Subject says it. I'm going to get another video card and I was wondering what everyone's opinion is on whether or not a fan is needed. The last 2 cards I've had have had fans. One still works, although the fan sputters, stops and starts, when it spins. The other card, the fan completely stopped working, so now the card overheats.
Should I stick with the fans, or do the cards with heat-sinks work just as well?
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Normally a Graphics card is built in mind with the temperatures it creates which then makes them put a fan or a heat sink on them. All high-end cards have fans because they generate a decent amount of heat.
Really its not about fan vs heat sink, its about what do you want to do with it. If you are a heavy gamer then your going to want a high-end card that has a fan. If your just looking for a card for basic things, then a heat sink one will be fine.
Generally though all cards that will run any new or even older MMO decently will have a fan.
Some tips on keeping your fan working though is to keep it dusted out. Most people dont realize that dust will build up around the fan and prevent it from moving, which burns out your fan.
So in the end, your pretty much stuck with a fan unless your machine is for surfing only, which you could then downgrade to a heat sink card.
Really its not about fan vs heat sink, its about what do you want to do with it. If you are a heavy gamer then your going to want a high-end card that has a fan. If your just looking for a card for basic things, then a heat sink one will be fine.
Generally though all cards that will run any new or even older MMO decently will have a fan.
Some tips on keeping your fan working though is to keep it dusted out. Most people dont realize that dust will build up around the fan and prevent it from moving, which burns out your fan.
So in the end, your pretty much stuck with a fan unless your machine is for surfing only, which you could then downgrade to a heat sink card.
Normally I'd agree that a fan on a VGA card was a necessity but I spent 6 hours on a trian yesterday and the only thing I had to read on the return leg was this month's PC Format (UK) magazine. They've got a quick round-up of VGA coolers and one - the Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 - is fanless. Apparently the 8800GT was stable with this attached, albeit running at 88 celsius.
So yes, it's technically possible to have a stable high-end graphics card with a fanless cooler but I'd still not recommend it. Fans, double-slot coolers, direct venting to outside the case, they're all good in my book.
EDIT: forgot to add the link first time. Sorted now.
Edited, Oct 3rd 2008 7:29pm by Leodis
So yes, it's technically possible to have a stable high-end graphics card with a fanless cooler but I'd still not recommend it. Fans, double-slot coolers, direct venting to outside the case, they're all good in my book.
EDIT: forgot to add the link first time. Sorted now.
Edited, Oct 3rd 2008 7:29pm by Leodis
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