither.

Newegg.com - ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

+

Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING ACCELS1 Rev 2 VGA Cooler - VGA Cooling

plus very slow speed 120mm fan

 

[Drizzt]

If you really want silent, you could probably get away without the 120mm fan. I know I could with my 8800gt, even while Overclocked. But idk cause the 4850's give off some heat I hear.

 

[hmammen]

Well as much as i love the 8800GT, i must tell you it is by no means a silent card, in fact its really loud when cranked 100% fan. So, if you want silent, 4850ati.

 

[veg1992]

Usually a single slot card is never quiet unless it has those specific heatsinks...

Going Gurusan's way works well, or consider an 8800gts g92 or HD 3870 which are both quiet...

 

[ricanflow]

Well as much as i love the 8800GT, i must tell you it is by no means a silent card, in fact its really loud when cranked 100% fan. So, if you want silent, 4850ati.

Not the stock 8800gt, but the Akimbo is very silent

 

[hmammen]

well yea your correct...but he was refering to the single slot version.....

 

[bengance]

neither.

Newegg.com - ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

+

Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING ACCELS1 Rev 2 VGA Cooler - VGA Cooling

plus very slow speed 120mm fan

This is crazy but I actually realized this exact same option based on Tom's Hardware Best Cards for the Money July 2008 article.
PCI-EXPRESS INTERFACE: $200 to $450 - Tom's Hardware : Best Graphics Cards For The Money: July '08

It is a bit more expensive, especially once you add the heatsink and fan. But the performance is noticeably better than the 9600's or 8800 gt's. How soon before MSI, ASUS or someone throws on a passive heatsink and improves upon the reference cooler? I'm a little hesitant to install it myself as it would void the warranty and I've heard the ram heatsinks tend to come off.