XFX 8800 GT XXX Alpha Dog Edition - G92 Performance
Introduction, packaging, package and specifications
Published: 1st November 2007 | Source: XFX | Price: £210 |
Introduction
Whenever a new graphics card comes out there's always people asking if "this one's worth buying". My job is to take the newest, latest and greatest and to test them as thoroughly as I can so I can hopefully answer that question for those who simply must know.
With that in mind, today I'll be looking at the talked about and anticipated 8800GT. With 112 shader processors and clocked at a stonking 670MHz, the XFX 8800 GT XXX Edition looks pretty great on paper. I'll be taking you through what exactly you can expect from this new card.
Brief Techie Bit
OK so we have to have some form of explanation of what's changed between the previous iteration G80 chips and the 8800 GT G92 chip.
First off, Nvidia have moved to a 65nm process, but still with more transistors than G80 (754Million versus a measly 681Million to be correct). This is mainly due to Nvidia adding to the video processing power of the actual chip. In G80, Nvidia used an external chip to process video (VP2), now it resides in the G92's silicon.
Nvidia have also added some features to keep the frames pumping along smoothly at higher resolutions. This should certainly help those wanting to run big res displays. In addition to these two...additions (sorry ran out of words in that one), Nvidia has increased the amount of texture address units to texture filtering units. This should mean that memory bandwidth performance is improved as is performance.
Nvidia have also settled for a "middle ground" in the GT as far as memory is concerned, using a 512mb memory size, on a 256mb memory bus.
Packaging
XFX have again used the familiar cybernetic dog on their packaging. The 8800 GT XXX Edition has been christened the "Alpha Dog" Edition and the packaging again reflects this.
As I said earlier: the cards looks to be pretty nice for your money, so let's get going!
Whenever a new graphics card comes out there's always people asking if "this one's worth buying". My job is to take the newest, latest and greatest and to test them as thoroughly as I can so I can hopefully answer that question for those who simply must know.
With that in mind, today I'll be looking at the talked about and anticipated 8800GT. With 112 shader processors and clocked at a stonking 670MHz, the XFX 8800 GT XXX Edition looks pretty great on paper. I'll be taking you through what exactly you can expect from this new card.
Brief Techie Bit
OK so we have to have some form of explanation of what's changed between the previous iteration G80 chips and the 8800 GT G92 chip.
First off, Nvidia have moved to a 65nm process, but still with more transistors than G80 (754Million versus a measly 681Million to be correct). This is mainly due to Nvidia adding to the video processing power of the actual chip. In G80, Nvidia used an external chip to process video (VP2), now it resides in the G92's silicon.
Nvidia have also added some features to keep the frames pumping along smoothly at higher resolutions. This should certainly help those wanting to run big res displays. In addition to these two...additions (sorry ran out of words in that one), Nvidia has increased the amount of texture address units to texture filtering units. This should mean that memory bandwidth performance is improved as is performance.
Nvidia have also settled for a "middle ground" in the GT as far as memory is concerned, using a 512mb memory size, on a 256mb memory bus.
Packaging
XFX have again used the familiar cybernetic dog on their packaging. The 8800 GT XXX Edition has been christened the "Alpha Dog" Edition and the packaging again reflects this.
As usual, XFX have done a good job with the packaging for the card. Any gamer worth their salt should know that this card can "do the bizz".
Packaged up tightly with foam and a few layers of cardboard, your baby won't be getting hurt unless the delivery driver decides to play hit and run with it.
