sorta OT: cheap vid for a server

  • Thread starter Thread starter emachine
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emachine

I'm looking for a card that's going to sit in a w2k3 server (2 of them
actually) - they don't even have monitors attached to them. Right now
they're running old hand-me downs, I've got my old GeForce 3 Ti500 in one
and an even older 3Dfx Voodoo3 in the other... both of them give off their
fair share of heat, and while the Voodoo3 doesn't have a fan, the GF3 does.
I'm trying to reduce the overall fan noise and heat so I can keep my closet
door closed without it turning into a sauna in there.

I kinda just assume I should go out and grab a few cheap pos cards, but
thought I'd make sure there's not a particular card out there people are
using for this purpose.
 
In my headless Linux network server, I use a PCI GF2MX. They're cheap
and pretty easy to find these days, work on just about any platform, and
don't put out much heat or consume much power.

Since you're using Win2K, another option is to use one of the cards you
have and underclock it considerably. You could get by without a fan on
the GF3 doing this.
 
Take my advice, sell that Gf3 on net. You'll get nice price for that. Buy
another voodoo3, gf2 mx (as suggested), or even any older crap off auction.
You'll sure make some money on the whole deal.
 
emachine said:
I'm looking for a card that's going to sit in a w2k3 server (2 of them
actually) - they don't even have monitors attached to them. Right now
they're running old hand-me downs, I've got my old GeForce 3 Ti500 in one
and an even older 3Dfx Voodoo3 in the other... both of them give off their
fair share of heat, and while the Voodoo3 doesn't have a fan, the GF3 does.
I'm trying to reduce the overall fan noise and heat so I can keep my closet
door closed without it turning into a sauna in there.

I kinda just assume I should go out and grab a few cheap pos cards, but
thought I'd make sure there's not a particular card out there people are
using for this purpose.
Click to expand...

The only time my servers ever use their vids card is when I'm installing the
OS. After that administer them via remote desktop/ssh/vnc. In other words go
for the POS cards. SiS 6326s are the cheapest, nastiest cards you can buy
but they're all you need. Enything else is a waste of money and will only
generate more heat and noise.

K
 
go to local mom and pop computershop and buy a used at1 expert 98 or
similar, probably spend 5 bucks or less. no heat. no fan.
 
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