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GeCube SilenCool X700 PRO 256MB
[Abstract]
ThoughtsAt the ?50 price point on PCI Express, the 256MB X700 PRO makes a good case for itself. Equipped with GC20 DRAMs, a little overclocking gives you the ghostly X700 XT SKU for no extra m...
[Content] PCDigitalMobileGame
ThoughtsAt the ?50 price point on PCI Express, the 256MB X700 PRO makes a good case for itself. Equipped with GC20 DRAMs, a little overclocking gives you the ghostly X700 XT SKU for no extra money and little effort. Even at stock speeds, RV410 does enough with the memory to make recent games titles run well, ATI's recent drivers are excellent and they're worth a place on your shopping list. 6600 GT is marginally faster on average, considering even more games titles than the few I did today, but unless it's Doom 3, it's not enough to really matter. Your reasons for choosing either lie in places performance doesn't influence.
Form factor, availability and cooling/noise therefore become more important, and it's inside the latter facet of a graphics board that GeCube differentiates itself with the SilenCool X700 PRO. The in-house cooler on the SilenCool does well, never causing a problem in the test system in terms of stability, even with moderate airflow in the case. The only issue lies with size, since it won't fit all mainboards, and at over half a kilo, it weighs more than is really comfortable.
The retail bundle for the board looks to be quite bare, GeCube cutting down on extras to bring you the cooler at the usual X700 PRO 256MB price point of ?30 + VAT. Stockists should be fairly numerous in the UK, so their PR agency say. Component video output seems to be the highpoint of the bundle you'll receive, based on what will be supplied with the 128MB board. I'll confirm the full 256MB board bundle in due course.
To sum up: GeCube pull off silent X700 PRO running with aplomb, for competetive money, by not going overboard on the bundle. If it lies in your price range and silence appeals, be sure and consider it. GeCube promise that availability will be strong in early 2005. Recommended based on that.
Pros Complete silence, voltage regulators included
Good performance
Component video output cable
No real price premium for the cooler
Cons Heavy
Won't fit all mainboards
Limited initial availability in the UK
Thanks GeCube for the sample.
HEXUS.right2reply We gave GeCube the opportunity to comment on the review and their Sales and Marketing Manager, Serene Hsu, had this to say.
Dear ,
"Our market research shows that the majority of the market now buys 17" and 19" TFT screens which support a resolution of 1280x1024. We also know that a significant number of users are concerned by noise levels within their systems. GeCube has extensive R&D facilities and we work tirelessly to create new and innovative products for the market and our X700 passively cooled products give great frame rates at the highest resolutions available on these TFTs. If your visitors are looking to buy a graphic card that offers high performance, extensive features and environmental friendliness - at a competitive price point - then we urge them to consider the SilenCool X700 PRO !"
Regards,
Serene Hsu
Sales and Marketing Manager
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