SPCR

I am wanting one of these two, but my room is small and get hot easily. I only game occasionally (quake 3), so 90% of my time is with an idle (2D) GPU.

What should I be looking at to make this decision? Power consumption charts? Please recommend a link to read about this as I am in a hurry and can't search at the moment.

Or, if you have used both cards, please provide input on this subject. I realize the 4870 is a much more powerful card and requires two PCI-express connectors, which probably translates into a lot more heat.

Wait...Quake 3? Like the really old Quake 3? Shoot, go for a 4670 and it should be fine?

edit: Am I missing something here? Also a quick check at Techpowerup for power draw would seem to show that either of those will pull more power than your 8800GT. Obviously this always depends on particular cards...but if you're looking for something capable and cooler, either a 4770 or maybe even a 4830 could be better (not to say the 4670 wouldn't have waaaay more than needed for Q3, but either of those would be better with newer games at higher resolutions). I saw a review of a 4830 with no external power connector, something like that would be pretty good.

What? Why? Your 8800GT runs Q3 with hundreds of frames per second.

You care about Quake performance, I admire that

Yes the 8800GT runs the game with ease. I love it. What I don't love is the fact that my KVM switch will not receive/notice a video signal coming from this card unless the focus is on this PC. Numerous times I turn on my 2 PCs at the same time not realizing the focus must be on the PC with the 8800GT while booting up in order to have video. It's is a weird glitch with the KVM for sure, but the other 2 PCs I have tested this on both use the D-Sub; hence, I'm wanting to go for a video card with the analog output. My current 8800GT has 2 DVI-outs and I am using the DVI-Analog adapter.

The only other game I am interested in is Crysis, so I am thinking a 4850 or higher is what I should be thinking. But really, if I could get the KVM switch to work properly, I wouldn't even be considering a video card upgrade.

LodeHacker wrote:You care about Quake performance, I admire that

It's still the best to me. And today's technology makes play as smooth as melted butter. Turn v-sync on and it's amazing. I just don't see any games that compare in terms of over-the-top 3-D action.

Wedge wrote:But really, if I could get the KVM switch to work properly, I wouldn't even be considering a video card upgrade.

I found your solution: http://www.3m.com/us/office/postit/

Stick one on non-8800GT pc's power button, problem solved!

Good enough for me !!!