Geforce 7300 GS / 7200 ES

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06-08-2008
Mario F.

Geforce 7300 GS / 7200 ES

Just a small tidbit of information, on this graphics card since it came bundled on my pre-assembled computer. Don't get it, even if you are not a gamer like me. Here's why...

It's a entry level graphics card, but capable of running most modern games in low settings and 3 or 4 year old games in high settings. And this is exactly the problem with it, because it's a fanless card.

It idles on 77c (170f) after around 15 minutes of being on and after 1 hour on Doom 3, it's sitting on 99c (210f). Only by leaving the desktop side panel open, can I get it to sit on 65c (149f) when idle which is what Nvidia claims this card to do. And this on a typical non-cluttered Mid-T ATX case. The computer is also new, so no frequent usage or dust accumulation influencing the results.

I'm writing this, because I see this card often being bundled on new entry to mid level computers. Quiet a terrible offer and don't be leaned towards it. After all, at 99c this card is not only dramatically reducing its life expectancy, but actively contributing to a general increase of temperature inside the case.

Buying a fan is an option, but not worthed when one consider an upgrade is cheap with the benefit of just making the computer run faster.
06-08-2008
Elysia

Well, you should have at least 3 120 mm fans in a desktop computer to ensure proper cooling.
If I remember correctly, the front fan should suck in cool air, which should help cool the graphics card and the one at the back will suck out hot air, which should help it remain more cool.

But I don't want to find myself buying a fan-less graphics card nevertheless.
06-08-2008
zacs7

> But I don't want to find myself buying a fan-less graphics card nevertheless.
Why not?

If you have good air flow there isn't a problem with just having a heatsink (unless you live in the desert or like to O/C).

The last 4 cards I've had, 5200FX, 6600TDH, 7600GT, 8600GT -- all didn't have fans, no problems. My 8600GT sits on about 40C, and 44C or so after a few hours of games.

Not any card I'd recommend, or go for. Thanks for the heads-up though :)
06-08-2008
Elysia

Risks are not in my nature...
I'd rather be safe than sorry. If it has a fan, then the fan can keep the card cool if the airflow fails or if the card gets too hot.
If it doesn't have a fan, then you do risk it getting too hot.

And I don't have the best airflow in my own case at the time...
Graphics card is running at 55 degrees at idle >_<
I simply don't trust it...
06-08-2008
Mario F.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zacs7

My 8600GT sits on about 40C, and 44C or so after a few hours of games.

You only very rarely will going to see proper cooling mechanisms installed on an entry to mid level computer being sold on stores. My concerns were not being applied to custom computers or those rare ones that ship with adequate cooling. But instead to all the typical stuff you see on stores.

Being myself a little shaky about these hardware things, I felt for it.
06-08-2008
Elysia

I wouldn't trust any retail computer. Poor cooling, too little ram, only a proper graphics card in the most expensive models, etc.
06-08-2008
zacs7

I know, I was just saying there's nothing wrong with heatsinks.

Does the case have any case fans?
06-08-2008
Mario F.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zacs7

Does the case have any case fans?

Only the CPU and power supply. I'm considering three options...

1 - Just remove the card and use the onboard one which is adequate and supports 1440x900 which is what I'm using now.

2 - Buy a better graphics card with proper cooling already installed.

3 - Upgrade my case cooling (possibly coupled with option 2).

Frankly, I'm leaning towards 1 :) Games only very rarely interest me these days and then, mostly indie games which are generally less demanding.
06-08-2008
zacs7

Yes but then you lose the video memory as well (hence more main memory used).

I'd say buy a cheap fan and stick it on :)
06-08-2008
Mario F.

Bah! Spending more more...
But you are probably right.
06-08-2008
zacs7

Doesn't need to be official, it could be a small case fan (about $4AUD here) -- since it doesn't "require" a fan.

Plus a bit of DIY work...
06-08-2008
VirtualAce

AMD states on their site that the front case fan has not been found to significantly reduce ambient air temperatures inside a case. The important fans are the CPU fan, the PSU fan (which most have a fan that sucks heat off the CPU on the bottom of the PSU), any 'slot' fans you may install, and finally the top rear case fans.

My 7800 GS has a huge fan on it. I personally have never bought a GeForce card that did not have some type of fan. This has been true since my old GeForce 3 way back when. However I will say that my BFG O/C card kicks some major arse. Many of you know it reached 90C and yet it's still kicking today. NVidia says GeForce cards supposedly can get to 120C to 125C before they start overheating. According to what I've seen on my own system I would say NVidia is correct in saying this.

At first I thought I hurt the card because I noticed slow downs but then realized I had DirectX in pure debug mode. Yes very dumb but since correcting it I have had no issues. I've been to many sites about overheating and this or that and come to realize it's like most. Plenty of 'those who supposedly know' and very few of 'those who have actual evidence' to support their claims.
06-08-2008
Neo1

You can get an 8400GS or HD3650 for next to no money at all, with active cooling solutions meaning it will rarely go above 65C, also, this means DX10 support :)

Oh, and you also get some extra oomph for running Aero, i know what a devoted Vista fan you are Mario :D

But seriously, which onboard graphics card is it? A 7200 is pretty much rock bottom, i don't think you are going to feel much of a difference, if you were to change from your 7200 to whatever onboard graphics your mobo has, so why not? It's free, and you can have fun wrecking the 7200 with a sledgehammer..
06-08-2008
Elysia

Any discrete graphics card will beat up integrated any day. Well, especially if it isn't an nVidia integrated card.
06-08-2008
Mario F.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubba

NVidia says GeForce cards supposedly can get to 120C to 125C before they start overheating. According to what I've seen on my own system I would say NVidia is correct in saying this.

This is exactly what they told me today - I actually got a reply email from NVidia tech support in a Sunday and within minutes of sending mine!... I'm still recovering.

I've ran some tests with some demo from Guru3D, and after a couple of hours later it was still running at 99c. It seems once it reaches this threshold it stays there under my current computer case conditions. They told me to not worry with 99c.. but just as you said, if it gets close to or past 120. They also told me I would have to be rather ingenuous to get the GPU to such high temperature.

Guess this is a non issue then. I'm happy again ;)
06-08-2008
Neo1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elysia

Any discrete graphics card will beat up integrated any day. Well, especially if it isn't an nVidia integrated card.

They both suck so bad, it won't make a difference. You won't be able to play any games from after 2003 in anything more than 1024*768 without going below 30FPS consistently.
06-08-2008
Mario F.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo1

But seriously, which onboard graphics card is it?

If I told you I don't know, would that surprise you?
It was being advertised in the computer specifications at the shop as being a 7300 GS (512Mb). When I installed it with the shipping drivers, it said 7300 GS (128Mb) which is what shows during post. And now that I updated to the latest NVidia drivers, it is showing as 7300 SE / 7200 GS under Windows XP. I don't know anymore what I have...

Edit: Bah! Misunderstood your question. The onboard card is a Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (224Mb shared). Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 and DirectX 9.