Overclocking

I wasn't expecting too much from the memory, due to it being bare on the PCB. The Core however ran extremely cool (and quiet) thanks to the larger cooler on the card, but I was only able to squeeze out a near 30 odd MHz for a final core clock of 778. The memory was able to get to 2200, so overall not the greatest overclock ever, but of course YMMV.

Again, not a huge overclock and it shows in ETQW's as just a minor jump.

Final Words

This card is just fantastic. It's performance is astonishing when you consider the . I wish I had an 8800GT to hand, because I wouldn't be surprised to see the match or beat it right across the board, and consider that the 8800GT's are still twice the price or more, and it's a no brainer. Pretty much everyone is feeling the pinch and counting the pennies, so it's nice to know that if you do have to compromise and get a low priced card for your gaming, your not going to be missing out on much this time around. If you're the casual gamer and used to buying budget priced cards, then the might just give you an inkling on what you are missing out on with higher end cards.

The overall package is basic; at this price I'd of been surprised if there was any extras, however I do think that this card is just perfect for HTPC use. HD Decoding, Dual Stream, 7.1 Surround output and higher than expected performance make this a perfect choice for HDTV viewing. But don't include the $7 DVI to HDMI adapter, and if you want the sound, you will require the correct ATI adapter as opposed to a generic adapter available at many outlets. Also, you will require the latest version of the adapter, as when we tried an older adapter from a card capable of 5.1 sound output it simply wouldn't work.

Still, not everyone cares about HTPC's and $7 saved is ... er ... $7 saved which keeps this card nicely priced. Despite the 'budget' pricing, the sports a Zalman style cooler with the familiar circular design. This keeps the card both cool and quiet. It doesn't require extra power either.

I love this card, I really do. Many might be put off the 128bit bus, but don't let it stop you; you'll be pleasently surprised at what your $80 will get you. 

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