Recommend me a silent low profile GPU

[Zoom7000]

My GeForce 560 Ti failed on me a few months back and I've been using my brother's card since. However, he now wants it back, so can someone please spec me a replacement. Looking for something as silent as possible as the wife isn't happy with the racket my current card makes as the PC is in the main living room acting as my Media Centre and preferably something small and low profile. Also, I'll need it to have HDMI ports as I'll hopefully be buying a 40" TV soon to replace my 23" monitor.

[3s-gtech]

What sort of budget and capability are you after? You can get a Nvidia GTX 750Ti in low profile format, though it has a fan so won't be silent - that'll be around the most powerful card in that form factor. Otherwise, a plain old GT 720 or 730 with no fan will do the job for media duties. If you prefer red, an AMD R5 230 is also available in low profile, passive varieties.

[Geoff]

MSI Nvidia Gt720 Passive Graphics Card (1GB, 64 Bit, DDR5, PCI-E): Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

[Zoom7000]

What sort of budget and capability are you after? You can get a Nvidia GTX 750Ti in low profile format, though it has a fan so won't be silent - that'll be around the most powerful card in that form factor. Otherwise, a plain old GT 720 or 730 with no fan will do the job for media duties. If you prefer red, an AMD R5 230 is also available in low profile, passive varieties.

 

I've just played GTA V with a lot of settings turned down on my 560 Ti and I'm hoping to play the upcoming Batman game with some better graphics. I was thinking maybe around the £100 mark? I don't mind sacrificing the low profile factor.

Edited June 2, 2015 by Zoom7000

[3s-gtech]

You'll want some horsepower then - forget the 720, 730 and R5 230. Gigabyte's GTX 750Ti fits your budget and requirements pretty well, but it won't be silent. It's not the most powerful of cards, but is better than the 560 Ti.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

You'll want some horsepower then - forget the 720, 730 and R5 230. Gigabyte's GTX 750Ti fits your budget and requirements pretty well, but it won't be silent. It's not the most powerful of cards, but is better than the 560 Ti.

 

That card will fit your budget but it's not going to give you the biggest boost in performace. If you can wait a while and find an extra £50 you can get a GTX960 for just £148 - Zotac GTX 960 2GB GDDR5 DVI HDMI 3 DisplayPort PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

 

That'll give you a much better performance bump and it'll last you longer also

[Zoom7000]

That card will fit your budget but it's not going to give you the biggest boost in performace. If you can wait a while and find an extra £50 you can get a GTX960 for just £148 - Zotac GTX 960 2GB GDDR5 DVI HDMI 3 DisplayPort PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

 

That'll give you a much better performance bump and it'll last you longer also

 

That is nice Dave, but it is HUGE and will probably sound like an aeroplane taking off won't it?

[ICTDirect_Dave]

I shouldn't think so. My GTX970 has two MASSIVE fans and it hardly makes a sound. The GTX750Ti isn't fanless so that'll make a little noise also.

 

I shouldn't think you'd notice much difference between those two tbh. I can't remember the last time a graphics card made enough noise for me to notice it though.

[Zoom7000]

I shouldn't think so. My GTX970 has two MASSIVE fans and it hardly makes a sound. The GTX750Ti isn't fanless so that'll make a little noise also.

 

I shouldn't think you'd notice much difference between those two tbh. I can't remember the last time a graphics card made enough noise for me to notice it though.

 

You've got me torn now! I was looking at this silent fanless 750 Ti, but the 960 sounds ever so tempting, although I'm worried about the noise compared to the silent 750 Ti and just how huge it is!

Edited June 2, 2015 by Zoom7000

[sonofsanta]

Bear in mind that big fans are quieter than smaller fans, as they shift more air and so don't need to spin as fast. This is why rack mounted servers sound so 'orrible.

 

The 900 series nVidia cards are very power-efficient, therefore produce less heat, therefore require less cooling. The Asus Strix cards, for example, shut the fan off altogether when you're only at the desktop, because the chip is so cool. The fans only spin up in games. That card is £170 so starting to push the budget a lot, but I reckon some other manufacturers have done a similar trick, I just can't remember them off the top of my head.

[Domo]

was gonna say, i have a 960 strix card. it's so quiet! unfortunately can't say the same for my liquid cooling... i thought that was supposed to be quiet? xD

[3s-gtech]

Sorry - I wasn't sure from the first post whether it had to be low profile. If it doesn't, get a GTX 960, no question.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

The Asus Strix cards, for example, shut the fan off altogether when you're only at the desktop, because the chip is so cool. The fans only spin up in games. That card is £170 so starting to push the budget a lot, but I reckon some other manufacturers have done a similar trick, I just can't remember them off the top of my head.

 

My MSI Gaming 970 does just this. It's lovely and quiet

[sonofsanta]

My MSI Gaming 970 does just this. It's lovely and quiet

 

I knew someone would have the answer and save me looking it up the MSI 960 does the same and is <£160 at eBuyer (and is overclocked about 10% as well), or the Gigabyte 960 is £160 at Scan if you prefer to buy there (or £163 at Amazon)

 

I would say that going below that card loses you a lot of performance for not a lot of saving; GPUs have to really cut corners to hit a £100 price mark. £150 is usually about the price point where you start getting good value (not just cheap) GPUs. Better to invest a bit more now and be set for a few years.

Edited June 2, 2015 by sonofsanta

[LincolnE]

As has been said, get one that doesn't need the fan on during idle times.

 

I now mostly go under water with my builds, but before then I'd mess with custom fan curves to get it silent when I want it and to be loudish when I wouldn't notice it.