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Connect 3D Radeon X850 XT Platinum 256mb Video Card

Wednesday, March 1st, 2006 | Reviews, Video Card Reviews

There is a certain segment of the gaming community that demands the highest level of graphics quality, optimal rendering, and brilliant effects interwoven into their game play experience. You know who you are, and you know what you want – a premium video card that will deliver. The Connect 3D X850 XT Platinum will get you there.

The X850 XT Platinum is the most robust card in the acclaimed X850 series by Radeon. Manufactured by Connect 3D, an ATI ‘add-in-card’ partner, X850 Platinum XT specs are off the chart; memory clock speed is 590 MHz, and engine clock speed is 540 MHz. This card will let you play state of the art games like FarCry, Battlefield 2, and FEAR at max graphics settings. ATI’s technology is built into the card to provide power and flexibility.

SMARTSHADER HD
CPUs historically have played a leading role regarding graphical output due to their flexibility and programmable nature. The ever improving speed and versatility of graphics cards has lessened this burden, but an optimal graphical effect has still been challenging to develop. SMARTSHADER HD is ATI’s fourth generation shader technology that allows developers to program an unlimited range of visual effects that execute on the graphics processor. This leads to more sophisticated effects and great performance.

SMOOTHVISION HD
SMOOTHVISION HD is also a fourth generation technology developed by ATI. The result of SMOOTHVISION HD integration is a high performance smoothing technology that cleans up rough edges and results in a cleaner, crisper graphic.

3Dc
3Dc is comparatively new ATI technology. 3Dc is a compression technology that highlights details while minimizing memory requirements to view them. 4:1 compression is possible, meaning that game designers can add up to four times the details, without adding memory requirements.

CATALYST
CATALYST CONTROL CENTER is a driver configuration tool that really puts the ability to tweak in the gamers’ hands. The configuration tool allows you accelerate or decelerate you graphical environment, which allows you to determine your preferred graphics solution.

Specifications:

• GPU – RADEON X850 XT
• Maximum Resolution – 2048 x 1536 @ 85Hz
• Video Memory – 256MB
• Memory Type – 256-bit GDDR3
• Memory Bandwidth – 35.8 GB/sec.
• Interface Type – PCI Express
• Interface Speed – 4X8X
• Connector(s) – Dual DVI, VIVO

In the Box

• Connect 3D Radeon X850 XT Platinum Video Card
• User’s Manual
• Getting Started Guide
• ATI Radeon Driver CD
• Quick Installation Guide
• Registration Guide
• Component to VIVO Adapter Cable
• Power Cable Dual Composite/S-Video to VIVO Adapter Cable
• Composite Cable
• S-Video Cable
• 2 DVI to VGA Adapters

In Sum
The Connect 3D Radeon X850 XT Platinum is a premium video card, not an ultra-premium video card, and there is a difference. Ultra premium cards will cost two or three hundred dollars more than the X850 XT Platinum, and will provide slightly better performance that an expert will be able to perceive. For most serious gamers, the combination of quality, power, speed, rendering capability, and price will make the Connect 3D X850 XT Platinum a terrific buy.