Gainward's AGP8X NVIDIA Powered "Golden Samples"

Gainward's AGP8X NVIDIA Powered "Golden Samples"
Giving Things a Boost with AGP 8X

By - Jeff Bouton
December 03, 2002 

When we completed giving the Gainward GF4 Powerpack! Pro 600 8X TV/DVI and Gainward GF4 Powerpack! Ultra/650 8X/XP TV/DVI a workout, we were left wondering what the big deal was.  Don't get us wrong, as far as affordable video cards, both have their virtues.  Each card offered good performance and a decent collection of software and hardware to take full advantage of their respective capabilities.  What we found unimpressive was the effect of AGP 3.0 (8X) on performance versus the AGP 2.0 (4x) comparison cards.  Even with these two cards increasing their AGP bandwidth by 100% versus AGP 2.0 (4X), the performance gains were minimal at best.  With current hardware and software barely taking advantage of the bandwidth AGP 2.0 offers, we were not entirely surprised.  It is important to note that future software products should be intensive enough that the benefits of AGP 3.0 should be more obvious.  We suspect that the much anticipated Doom III will push enough data to show the benefits of AGP 8X.  But until this software arrives, the benefits of AGP 3.0 are minimal.  Fortunately, the inclusion of AGP 3.0 has little effect on the price of the product versus previous models, so you won't have to invest much more money to get an AGP 8X card.  What's more, if you just went out and picked up a new card that doesn't support AGP 8X, you can rest assured that you are not missing much...yet.

In the end, when we stopped comparing the two cards AGP performance versus older 4X cards, each proved to be a decent card in its class.  We did feel that the GF4 MX Pro 600 8X/XP was a bit weak compared to the Ti series card, but you get what you pay for.  When we take into consideration the price of the two cards, the GF4 MX Pro 600 8X/XP is tough to beat.  With its aggressive clock speeds, dual monitor output and TV In/Out capability, it's a good deal.  You'll get good 2D performance and average gaming performance for around $100.  However, when we look at the GF4 Ti4200 Pro 650 8X/XP for an additional $50, it becomes a very good choice.  It comes with all of the features of the Pro 600, less the RAM-sinks, plus a more powerful GPU that has pixel and vertex shaders and an additional 64MB of RAM.  Take into account the excellent overclocking potential of the card and it will prove to offer the best balance between performance and price.  When it comes to value minded graphics cards with better than average performance, the Gainward GF4 Powerpack! Ultra/650 8X/XP TV/DVI is very attractive.

We give the Gainward GF4 Powerpack! Ultra/650 8X/XP TV/DVI a Hot Hardware Heat Meter Rating of a 9.

 


We give the Gainward GF4 Powerpack! Pro 600 8X TV/DVI a Hot Hardware Heat Meter Rating of an
7.5.

 

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Tags:  Nvidia, Power, Red, gold, amp, AG, AI, id, AR, AM

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