Overclocking

While we didn't quite get to the X800 XT Platinum Edition's speeds, the large cooler on the ASUS Extreme AX800XT probably helped a great deal in our overclocking endeavors, going from a stock speed of 500MHz/1000MHz to an end result of 524MHz/1085MHz core and memory. The memory overclock did surprise us as the ram was already burning away at its rated speed. Did the extra speed help us in gaming?

Doom 3 @ 12x10, NoAFF/AF	Min	Max	Ave
500/1000	15	64	46.1
524/1085	18	68	48.3

Well, I suppose if the extra 2 - 3 frames per second is important to you, overclocking has some merit.

Final Words

The build quality of the ASUS Extreme AX800XT is very good. The copper heatsink makes for a very heavy card, though we didn't experience any issues of the weight causing any problems. If you like the bling, the blue LED fan will certainly tickle your modding bone. The cooler is a single slot solution, but certain motherboards (such as the ASUS P5AD2) may have issues with clearence between the PCI-e slot and the first PCI slot.

Despite the NVIDIA 6800 Ultra being a little quicker in Doom 3 benchmarks, our tests show that the X800 XT is no slouch in this game. While it does struggle at anything higher than 1280x1024, the actual game experience was enjoyable, though the gameplay itself I don't think is much to write home about.

Far Cry benefits from VPU horsepower, and the Extreme AX800XT does quite well with this game. If you look back at our past reviews, you'll probably wonder why the performance seemed a bit low in this one, and simply put, there is a huge difference in "timedemos" and actual gameplay. While the action does get a bit choppy when the going gets really tough, for the most part, Far Cry ran great, and this is with everything at maximum details.

Painkiller wasn't much of a challenge for the Extreme AX800XT, and I was fending off dozens of monsters without a major framerate hit. The graphics aren't as challenging as the other games, but the visuals with maximum detail and high resolution are still pretty impressive.

We didn't get a whole lot into the 2D features, but needless to say, 2D image quality is on par with our past ATI experiences. For workstation types, the dual output will be a useful feature if this is something you need. As for the noise, the card is quite loud at full speed, and less so when working on a 2D desktop. If the noise is going to be an issue, you can use the included software to slow the fan down even more.

If you have any desire to play the latest games with all the effects turned on, the ASUS Extreme AX800XT/2DT should be on your short list, though the price for this speed and image quality is not for the feint of heart. Coming in at $594 USD, that is a lot of coin to drop for a video card, and considering the target market, we're not too sure about the inclusion of the webcam. While a high-end card is expected to be fairly expensive, we think dropping the webcam should lower the cost for ASUS, as well as for the consumer.

Pros: Great performance and build quality. Better than average game bundle. Good image quality.

Cons: Very expensive. A webcam?

Bottom Line: If you're a casual gamer, or simply not into 3D gaming, this card is probably not for you. Enthusiasts with deep pockets looking for a fast card with good image quality should definitely consider the ASUS Extreme AX800XT/2DT.