![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Monday , December 03, 2007
- Author:
- Matthew Krysiak
- Editor:
- Brent Justice
- Google +1
GeForce 8800 GT Overclocked Roundup
We have three builder overclocked GeForce 8800 GT video cards from Asus, EVGA, and MSI. We see what kind of gameplay experience can be achieved in Crysis, Half Life 2: Episode 2, Need For Speed: Pro Street and Unreal Tournament 3.
Introduction
ASUS is a well known name to computer enthusiasts. It was founded in 1989 and is one of the largest manufacturers of computer motherboards. Along with manufacturing both AMD and Intel based motherboards they also manufacture both ATI and NVIDIA based video cards and are becoming known for their gorgeous laptops.
ASUS EN8800 GT TOP
The ASUS EN8800 GT TOP uses the reference design for the PCB and has a factory overclocked GPU and memory. The GPU is running at 700 MHz (100 MHz over the reference design of 600 MHz). The video card’s memory is running at 2 GHz, which is 200 MHz faster than the 1.8 GHz reference design.
The front of the box is devoted to the advertisement of the Company of Heroes which is included with the card. It features a Company of Heroes logo that is bigger than that of the ASUS logo and a picture of two soldiers. It also has a Windows Vista logo, a 512 MB DDR3 logo, a PCI Express 2.0 logo, and a Gamer OSD logo. Next to the cards name is ASUS’s TOP logo which signifies that the card is factory overclocked.
At the top of the box you will notice that there is a handle. Although it is not particularly heavy it is a huge 18 ¼ inches long by just under 12 inches tall and 3 ¼ inches wide.
Opening the front lap of the box we are presented with a description of ASUS’s Gamer OSD program; which enables you to change overclock the GPU, change 3D settings, capture video, and take screenshots. On the bottom panel is covered with Company of Heroes information.
On the back of the box ASUS lists out the features of the card along with the recommended system requirements. ASUS also lists their “Exclusive Innovations” such as Splendid (supposedly improves video watching), Video Security, Gamer OSD, and Smart Doctor (hardware protection and overclocking tool). Though nowhere on the box does it list the GPU or memory clock speeds.
The video card is bundle with a driver CD, a CD containing the manual, a speed setup guide, a black CD holder, a Company of Heroes CD, a DVI to VGA adapter, a 9-pin to component cable, and a 4-pin to 6-pin Molex connector.
The ASUS EN8800 GT TOP uses a standard green PCB board, a gun metal colored IO bracket and is nine and half inches long. The top of the reference design heatsink has the two soldiers from the box and the Company of Heroes logo. The power circuitry has a black plastic cover over it but has slots in it to allow airflow. There is a large opening by the SLI connector to let out the hot air. It does require a 6-pin auxiliary power connection.
Overall the card design looks and feels very solid, though the box is unnecessarily large. We are disappointed at the lack of information on the box about the exact clock speeds of the GPU and memory of the card that is in the box. It would be nice to know exactly what the overclocked frequencies are and what “TOP” relates to, which is ASUS’s brand for factory overclocked video cards.