|
HIS 2900Pro vs. XFX 8800GTS 320 |
|
|
|
Written by Nebojsa Todorovic
|
|
Friday, 02 November 2007 |
|
Page 2 of 6
In a modestly looking box, we found a graphics card identical to any HD 2900XT model, with the addition of standard equipment – basic cables, driver disc, a game disc with the full version of Dungeon Siege and six other demo games and the standard coupon for activating your free Half-Life 2: Lost Coast and Half-Life 2: Deathmatch games. What is a little confusing is that the price of this card is supposed to be under the “psychological” mark of 250€. We looked at the specs to find out what the trick was, but fruitlessly. It is true – apart from lower clock values, everything is just the same as with the 2900XT, which is significantly more expensive.
All of the stream processors are there, all ROPs are there, the 512-bit bus is there, even the 8-pin and 6-pin power connectors. And yes, the memory timings are the same. Naturally, this means only one thing – this is a straight downclocked version of the 2900XT. We will come to this conclusion later on as well, but first, let's have a look at the card. Like we said, the chip is the R600 with 320 stream processors. A CrossFire cable is in the bundle, and we are certain that two of these will make wonders if paired and supplied with enough power. The apparently silent fan turns into a hair-dryer as soon as a 3D application is run, but this can be easily tweaked with programs such as RivaTuner and the likes.
Testing results clearly state that, with this card, even the highest resolutions will become accessible, with no hitches or anything similar. However, we had to overclock the card to the maximum and see whether it is really a downclocked version of the 2900XT or not. Our suspicions came out as true. The maximum stable frequencies were just the same as the 2900XT's a few months back. The bottom line is – you really get more than what you pay for, and it is a rare opportunity to buy something like this, so, if you are planning on upgrading your graphics subsystem with a high-end card, the 2900PRO is the way to go.
|
