Graphics card with very low power consumption. What are my options?

What are my options for low power video cards. Needs to perform on par or better then a 6600gt. Really I don’t care if it uses power when its running 3d and gaming. But I want it to use as little as possible when my computer is at idle.

Well like CPUs the smaller the process, the lower the power. Also less RAM will save power. Did you ever see that XbitLabs article on Graphics card power consumption last year?

There are some new VIA cards (called Chrome 20 I think) which are meant to be made on some new ultra low power fab process. They are meant to only drain like 5W or something, and are supposed to be mid-range (probably the better ones will be ~6600GT territory). They are out later this quarter according to the register.

Alternatively the 6800GS is quite low power and more powerful than the 6600GT

Hey thanks for the info guys. I didn't see that XbitLabs article, I'll definitely try to find and read that. That VIA sounds interesting. I hope the VIA supports dual screen and DVI.

It seems that there will be 3 versions, Chrome 23, Chrome 25 and Chrome 27. Both seem to support hardware high def video decoding for at least wmv, pixel shader 2.0+, 10bit colour, DVI support, and supports dual display as well. Most interesting fact it that it supports Multichrome for multi GPU setups of 2 cards or more in the new KT8900 boards (which VIA are also saying might support SLI and X-fire at some point).

Chrome 27 (the only one that might ever compete with a 6600GT)
700Mhz core
128bit GDDR3 max 128/256 MB ~1.2Ghz

On BETA drivers the 128MB version was hitting:

3Dmark 01SE 19578 @ 1024x768 / 12101 @ 1600x1200
3Dmark 05 3071 @ 1024x768 / 2496 @ 1600x1200
HL2 47.27 @ 1024x768 / 32.75 @ 1600x1200
Battlefield 2 95.39 @ 1024x768 / 35.58 @ 1600x1200

The chinese site seems to suggest that it has 1.4ns memory (this may be wrong as the translation was dodgy, it called it 'card fruit' or something) but a card running 1.4 ns DDR is probably good for faster than 600mhz, also if the overclocking abilities of the x1800 series and the 6800GS are anything to go by, then the core should go up a fair bit too. On proper drivers the 256MB version should be quite a reasonable card. Lack of PS 3 is worrying though (says me who has just bought an x800 GTO2).

That xbitlabs article was alot of help. link I need a chart like the one at xbitlabs that includes the 6600 and 7800. So far it looks like the 6800GS is the best choice.

I believe the X700pro uses considerably less power than the 6600GT, I have one running passively with a 60mm CPU heatsink. With a low speed TT case fan in the case door near it, running at 5v (so you almost can't feel the air), it runs mid-40's idle, and about 65c load. I had a torin blower near it, and it was 36c idle, 36c load.