ZOTAC GeForce GT 730 Zone Edition 4GB: silent low-profile graphics card

The ZOTAC GeForce GT 730 Zone Edition (ZT-71115-20L) is an entry-level graphics card with 4GB of DDR3 memory and fanless cooling. ZOTAC positions it as an upgrade over integrated graphics and as a way to add display outputs to small or quiet PCs. It isn't meant for demanding modern games.

What the GPU offers

The card uses an NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 GPU with 384 processor cores, an engine clock of 902 MHz and a memory clock of 1600 MHz. The memory is 4GB of DDR3 on a 64-bit bus. The GT 730 is an older, low-end design, so expect it to handle desktop work, web browsing, video playback and older or lightweight games, but not recent titles at high settings. ZOTAC says it speeds up browsing, photo and video editing and gaming compared with integrated graphics; how big the gain is depends on the processor and game you're comparing against.

Silent cooling

The Zone Edition uses a passive cooling solution, which means a heatsink and no fan. ZOTAC describes this as a zero-noise computing experience. With a maximum power use of 25W, a passive heatsink is practical, but it still relies on airflow inside the case, so a case with some ventilation is wise.

Low profile, two brackets

The card is pre-configured with a full-height bracket, and two low-profile brackets are included: one for VGA, and one for DVI plus HDMI. Low-profile brackets let it fit slim desktops and home theatre PCs (HTPCs). Check your case's slot height and the card's listed dimensions (10.2 x 6.3 x 2.3 inches in the packaging data) before ordering.

Connections and displays

The outputs are one dual-link DVI-D, one VGA and one HDMI. The card can drive three displays at once, and the listing gives a maximum digital resolution of 7680 x 4320, though a card of this class would realistically be used at 1080p, and 4K at best for video. It is HDCP compliant, and ZOTAC lists HDTV modes from 480p up to Quad Full HD (4K). The VGA output is useful for older monitors and projectors.

Interface and power

The card is PCI Express 2.0, listed as x16 with x8 lanes. PCIe is backward and forward compatible, so it should work in newer slots, though check the manual. ZOTAC recommends a 300-watt power supply. Because the maximum consumption is 25W, the card gets its power from the slot, and the listing mentions no extra power connector.

What's in the box

The package has the card, the two low-profile brackets, a user manual and a driver disc. If your PC has no disc drive, you'd download drivers from NVIDIA or ZOTAC. ZOTAC also mentions an extended warranty, which requires registration on its website.

Who it suits

It suits someone adding a quiet video card to an office PC, an HTPC or a system with no video output on the motherboard, or adding extra monitors. It is not for gaming rigs or content creation workloads.

What to check before you buy

• Case fit: check slot space and whether you need the low-profile brackets.
• Monitor connections: make sure your displays use DVI, VGA or HDMI.
• Drivers: confirm driver support for your operating system, as older GPUs may have limited recent support.
• Airflow: passive cards need some case ventilation.
• Expectations: compare performance with your current graphics.

The short version

• A passively cooled 4GB DDR3 GeForce GT 730 with a 64-bit bus.
• Low-profile ready, with two extra brackets.
• DVI-D, VGA and HDMI outputs, three displays at once.
• PCIe 2.0, 25W maximum, 300W power supply recommended.

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