Konklusion
Innovation og teknologi 4-point
ATi har vist ikke opfundet den dybe tallerken den her gang. Alt ligner en kopi fra Geforce 8800-kortet, ja selv udseendet. Men alligevel positivt. Kortet har shader 4.0. pixelshader-ydelsen er i den syge ende og de nye FSAA egenskaber yder faktisk godt og trods en ”snyde”-teknik ser det faktisk ganske godt ud. De 512bit ramkredse er også lækkert at se. nVidia’s løsning har virket lidt halvvejs da det næste logiske spring fra 256bit næsten måtte være 512bit.
Jeg giver 4-point. De nyeste egenskaber som er krydret med en lille smule ny innovation, med et minus-point til et virkelig voldsomt strømforbrug.
Jeg synes også godt at man må have i tanke, at der er fuld HDMI understøttelse, hvilket indebærer at der også er understøttelse af lyd. Der har været HDMI understøttelse på mange kort, men aldrig fuld understøttelse af lyd.
Bundle og tilbehør 5-point
Asus er kendt for ikke at mangle noget. Det gør der heller ikke i denne omgang. Du får Stalker og en kupon til HL2 . Samtidig er der HDMI stik, læder etui, driver og masser af kabler. Så her vil du ikke komme til at mangle noget.
Design og layout 4-pointKortet har en ganske stor fordel når det kommer til layout. Den har pci-e strømstik der sidder på siden af kortet. Det bliver man glad for. Og modsat det tidlige ATI sample kort, så larmer køleren kun i 3D applikationer. Og der kan det så også høres. Og samtidig skal man have i tanke, at kølerskift måske ikke er helt nemt. Men kortet scorer alligevel 4 – point her.
Software 5-point
Som tidligere omtalt medfølger Stalker, og der medfølger kupon til HL2. Og samtidig har Asus tilbehørs programmer på cd, så man intet kommer til at mangle. Derfor 5 – point her.
Ydelse 4 - point
Der var store forventninger til 2900XT omkring ydelsen. Man kunne rettelig forvente, at den ville kunne konkurrere med 8800GTX. Det er den ikke i stand til. Den ligger i stedet i ydelse omkring 8800GTS. Mange havde sikkert forventet mere. Men jeg synes dog, at man stadig får god ydelse hvis man køber 2900XT. Der er nogle andre features man også kan lægge vægt på, som 8800GTS serien mangler. Og så spiller prisen jo også ind. Men jeg synes man får det man betaler for.
Pris 4-point
Set i forhold til at 2900XT er ATI’s nuværende topkort, så er det faktisk prissat ganske billigt. Det udbydes til omkring 3.000 kr. Det er markant billigere end 8800GTX, og det ligger i prisleje omkring 8800GTS med 640 MB ram. Det er lidt dyrere end 8800GTS med 320 MB ram, men har også lidt flere ram, og andre features. Sammenholdt med ydelse og HDMI, så synes jeg at prisen er ganske fair
UK Summary
Innovation / Technology 4-point
It does not seem as if ATI has reinvented the wheel. Mostly if would seem to be somewhat of a replica of the Geforce 8800 series hardware, even in the physical appearance of the card. However, the HD2900 sports Shader 4.0 capability, amazing pixelshader-performance, and the new FSAA properties of the hardware perform really well. Apart from some questionable techniques all bodes well for the HD2900. The 512 bit wide RAM circuits are a nice improvement over previous models, and seem to be a more logical approach than NVIDIA’s halfway solution. The expected update to 256 bit wide RAM circuits has always been 512 bit.
I give it 4 points. The new features combined with innovation, and some disadvantage due to the high power consumption. You also have to have in mind, that 2900XT support full HDMI, which means it also support sound. There has been support for HDMI for a while, but never support for sound before now.
Bundle / Accessories 5-point
Asus is know for the excessive bundle. And this time is no exception. You get Stalker, and a coupon for HL2. Besides that, there is HDMI connector, leather case, driver and lots of cables. So you wont miss out on anything here.
Design / Layout 4-pointThe 2900XT has a big advantage when it comes to layout. It has the pci-e power connectors on the side. That you is very nice. And this 2900XT from Asus does not have the occasional spin up from the fan. It is almost silent when it performs in 2D. But in 3D is makes noise. And also a noise you can hear. And you have to have in mind that changing the cooler, might be a little difficult. But still scores 4 points.
Software 5-point
As mentioned earlier on you get Stalker, a coupon for HL2 and besides that Asus packs some additional programs. So you don’t miss anything here. 5 points.
Performance 4-point
From the start there was big expectations to the 2900XT. You could expect the 2900XT to perform in the range of 8800GTX. That is not the case, and it performs more like the 8800GTS. Many might expectec more. But I think that the performance is very good. The are some features that the 8800 series lacks. And then there is the price to consider. You get what you pay for. 4 points.
Price 4-pointThe fact that the 2900XT is the best performin graphic card from ATI, it is actually fairly priced. It get sold around 3.000 DKK. That is significantly lower than 8800GTX, and the price is in the range of 8800GTS 640 MB. It cost a little more than 8800GTS 320 MB, but also have 512 MB ram. The fact that it also packs HDMI and the performance the price is very fair.