X-bit labs

Started by: broadsword | Date 02/27/04

Comments: 6 | Last Comment:  08/29/04

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1. I have the 256MB Sapphire Xtreme card, and noted that it has a 4-pin power connect on board. What is this for??? How would it be used???

2. I see that you guys make interesting tests here.
Here is one interesting for me:
- Ati Radeon 8500 vs Geforce 3/4
- Ati Radeon 7xxx vs Geforce 2/4MX

As you all know nvidia at the time of those cards was the best, but ati NOW have much better drivers then before, so today, how much good are nvidia cards vs ati cards in today/older games, the difference is still there? Or ati hardware was already good, only needed good drivers?

What difference does older games have today comparing to 2/3 years ago drivers?
Was really Geforce a better hardware product at that time?

Ps: All this because i have played NBA 2003 on a integrated IGP340 and it was cool, nod bad really, only by updating drivers from Catalyst 2.5 to Catalyst 4.1.

3. If you really want to have an ‘ultimately quiet’ solution, then don’t have to worry about Korean Zalman and noise dampeners cause they simply don’t work. I have four disks (440GB) and a few vents (Zalman & Enermax) set at lowest setting, including with the one in the PSU, but it’s still like having a Hoover beside you. I just couldn’t work like that, so I had to buy myself a pile of earplugs.

I felt like a physical worker at a construction site!!!

Seriously, to make a really silent solution is so simple. I just can’t figure it out why people don’t “propagate” it more: you don’t have to have your Hoover next to you – it can be in another room, pantry, basement or heating room!!! Your new NVIDIA and 3+GHz monsters can scare lettuce in your pantry or intimidate firewood while letting your ears rest!!!

You just have to drill a hole in a wall (or if you have a chimney you don’t use it anymore -;>) and/or buy a few 10 meter cables: for VGA/DVI monitor, PS/2 and USB. You have to be careful when buying VGA cable, because are there lots of cables that really suck. The one I have runs seamlessly at 1280x1024 at 100Hz. You make 10m USB with 2 5m cables + 2USB hubs; and done!

The loudest ‘device’ currently residing in my working room is my radiator!!!

Lean onto Leanux – http://www.leanux.org

Man crazy!!!

Get a nice aluminium case,with quiet low rpms fans, with shocks for hdds. Get zalman cooler for cpu, and a "silent" psu....

Mine is whisper quiet - and thats with 2ghz overclocked xp athlon, and 2x 120gb hdds etc - and a stock crucial radeon 9700 pro

Ok - i might have cheated a little - I spend a few bucks on acoustic silent pc kit (ie sticky foam) - but its not that expensive or hard to build a quiet pc in this way without having to put your pc up a chimney or go nuts reducing voltages !

what "silent" PSU did you use? i bought the Antec 3700BQE and quieted my gas-powered leaf blower quite a bit, but i think the PSU is the last thing remaining that needs to be silenced...

4. How is it that you reduce the 9800's fan to 7v???

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