Conclusion

Beyond doubt, the PowerColor X850 XT Platinum Edition AGP is the highest-performing solution with the AGP interface for today. And it will probably remain such forever unless NVIDIA and ATI think it proper to release AGP versions of their GeForce 7800 GTX and R520. But we think the demand for such solutions would be too low to interest the companies. Yes, there are still many PCs with the AGP bus, but few of them use top-end graphics hardware: gamers who are limited in money and for this reason haven’t yet transferred to a PCI Express platform are unlikely to shell out $500-600 for a graphics card.

So, an owner of an AGP platform has a choice between GeForce 6800 Ultra and RADEON X850 XT Platinum Edition AGP as the best graphics card available (if he/she doesn’t want to change the platform, of course). The RADEON is faster in almost all modern games, especially in full-screen anti-aliasing modes, but doesn’t support Shader Model 3.0 which may affect its performance negatively in upcoming games.

But if you do want highest performance right now, you should certainly consider the PowerColor X850 XT Platinum Edition AGP. This graphics card doesn’t have any noticeable defects and comes with rich accessories. It also features good overclockability thanks to its 1.6ns memory. And people who digitize their VHS archives will surely appreciate the VIVO functionality and the appropriate software.

Yet considering the recommended price of the new solution ($549) we think it might be more reasonable to upgrade to a PCI Express platform and then purchase a GeForce 7800 GTX for $599. This would be more expensive, of course, but the performance of the new card from NVIDIA is a few times that of ATI’s flagship product in many applications.

Highs:

• Efficient cooling system
• Quiet operation
• Compact PCB
• High performance in today’s games
• Good overclockability
• VIVO functionality
• Good accessories

Lows:

• Doesn’t support such new technologies as Shader Model 3.0 and OpenEXR HDR
• The cooling system occupies two slots

Having summed up our test results we here at X-bit labs decided to award PowerColor X850 XT Platinum Edition AGP graphics card with the prestigious Editor’s Choice Title as the today’s Fastest Graphics Card for AGP Interface: