Single slot ATI 3870 (Addition: Or 46xx?)

Light Yagami · Post by **Light Yagami** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:30 pm

(Read the additional posts, below.)

I'm going to build a completely silent computer with my Zalman TNN 500AF case, but the case requires single slot graphics cards for proper installation, so I am searching for a single slot ATI 3870 with standardised mounting holes (same placement as on the old X800 XT, for instance). Maybe all cards, both when it comes to ATI and nVidia, have standardised mounting holes, though... anyone who knows? Anyway, the nVidia 9600GT looks good, as well, and always only uses one slot, but the idle power draw of the ATI 3870 is as low as 17W, so I think it would be better for me. Also, if there are 3870 cards that only use one slot, out of those cards available to me, are there any particular manufacturers that you would especially recommend, for some reason? And avoid, for that matter. Thanks for all help!

NyteOwl · Post by **NyteOwl** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 5:02 pm

A friend has a Sapphire Radeon Toxic HD 3870 512MB that has a factory passive/phase cooled heatsink arrangement that only occupies one slot. He's pretty happy with it.

Light Yagami · Post by **Light Yagami** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:33 pm

NyteOwl wrote:A friend has a Sapphire Radeon Toxic HD 3870 512MB that has a factory passive/phase cooled heatsink arrangement that only occupies one slot. He's pretty happy with it.

Oh, I forgot about that... the chip placement probably needs to be located more towards the middle, while it's almost all the way to the left, on that one. This is so the TNN 500AF's graphics card heatpipes that lead to the case wall will reach, properly. I'm not certain that this has to be the case, however; maybe someone else knows with more certainty? Thanks, anyway, though.

Max Dread · Post by **Max Dread** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:05 am

@NyteOwl - do you have any links to that GC? I can find a single slot Toxic HD 3870 with a fan but no passive versions. Or did I miss understand yuo? I must admit, I would be suprised at a 3870 with a 1 slot passive cooling solution...all the ones I have seen have been 3 slot!

Cheers

Max

Fungi · Post by **Fungi** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 1:47 pm

You may want to wait for the new 46xx series cards coming out this week. They don't even need 6 pin power plugged in.

Light Yagami · Post by **Light Yagami** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:44 pm

Fungi wrote:You may want to wait for the new 46xx series cards coming out this week. They don't even need 6 pin power plugged in.

What do you mean they won't need 6 pin power plugged in? Does the 3870 need some plug inserted, despite that you will cool it passively? Also, are you saying the 46xx series only needs one slot? Has any information been made available on how the idle power draw and full load power draw will be on this new series, as well? And how about the mounting holes?

By the way, I'm really uncertain that that Sapphire card has the chip to far to the left... it may well be it's appropriately placed; I'm just not sure and would prefer to be on the safe side... just to make it more clear. By the way, as for Max Dread's comment... the card I assumed was suggested indeed actually wasn't passively cooled... but that was the card that was mentioned.

NyteOwl · Post by **NyteOwl** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:15 pm

@Max Dread

My apologies, and to the original poster. Apparently, the card I was thinking of does indeed have a fan. I thought it was passive.

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php? ... e=SAPPHIRE

Sapphire apparently do have a passive 3870 but it's two slot.

http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/sho ... i=3250&p=8

dragmor · Post by **dragmor** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:23 pm

At least wait a week and check out the new ATI mid range cards.

4670 ~= 3850 in performance, and has a max of 75w (probably less, but it has no external power plug to go any higher).

dragmor · Post by **dragmor** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:12 pm

Hexus has some numbers.
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?i ... 93&page=14

Less power usage than a 3650 and about the performance of a 3850.