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Looking at this PCI Express videocard, we see that the Asus EN7600GT Silent features two dual link DVI output connectors, Component output (y, Pb, Pr), the SLI bridge connector, and the all important SilentCool thermal solution.
80% Rating:
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ASUS EN7600GT Silent /2DHT/256M/A |
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Much of nVIDIA's success with videocard GPUs is due to the company's nForce market penetration, the symbiotic relationship between the two has allowed new technologies into the fold which further leverage nVIDIA core strength - graphics.
The GeForce 7600GT GPU takes over from where the GeForce 6600GT left off, continuing the tradition of feature packed, economical, mainstream videocards for the masses that play like little mini performance cards. In other words, you can save a few hundred bucks by buying a couple GeForce 7600GTs to run in SLI for performance on par with a GeForce 7800GTX.
Asus has embraced the nVIDIA GeForce 7600GT GPU and released a videocard which is not only ideally suited towards the occasional gamer and even hardcore gamer on a budget, but also doubles up the value by offering 100% silent operation which makes it ideal for home theatre PC's or just anyone who wants a quiet computer. The TV output and HDTV output capabilities of the Asus EN7600GT Silent/2DHT/256M/A work hand in hand with its 256MB GDDR3 memory and its 560 MHz GPU to provide a strong feature set for anyone walking down the multimedia path.
Looking at this PCI Express videocard, we see that the
Asus EN7600GT Silent/2DHT/256M/A features two dual link DVI output connectors, a
socket for Component output (y, Pb, Pr), the SLI bridge connector, and the
all important SilentCool thermal solution. In
typical Asus fashion, the EN7600GT Silent/2DHT/256M/A videocard comes bundled
with all the necessary cables and DVI/Analog adapters you'll need too. Not bad
for a videocard with a retail price of $250 CDN ($221US,
£120GBP), and you get a couple game titles too!
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Asus EN7600GT Silent/2DHT/256M/A
Videocard |
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Includes: |
Quick Installation Guide, Driver CD, Manual
CD, Xpand Rally CD, King Kong CD, Leather CD Wallet, Component
Output Cable, 2x DVI to analog converters |
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Like most
modern PCI Express videocards, the Asus EN7600GT Silent/2DHT/256M/A's Geforce 7600GT core
is built on the 90 nanometer manufacturing process. The GeForce 7600GT
generates a moderate amount of heat, but rather than slap on
a big thermal solution that sounds like a vacuum cleaner Asus have opted for a
large dual heat pipe heatsink which uses system airflow and is completely silent - the
company call it SilentCool. We'll talk a little more about the heatsink in just a bit,
but first let's take a look at that nVidia GeForce 7600GT GPU.
As mentioned, the GeForce 7600GT core is
built on TSMC's 90 nanometer manufacturing process and the die has an area of
125mm's square. The pixel rendering pipeline in the 7600GT has been increased to
12, up from 8 on the 6600GT. The Vertex rendering pipeline has also been
increased from 4 to 5. The core clock speed jumps to 560 MHz but it's the memory
which greatly increases in speed and runs at 1400 MHz! The memory controller
width stays the same at 128 bits.
Judging by the specs, the GeForce 7600GT should
significantly outperform the older GeForce 6600GT and even possibly GeForce 6800
series videocards as well!
The
GeForce 7600GT is SLI capable so you can potentially double up and get GeForce 7900GTX style
performance while saving a couple of hundred dollars! Since many late model videocards can
be power hogs, you'll be happy to know that if
you're using an older power supply you shouldn't have any problems with the Asus EN7600GT Silent
videocard, it does not require any extra power.
Now let's have a look at this 100% silent VGA
heatsink....
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