[mythtvnz] 8600GT or similar

[Stephen Worthington]

On Tue, 24 Jun 2014 05:51:50 +1200, you wrote:

>On Mon, 23 Jun 2014 22:11:49 +1200, you wrote:
>
>>On 23 June 2014 11:07, Stephen Worthington <stephen_agent at jsw.gen.nz> wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon, 23 Jun 2014 05:23:07 +1200, you wrote:
>>>
>>> >>>Hi All,
>>> >>>
>>> >>>I've just had my video card melt down, literally.
>>> >>>
>>> >>>Does anyone have an old 8600GT or similar that works that is not being
>>> >used?
>>> >>>
>>> >>>Or could recommend a replacement.  The PC is old as well, just wanting
>>> >>>to get the box running again.
>>> >>>
>>> >>>We got quite the smell when it stopped !!?? ;)
>>> >>>
>>> >>>Tim
>>> >>
>>> >>Smell often equals popped electrolytic capacitors.  In the era of 8600GT
>>> >cards, there were lots of bad electrolytic capacitors being used in all
>>> >sorts of electronics, especially >computer components.  It can be possible
>>> >to replace them, if you are good at soldering.
>>> >>
>>> >>Failing that, finding working cards from that era is getting difficult,
>>> as
>>> >they have mostly already died from bad capacitors by now.  Even if not in
>>> >use, the capacitors still die.
>>> >>
>>> >>If you are looking for something for the future, this card looks good:
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/components/video-cards/pciexpress/auctio
>>> >n-742513401.htm
>>> >>
>>> >>if a little expensive.  An Nvidia 630 should be able to handle the full
>>> >deinterlace modes.  Of the current generation of silent cards, I am not
>>> sure
>>> >if the 610 chipset will >actually do the full deinterlace, but the 6330
>>> >should.
>>> >>
>>> >>If you just want any card that can do full deinterlace and are OK with
>>> >having a fan, then a second hand Nvidia 220 is probably the lowest spec
>>> card
>>> >that was made after the >era of bad capacitors and will still be working
>>> and
>>> >be going to keep working.  There were silent 220 cards made (I have one),
>>> >but they are virtually never available second >hand.
>>> >>And even second hand 220 cards with fans do not seem to go very cheaply.
>>> >And of course fans do die too.
>>> >
>>> >Hi,
>>> >
>>> >I have an ASUS GT610 and get a little tearing at the top of the screen, do
>>> >you think the GT630 should be fine as I am not clear of the spec
>>> differences
>>> >-  I need to build a second box?
>>> >
>>> >I see PB Tech have them for $98.90 inl gst.
>>> >
>>> >Cheers
>>>
>>> The relevant difference seems to be in the shaders - the 610 does not
>>> have enough of them, or they do not run fast enough.  It looks like
>>> Nvidia has released a new version of 630 also, using GDDR5 instead of
>>> DDR3.  Nvidia has a habit of re-using model numbers for different
>>> chipsets.  The older DDR3 one should be fine.  The GDDR5 one is likely
>>> overkill, but probably a better choice if you can get a silent one as
>>> it will likely use less power and get less hot than the DDR3 version.
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>So would something like this be OK?
>>
>>http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=423762
>>
>>GT630-SL-1GD3-L, GeForce GT 630 Video Card, 1024MB, DDR3, PCIe-16
>>
>>Tim
>
>Yes, that looks good.

Just be aware, if you have not used a silent card before, that the
heatsink sticks out into the next slot - so you lose the use of that
slot.  The link on that web page to the Asus site gives the dimensions
and some good photos on the gallery tab.

Some of the more powerful fan cooled cards have the same problem.