Conclusion

The Extreme AX600 XT/HTVD graphics card from ASUS can’t be characterized in one word or phrase. On the one hand, its highest performance and excellent overclockability are obvious advantages, but on the other hand, the card is based on an outdated architecture, which suits badly for playing next-generation games with any comfort. Add the lack of dual-monitor configurations, too. The last fact has an explanation, though. The Extreme AX600 XT/HTVD is a special product for a special category of users, particularly for owners of plasma panels, projectors and other display devices equipped with a component YPbPr video input. Unfortunately, we couldn’t test the card’s capabilities in processing a HDTV signal as we just had no device with an appropriate input.

Otherwise, the card is an analog of the standard RADEON X600 XT and you shouldn’t expect wonders from it if it’s clocked at its default frequencies:

As you see, the RADEON X600 architecture can be considered really obsolete in view of the average lag from the GeForce 6600. It’s only through overclocking that the Extreme AX600 XT/HTVD can offer a comparable performance, but this is also not enough for some modern games like Doom 3.

It’s less gloomy for the ASUS card in the eye candy mode. Since the load on the graphics memory subsystem is high here, the GeForce 6600 feels the lack of the memory bandwidth (it’s equipped with slow memory clocked at about 500MHz). Having the memory bus of the same width, the ASUS Extreme AX600 XT clocks it at a higher rate, especially during overclocking. As a result, the overclocked ASUS looks overall more appealing in this mode than the GeForce 6600.

Right now, a sample of the ASUS Extreme AX600 XT/HTVD graphics card would cost you about $240, according to Pricewatch.com. That’s not cheap at all. You can have a GeForce 6600 GT or a RADEON X700 PRO from other manufacturers for that money, and adding $30 more you can have a GeForce 6800. That’s why we don’t recommend this card for people who are assembling a PCI Express system for playing current and upcoming games. But if you don’t need extra-high performance in 3D applications, but want to have a graphics card capable of connecting to HDTV devices and capturing video, you may want to consider the ASUS Extreme AX600 XT/HTVD as an option.

Highs:

• High 2D quality;
• VIVO functionality;
• HDTV support;
• Excellent overclockability;
• Effective appearance;
• Support of ASUS’ exclusive technologies;
• Rich accessories.

Lows:

• Doesn’t support dual-monitor configurations;
• High price.