Conclusion

The XFX GeForce 6600 GDDR2 is a good product all around, with a minor drawback of scanty accessories. From other aspects, including those of price and performance, this device surpasses the RADEON X1300 PRO and is an excellent buy for all users who don’t want to spend much for a graphics card.

The GPU frequency of the XFX card is higher than on the reference sample. This results in a speed bonus of about 10% over the reference GeForce 6600 GDDR2 in many applications. Overclockers may be disappointed at the inefficient cooler, but other users should be satisfied with it just because it is very, very quiet.

Generally speaking, NVIDIA’s GeForce 6600 GDDR2 seems to be a highly competitive product. The GeForce 6600 card profits much from the increase of the core frequency from 300 to 350-400MHz and of the memory frequency from 250 (500) to 400 (800) MHz. The new card can now challenge the RADEON X1300 PRO as well as the RADEON X700 clocked at the frequencies originally recommended by ATI Technologies.

In some cases, like in Doom 3, The Chronicles of Riddick, Pacific Fighters and Serious Sam 2, the GeForce 6600 GDDR2 gave no chance to its opponents. Considering that its recommended price is only $119 against $149 for a RADEON X1300 PRO, the market perspectives of the latter card seem very gloomy unless ATI Technologies drops the price of its RADEON X1300 series in near future. Moreover, recalling the aggressive price policy NVIDIA has adopted recently, we won’t be surprised to see GeForce 6600 GDDR2 selling for less than $100.

This money not only buys you appropriate performance in modern games, but also good overclocking opportunities. Most samples of GeForce 6600 GDDR2 will probably be able to reach 500-550MHz core and 450 (900) MHz memory frequencies.

We also want to give you one warning. Be careful as you’re shopping for a GeForce 6600 GDDR2 and make sure you don’t get an ordinary GeForce 6600 instead with its slow memory and much lower performance. It’s easy to tell these cards apart by taking a look at the memory chips. The GeForce 6600 GDDR2 carries GDDR2 chips in FBGA packaging without external pins, while the ordinary GeForce 6600 carries TSOP-packaged DDR chips which are square-shaped and have two rows of pins along the longer sides of the chip. Take note of the access time, too: if the last two digits in the memory marking is the number 25, then it’s all right – the frequency is 400 (800) and you do hold a GeForce 6600 GDDR2 in your hands! Good shopping to you!

Highs:

• Good performance in today’s games
• Increased GPU frequency
• Quiet operation
• Low power consumption
• High quality of manufacture
• Shader Model 3.0
• HDR support
• Hardware acceleration of HD content playback
• HDTV support
• SLI-ready
• Good overclockability
• Low price

Lows:

• Inefficient cooling system
• Scanty accessories