PowerColor X1300 512MB GameFX
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Sooner or later, everyone needs to upgrade the video in their machine. Today we will be taking a look at an X1300 512MB PCIe GameFX card by PowerColor. The X1300 is the entry level model to ATI’s Radeon X1K series, which offers a better fundamental design and better performance than the old X series.
PowerColor is a leading provider of graphics cards in the computer industry. Established in 1997 by Tul Corporation, PowerColor offers powerful, reliable, and cost-effective solutions to their customers. They strive to offer the best performance possible out of ATI's graphic processors.
PowerColor has four lines of cards in the X1K series. These are the X1300, X1600, X1800, and X1900. The fundamental differences between these cards are the number of pixel pipelines available for the card to communicate with the PCIe bus, and an increasing bus speed. The X1300 cards offer only four pixel pipelines, whereas the X1600 cards offer 12, the X1800s offer 16, and the X1900s offer a whopping 48.
PowerColor has a number of different PCIe cards available in their X1300 line. Today, we received the X1300 512MB. This card has 512MB of 128 bit DDR2 memory, which is pretty impressive for an entry level card. I can remember the days when 1MB of memory on a video card was a cause for laughter, but as any current gamer can attest, those days are long gone.
No review would be complete without the specs of the product in question, so without further ado, here they are:
SPECIFICATIONS
- Part Number: X1300 512MB
- Memory and Bus: 512 MB DDR2 / 128bit
- Core Speed: 450 MHz
- Memory Speed: 250 MHz x 2
- Output: Dual DVI/TV Out/HDTV
- Interface: PCIE x16
- Pixel Pipelines: 4
- Direct X Support: 9.0
- TV Connector: S-Video
REQUIREMENTS:
- Intel Pentium 4; AMD Athlon or Compatible
- 256MB of system memory (more for best performance)
- CD ROM
- 300 watt or better PSU recommended
- Windows 2000, Windows Media Center Edition, or Windows XP (Home or Pro)
- High resolution Multisync or multi-frequency monitors or any other type of VGA monitor (I'm glad this was specific)
- Digital flat-panel (DFP) displays or CRT display
FEATURES:
- 90-nanometer process GPU
- Ultra-threaded processing architecture
- Shader Model 3.0
- High Dynamic Range (HDR)
- Adaptive Anti-aliasing
- Advanced Memory Controller
- Full support of Microsoft Direct X 9.0 and OpenGL
- Revolutionary Avivo Video and Display
- Windows Vista Ready
PowerColor puts the features much more elegantly on their website:
High Definition 3D Performance & Image Quality to Your PC!
- Step up to serious 3D performance and image quality with the Radeon® X1300's new ultra-threaded core architecture and ATI's revolutionary AvivoTM video and display technology.
- Step up to serious 3D performance and high-definition image quality with ATI's new Radeon® X1300. For enhanced visuals and graphic performance the Radeon X1300 combines a new ultra-threaded core architecture with ATI's revolutionary Avivo™ video and display technology. Radeon X1300 delivers exceptional visual performance for PC entertainment and productivity.
Brilliant New Avivo™ Video and Display Technology
- With Avivo™ technology the Radeon® X1300 connects to home entertainment devices and produces vibrant colors, ultra sharp images, true-to-life image reproduction, and the smoothest video playback ever offered by ATI.
- With ATI's Avivo™ technology the Radeon® X1300 connects to home entertainment devices and allows you to view your digital media and play games with vibrant colors, ultra sharp images, true-to-life image reproduction, and the smoothest video playback ever offered by ATI.
A New Era of 3D Gaming
- Enjoy smooth texture rich gaming with advanced 3D features including: a 90-nanometer GPU, ultra-threaded processing architecture, and an advanced memory controller.
- Enjoy a smooth gaming experience and control texture-rich games with advanced 3D features including: a 90-nanometer process GPU, a new ultra-threaded 3D processing architecture, an advanced memory controller and up to 512 MB GDDR3 RAM.
Opening Doors to Visual Realism and True-to-life image Graphic Animation
- Radeon® X1300's 90-nanometer technology and ultra-threaded shader core is optimized for Shader Model 3.0 to deliver high dynamic range visual effects and enhanced realism.
- With industry leading 90-nanometer process technology and ultra-threaded shader core the Radeon® X1300 is optimized for Shader Model 3.0 to deliver new high dynamic range visual effects, enhanced adaptive anti-aliasing realism and lightening fast performance.
Next: What's inside the box? >>
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