Asus Extreme AX600XT/HTVD Review --- TheThirdMedia Hardware

Conclusion

While the new midrange RADEON X700 PRO cards have arrived, they are still priced out of reach to be considered 'midrange' for end-users in some of the regions outside of the North American continent. The lower cost vanilla RADEON X700 hasn't arrived either so that leaves the existing RADEON X600 series on the ATI front for midrange PCI Express graphics card options. Besides, ATI has not replaced the X600 series with the X700 series and we expect the older range to hang around at affordable price points for some time to come.

The ASUS Extreme AX600XT/HDTV is based on the faster clocked RADEON X600 XT VPU and has 128MB of graphics memory. Put through our standard set of benchmarks, ASUS as usual outshined equivalent products (or reference boards) in performance. As we all know it, ASUS products command a premium almost all the time and it is for good reasons. The graphics card came bundled with a respected set of software (with video, graphics editing tools) and a full Deus Ex game. Additionally ASUS has its own proprietary utilities to boost gaming experience by the means of the ASUS GameFace Live (real-time video conferencing while gaming), ASUS VideoSecurity Online, ASUS OSD, ASUS SmartDoctor and ASUS SmartCooling. The differences don't just stop at the software bundle.

The ASUS Extreme AX600XT/HDTV 128MB PCIe x16 graphics card.

On the card itself, ASUS used a distinctive and quiet ducted cooling unit for the VPU and the forward memory chips, integrated a ATI Rage Theater chip that allowed video capturing (hence the software geared towards it) and a somewhat unique HDTV connector for Component output. Here is where the card's limitation unfortunately sets in as the HDTV connector bumped out the ability to integrate a second monitor output (be it analog VGA or DVI-I). As highlighted in the review, you would have to ironically opt for the cheaper ASUS Extreme AX600XT/TD if you require dual monitor outputs. Component output for the TD variant is still possible, but you would have to fork out for a VGA or DVI-I to Component converter from ATI's online store. So for better flexibility, you are better off choosing the ASUS Extreme AX60XT/TD but you do lose some of the nice software bundle, the quality video-input/output hub and the ability to perform video captures. Sadly, ASUS has put prospective buyers in this tough spot, but if you are certain that you will not require more than one monitor, the ASUS Extreme AX600XT/HDTV would probably serve you well.

Available locally at S$399 and roughly US$230+ from online merchants, it is of course on the pricier side. ASUS has never been easy on the wallet, but they have always delivered the performance, features and quality one way or the other. In the case of this particular ASUS graphics card, we would have gladly given it high recommendations had it been free from flaws. Alas, the lack of dual monitor outputs, the failure of HyperDrive living up to expectations and high price have brought the card's rating down. Nevertheless, the ASUS Extreme AX600XT/HDTV is still an overall commendable ATI RADEON X600 XT graphics card option if you can live with its restrictions.



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