Package
XFX have gone and put together a superb bundle with the XFX 8800 GT XXX Alpha Dog edition. Consisting of:
* 2 x DVI to VGA connectors
* 1 x S-Video to S-Video connector
* 1 x S-Video to Component connector
* 1 x Dual molex power to PCI-e power connector
* 1 x Instruction manual
* 1 x Quick install guide
* 1 x "I'm Gaming: Do not disturb" Door sign
* 1 x S-Video connector sheet
* 1 x Driver Disc
* 1 x Full Game Company of Heroes
XFX have gone and put together a superb bundle with the XFX 8800 GT XXX Alpha Dog edition. Consisting of:
* 2 x DVI to VGA connectors
* 1 x S-Video to S-Video connector
* 1 x S-Video to Component connector
* 1 x Dual molex power to PCI-e power connector
* 1 x Instruction manual
* 1 x Quick install guide
* 1 x "I'm Gaming: Do not disturb" Door sign
* 1 x S-Video connector sheet
* 1 x Driver Disc
* 1 x Full Game Company of Heroes
By anyone's standards that's a pretty good deal of bundle to be included in a graphics card package. Of course, Company of Heroes has a DirectX 10 patch so you can play a DirectX 10 game right out of the box. Impressive stuff indeed, especially as CoH is a great game and an AAA title.
Specification
Taken from information provided by XFX:
Specification
Taken from information provided by XFX:
MFG Model Number: PVT88PYDD4
Product Name: XFX GEFORCE 8800 GT 512MB PCI-E XXX EDITION
Package Contents: Driver CD, Installation Guide, S-Video Cable, DVI Adapter, Company of Heroes DVD CD
Main Description: GEFORCE 8800 GT 512MB / ALPHA DOG XXX EDITION / PCI-E 2.0
Supplemental Description: DDR3 / DUAL DVI / HDTV / HDCP / RoHS / Vista Ready / Company of Heroes Game Bundle
Chipset: GF 8800 GT
BUS Type: PCI-E 2.0
GPU Clock 670 MHz
Memory Bus 256-bit
Memory Type DDR3
Memory Size 512MB
Memory Speed 1.95 GHz
Shader clock 1650
Cooling Type FANSINK
HDTV OUT YES
VGA NO
DVI OUT YES (DUAL)
DUAL-LINK DVI YES (DUAL)
Max Supported Resolution 2560 X 1600
HDMI NO
RoHS YES
HDCP YES
NVIDIA-SLI READY YES
Windows Vista Ready YES
Low Profile Compatible NO
Product Name: XFX GEFORCE 8800 GT 512MB PCI-E XXX EDITION
Package Contents: Driver CD, Installation Guide, S-Video Cable, DVI Adapter, Company of Heroes DVD CD
Main Description: GEFORCE 8800 GT 512MB / ALPHA DOG XXX EDITION / PCI-E 2.0
Supplemental Description: DDR3 / DUAL DVI / HDTV / HDCP / RoHS / Vista Ready / Company of Heroes Game Bundle
Chipset: GF 8800 GT
BUS Type: PCI-E 2.0
GPU Clock 670 MHz
Memory Bus 256-bit
Memory Type DDR3
Memory Size 512MB
Memory Speed 1.95 GHz
Shader clock 1650
Cooling Type FANSINK
HDTV OUT YES
VGA NO
DVI OUT YES (DUAL)
DUAL-LINK DVI YES (DUAL)
Max Supported Resolution 2560 X 1600
HDMI NO
RoHS YES
HDCP YES
NVIDIA-SLI READY YES
Windows Vista Ready YES
Low Profile Compatible NO
As I said earlier: the cards looks to be pretty nice for your money, so let's get going!
Most Recent Comments
Clear your cache mate, it's 92%Quote
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Kempez'
Clear your cache mate, it's 92%
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Brilliant write up none the less Kemp!Quote
Lovely review Kempez Quote
QuoteNice review........that's one of the cards I'm currently looking at getting......
One small question for you all though, with those 2 sets of mounting holes around the core, what type of GPU water blocks will fit w/wo adapter plates/fittings????? Just wondering if my current Swiftech MCW60 will fit without having to get any sort of adapters.Quote
One small question for you all though, with those 2 sets of mounting holes around the core, what type of GPU water blocks will fit w/wo adapter plates/fittings????? Just wondering if my current Swiftech MCW60 will fit without having to get any sort of adapters.Quote
CSS Valid
I am guessing the 10% is an error... :eh:
Loving thing review Kemp, Well done mate.Quote