X-bit labs

Silence of the Radeon HD 2600: Gigabyte GV-RX26T256H Graphics Card Review (page 2)

Category: Video

by Alexey Stepin , Yaroslav Lyssenko

[ 11/19/2007 | 11:51 PM ]

Package and Accessories

Before we describe the passive cooler, we want to discuss a few other factors the market success of the graphics card may depend upon.

Gigabyte remains true to its design tradition of matching the exterior of the box with the enclosed game. The box with the Gigabyte GV-RX26T256H is decorated with a picture from Neverwinter Nights 2 and you’ll find a copy of the game inside. A sticker on the box informs you that the card employs only modern solid-state capacitors for a longer service life. As usual, there is the main box under the colorful wrapper. Besides the graphics card (securely fixed in a polyurethane-foam tray), there are the following accessories here:

• 2 DVI-I→D-Sub converters
• Universal S-Video/RCA/YPbPr splitter
• User’s manual
• CD disk with drivers
• DVD disk with Neverwinter Nights 2 game
• Booklet with Neverwinter Nights 2 game description
• CrossFire bridge card

Perhaps the accessories are not numerous, but Neverwinter Nights 2 is a highly popular, even though not very new, game that definitely adds more appeal to the product.

Unfortunately, like many other manufacturers, Gigabyte Technology doesn’t include a DVI → HDMI adapter from ATI that would allow connecting the card to modern TV-sets with HDMI input and HDCP support. The card is going to have a lower retail price without many accessories, yet the lack of such an important item as that adapter is disappointing.

We have no complaints about the user manual, and the box contents are good overall.