MSI NX7300GS TD256E
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
Even though Nvidia's GeForce 6150 chipset is arguably the most capable integrated graphics solutions currently available, there is a lot of performance to be gained by using a dedicated graphics card, as our testing has shown. Most developers design their games to run on mid-range to high-end graphics hardware. With titles like F.E.A.R. and Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, for example, you'll certainly need a powerful graphics card to really enjoy the game. For those people, a GeForce 7300GS is probably not the best choice. However, less taxing games such as Far Cry and Half-Life 2 ran quite well on the 7300 GS. And the 7300 GS was able to run portions of the 3DMark06 test suite that the IGP could not.
The MSI NX7300GS TD256E is a good entry-level video card. While its performance obviously isn't going to break any records, it is a huge upgrade from any integrated video solution. It wasn't as fast at the GeForce 6600 DDR2 we used for reference, but then again, it wasn't designed to be. The MSI NX7300GS TD256E is available for around $75-$80 on-line, whereas the 6600 DDR2 usually sells for approximately $100 or more. This may not sound like a big price difference, but the 6600 is technically priced about 20% higher, which is a major concern for those in the market for a card like the MSI NX7300GS TD256E.
The MSI NX7300GS TD256E's bundle left a little to be desired, but considering its price we won't be overly critical. The bottom line is this; users on a limited budget who are also looking for an inexpensive upgrade from integrated video will be well served by the MSI NX7300GS TD256E. All things considered, we're giving the inexpensive MSI NX7300GS TD256E a 7.5 on our Heat Meter.
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