X-bit labs

X-bit labs CeBIT 2005 Coverage: Day 6 (page 5)

Category: Editorial

by Anton Shilov

[ 03/17/2005 | 04:37 PM ]

Sapphire Goes TV-Tuners, Offers New Overclocking Software

In addition to its Grouper mainboard, Sapphire is showcasing its array of multimedia products at the exhibition: an external DTV-tuner based on DiBcom DIB3000P ASIC and a Panasonic tuner as well as internal TV-tuner based on ATI THEATER 550 PRO.

  

Sapphire’s TV-tuners

Both tuners are expected to be commercially available shortly and expand Sapphire’s business beyond gaming PCs towards media center computers with rich multimedia features.

But being successful developer of mainboards and TV-tuners, Sapphire does not forget that its main business is still graphics cards and at CeBIT 2005 we had a great opportunity to make sure it is. The company is displaying numerous graphics cards at the show, among those the headline makers are RADEON X800 XL for PCI Express with Zalman’s cooler, RADEON X800 XL for AGP 8x, RADEON X850 PRO and RADEON X300 SE HyperMemory.

  
Sapphire’s RADEON X800 XL

Sapphire’s RADEON X800 XL for PCI Express x16 does not feature passive cooling, like similar graphics cards from some other companies, but a new cooler for graphics cards from Zalman. Such cooling should be not only extremely efficient, but also very quiet, thus, we can theoretically expect good overclockability of such products (you should keep in mind that ATI’s RADEON X800 XL is produced using 0.11 micron process technology and graphics cards X-bit labs has tested did not allow overclocking beyond 440 – 450MHz for the core).

  
Sapphire’s AGP RADEON X800 XL

The print circuit board (PCB) design of AGP version of the RADEON X800 XL is enlarged compared to the typical PCI Express flavour of the product: it is much longer and has different type of connector compared to the PCI E version. On the backside of the board there is ATI’s Rialto bridge that converts the chip’s signaling into AGP 8x.

ATI Rialto bridge

Sapphire’s RADEON X300 SE HyperMemory 128MB looks very simplistic in terms of PCB design, but despite of that the company doubts it can sell it at $49 in retail while sustaining high margins because of relatively high BGA memory pricing, the only memory packaging type supported by the X300 SE HyperMemory graphics chip. $59 seems to be a more realistic price just now and unless ATI reduces the pricing of its graphics chip, makers of graphics cards are unlikely to offer $49 products while maintaining the level of profitability they would like to see.

  
Sapphire’s RADEON X300 SE HyperMemory

For gamers and enthusiast who buy Sapphire’s graphics cards the company is preparing two rather interesting surprises.

Sapphire Select DVD

The first one is Sapphire Select program that allows gamers to choose any game out of 8 supplied on a DVD with Sapphire’s graphics cards, which ensures the company’s customers have ability to choose the game they want and do not yet own or try all of them and then convert to full version the most adored one. Initially Sapphire will offer its clients to choose between Brother in Arms, Codename Panzers, FarCry, Ground Control 2, Tribes Vengenace, The Incredibles, Richard Burns Rally and Prince of Persia 2.

Sapphire’s Trixx software

Another advantage customers will have with Sapphire is a new overclocking tool called Trixx. The software will allow Sapphire graphics cards’ – both old-generation and new-generation products – owners to overclock their graphics cards, create preferences for their operation, for instance, performance with fans rotating at full speeds or quiet operation with fans spinning at their minimum. Trixx will also have special built-in test that will allow users to determine whether their level of overclocking is safe. Trixx will be able to update both ATI’s CATALYST driver and itself.

Sapphire RADEON X850 PRO graphics card