X-bit labs

ASUS Extreme AX600 XT/HTVD Graphics Card Review

[ 12/08/04 | by Alexey Stepin]

HDTV era is coming and ASUS is here to support the latest creams of technology: PCI Express and HDTV with its special card designed to offer high-definition gameplay on high-quality displays. Technologies and solutions ASUS used to bring HDTV to PCs impressed us much, as well as the speed of "Extreme" RADEON X600 XT.

Mainstream PCI Express Graphics Cards Review: PowerColor X600 XT vs. Albatron Trinity PCX 5750

[ 12/06/04 | by Alexey Stepin]

We would like to introduce to you two new graphics cards with PCI Express interface targeted for the mainstream market segment. They offer decent price-to-performance ratio for those who are in search for a graphics card right now but do not wish to invest a fortune into it. Check out the review to see if it is the right time to make a purchase now, or what shall you look into later this and early next year.

ATI RADEON X850 Platinum Edition: Good Things Go Better

[ 12/01/04 | by Alexey Stepin]

ATI, who has been very keen on being on the top spot it terms of 3D performance for the last two and a half years has released another addition to its high-end lineup. Now standing with nearly 9 graphics cards aimed at high-end ATI has extremely favorable position with its RADEON X8 product family. However, how far could ATI jump in terms of speed for its latest VPU?

Half-Life 2 Performance Preview: The Graphics Hardware Squeezer

[ 11/18/04 | by Alexey Stepin]

The game that the gaming community has been waiting about half a decade for is finally here, and now everyone can enjoy the title many call “the most anticipated game ever”. But in order to experience Half-Life 2 fully, you will need the hardware the game demands. We can tell you for sure that the game does need a powerful central processing unit. But what about graphics cards? Find it out right now, with us!
UPDATE: Adding more game demos and results.

ASUS AX800 XT/TVD Graphics Card Review

[ 11/04/04 | by Alexey Stepin]

We would like to introduce to you a top-end graphics solution from ASUS based on ATI RADEON X800XT graphics chip and boasting tremendous speed and gorgeous accessories bundle. Is this the absolute perfection? Find out the answer to this question in our new review.

FarCry 1.3: Crytek’s Last Play Brings HDR and 3Dc for the First Time

[ 11/02/04 | by Anton Shilov]

FarCry title and its engine proved to be the most technologically advanced released in 2004 so far. The game that has been in development since 2001 eventually acquired support for technologies that still have to make it into the mainstream market, the Shaders 2.0b/3.0, HDR and 3Dc. They say the patch 1.3 is the last patch for the FarCry, but it brings loads of important innovations and we decided that we should pay them a great deal of attention.

Zalman ZM80D-HP: Make Your Graphics Card Completely Noiseless

[ 10/28/04 | by Tim Tscheblockov]

Every overclocker knows that besides excellent coolers and unique PC cases Zalman is producing cooling systems for graphics cards. One of the most efficient of Zalman’s passive cooling solutions for graphics cards, the ZM80D-HP model, is going to be the subject of this review.

ATI Introduces DirectX 9 and PCI Express to Value Graphics Market: PowerColor X300SE Graphics Card Review

[ 10/20/04 | by Alexey Stepin]

We tested a high-quality inexpensive graphics card from PowerColor based on ATI RADEON X300 chip. This is a nice solution for those users who don’t need fast 3D but want to have the functionality missing in integrated graphics solutions. Read more in our review!

ASUS V9999 Gamer Edition Graphics Card Review

[ 10/19/04 | by Alexey Stepin]

Highest performance, six operational vertex processors, efficient cooling system with a copper heatsink, beautiful appearance and generous accessories all contribute to making the V9999 Gamer Edition into a wanted product. Find out more about this excellent representative of the today’s gaming hardware in our new detailed review!

Gainward PowerPack! Ultra/2400 Golden Sample: When GT Is More than Ultra

[ 10/13/04 | by Tim Tscheblockov]

Our today’s review is devoted to a graphics card from Gainward, which is based on NVIDIA’s reference design but comes equipped with the unique cooling solution, which allows positioning it as an overclocker’s choice. Let’s find out if this is a true overclocking friendly product!

Half the Way to the Half-Life 2: Counter Strike: Source Benchmarked

[ 10/10/04 | by Anton Shilov]

We still are waiting for the Half-Life 2 to arrive, but Valve Software holds the wraps on any release details of the game that was supposed to be launched on September 30, 2003. Specially for fans of the world’s most-popular online title, Valve launches the totally redone Counter Strike flavour, the Counter Strike: Source, with new engine, effects and level of realizm, but unfailing immersive gameplay during continuous counter-terrorist raids. But what hardware will you need for the siege?