Home page » Graphics

Search Graphics:

Refine search for Graphics

In previous reviews, the X1600 GPU has been a little bit of a disappointment, as it couldn't compete with the 7600 GS on price or performance. However, it's been a while since I looked at one and prices can shift considerably.

Much like nVidia, ATI has chosen to use a native PCI Express GPU, and then a bridge chip to allow it to work on AGP. Unlike nVidia's solution, it is on the back of the PCB and doesn't require a heatsink. Although it doesn't require one, I would have been happier if it had one – as it gets really hot.

The core is running at 500MHz, while the DDR2 memory is running at a lowly 400MHz (800MHz effective). With five vertex shaders, 12 pixel pipelines, and four pixel output engines, this is quite a similar specification to a 7600 GS, albeit with half the pixel fill rate. It'll be interesting to see if the 7600 GS's eight pixel output engines affects things much. With these mid-range parts, I don't expect fill rate to be the limiting factor.

This is quite an attractive card, and runs fairly quietly. However, it did get rather hot – which concerned me. It is under warranty, so if things go wrong it's not the end of the world, but I would make sure ventilation is good.

Much like the rest of the cards on test, it requires external power to work – although in this case using the older 4-pin floppy connectors instead of a Molex connector.

This card has the most extensive bundle of all, with a top quality S-Video cable, top quality composite cable, S-Video to composite adapter, component break-out, a DVI to D-SUB adapter and a Molex to floppy connector adapter, should you not have one spare on your PSU.

PowerDVD 6 is included, as well as a choice of four free games – Tony Hawks Underground 2, Richard Burns Rally, Brothers in Arms and Prince of Persia: Warrior Within. You can try all four before deciding which you want, and there is a also a significant discount should you want to have more than one.

This bundle is fairly standard across Sapphire's entire range and the top quality cables are something we've grown used to finding.

Add your comment

© 2003-2008 TrustedReviews | About Us | Contact Us | Legal | Privacy | RSS