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Another advantage the AOpen has is that it sports dual DVI slots, while the Sapphire has one DVI and one VGA. Considering that by using adaptors you can still attach CRTs to DVI ports, the lack of dual DVI on the Sapphire is a definite annoyance. I for one have two 17in DVI enabled TFTs on my desk and it was galling having to attach one of them via VGA when using the Sapphire.

As far as the software bundles go, the two packages are tied. In the AOpen box, along with two DVI to VGA converters and a TV Out cables, there’s full versions of Call of Duty, and Doom 3, both very decent inclusions. The Sapphire includes PowerDVD and Cyberlink Power Director along with Prince of Persia: Sands of Time and Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, also worthwhile.

So how do the two cards stack up against each other in terms of performance? In terms of noise subjectively there’s not a lot in it, though the Zalman on the Sapphire does win out with a virtually inaudible presence. That said, AOpen does include a utility on the CD that monitors automatically adjusts fan speed and once installed it immediately dropped the speed of the fan, noticeably lowering the intrusiveness of the noise.

When it comes to game performance however, the Radeon X800 XL GPU showed its strength over the plain GeForce 6800. Across the board the Sapphire took the lead and once features such as FSAA and AF were enabled the 16-pipeline architecture really began to pull away. Perhaps most telling was how the Sapphire was faster than the AOpen in Doom 3, traditionally nVidia’s strong suite. The most significant numbers are at the sweet spot of 1,280 x 1,024 with FSAA and AF enabled, with the Radeon a full 9 fps ahead, taking it from a barely playable 34.1fps to a more comfortable 43.1 And with Half-Life 2 the Sapphire numbers are playable at 1,600 x 1,200, though this is with an FX-55, which is unlikely to be paired with this sort of card.

A feature on the AOpen that might sway things towards it is its support for Shader Model 3. Unfortunately we don’t have a benchmark that supports this currently set-up but running a game with it enabled is likely to place yet further strain on this card.

Verdict

The AOpen is definitely a well made card that’s pleasingly quiet in operation and bundled with a great retail package. However, the Sapphire spoils its party. For the same money it offers even lower noise and greater performance that will make a genuine difference in games. Unless the lack of dual DVI and Shader Model 3 support are showstoppers for you, between these two cards, the Sapphire is the one I’d go for.

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