X-bit labs

GTX on Bargain: MSI GeForce NX8800GT-T2D512E-OC Review

Category: Video

by Alexey Stepin , Yaroslav Lyssenko

[ 12/13/2007 | 04:23 PM ]

Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT turned out a pretty successful solution not only from the performance standpoint, but also in terms of its overclocking potential. Pre-overclocked modifications of this video accelerator were destined to appear sooner or later and today we would like to tell you about one solution like that from MicroStar International who promise the performance of a GeForce 8800 GTX for only $259.

Table of contents:

• Package and Accessories
  
• PCB Design, Specifications, Cooling System
  
• Overclockability, Noise, Compatibility
  
• Testbed and Methods
  
• Performance in First-Person Shooters
  
• Battlefield 2142
  
• BioShock
  
• Call of Juarez
  
• Crysis
  
• Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
  
• Far Cry
  
• F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate
  
• Half-Life 2: Episode Two
  
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
  
• Unreal Tournament 3
  
• Performance in Third-Person 3D Shooters
  
• Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
  
• Tomb Raider: Legend
  
• Performance in RPG
  
• Gothic 3
  
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
  
• Performance in Strategies
  
• Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
  
• Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
  
• World in Conflict
  
• Performance in Synthetic Benchmarks
  
• Futuremark 3DMark05
  
• Futuremark 3DMark06
  
• Conclusion
  

The October, 29, announcement of the Nvidia G92 GPU was a remarkable event in the world of graphics hardware for the PC. The new GeForce 8800 GT 512MB graphics card proved to be but slightly inferior to the GeForce 8800 GTX in tests but had a recommended price of only $259. It is only occasionally that the new card was beaten by the more expensive ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT and it was almost always ahead of the GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB.

Thanks to its 65nm tech process the graphics card is not only fast but also compact and, to all appearances, economical. Another consequence of the better tech process is an improved frequency potential. The core frequencies of the reference GeForce 8800 GT are much higher than those of the GeForce 8800 GTX and this doesn’t seem to be the limit for the new technology. Many of Nvidia’s partners have come up with pre-overclocked versions of GeForce 8800 GTX, most of which come with rather modest coolers due to the relatively low heat dissipation.

As we have made sure in our review of Leadtek’s version of GeForce 8800 GT, such a graphics card can offer you the performance of a GeForce 8800 GTX and sometimes even more for a relatively small financial investment. Today we’ll be discussing a similar offer from another major hardware vendor. So, let us introduce to you the NX8800GT-T2D512E-OC graphics card from MicroStar International.