|
HotHardware's Test System |
Pentium 4 based
test-bed |
|
-
Intel Pentium 4 1.7GHz.
Processor
-
Abit TH7-RAID Pentium 4
Motherboard
-
256MB of Samsung PC800
RAMBUS DRDRAM
-
IBM DTLA307030 30Gig ATA100
7200 RPM Hard Drive
-
Windows 2000 Professional
w/ SP2
-
Direct X 8.0a
-
nVidia Detonator 4
reference drivers version 21.85
|
Benchmarks
With
The Visiontek GeForce2MX 400 |
Decent entry level
performance |
|
Just to give you
a baseline, with respect to what the 3D Graphics portion of
this bundle can do, we thought it would make sense to show
you a few benchmark numbers. We'll start with
MadOnion's 3DMark 2001.
These are fairly
respectable numbers, especially in the lower resolutions,
where texture memory bandwidth is not as saturated as it is
at 1600X1200. This benchmark is based on Remedy's Max
Payne game engine. As a point of reference, we
recommend at least a score of 2000 3DMarks in order to run
Max Payne smoothly in full detail. As you can see, at
1024X768X32 frame rate should be very playable.
Vulpine
Software's GLMark is a little more taxing on a graphics card
and as opposed to 3DMark 2001, is driven by an OpenGL based
engine. It has the ability to support pixel and vertex
shaders, like those found in a GeForce3 card but we had to
turn that feature off obviously during testing since this
card is based on a GeForce2 core. Regardless, as you
can see the GeForce2MX 400 does struggle with this test.
Let's look at an
all too familiar OpenGL benchmark based on a real gaming
engine.
We cranked up
the texture and geometry detail in all the Quake3 Timedemo
tests. As you'll note, the Xtasy Everything's GF2MX
400 cards handles 800X600 and 1024X768 resolutions with
relative ease. Holding on to that magic 60 frames per
second number, even users with 19" monitors will have a
fairly high resolution and detailed gaming experience at
more than acceptable frame rates.
Let's deliver
the final verdict here.
The Visiontek
XTasy Everything is the proverbial jack of all trades for
multi-media video and graphics. Fortunately, it is
also masterful with respect to the video side of the
equation, delivering high quality TV images and allowing for
a myriad of recording, producing and time shifting features
to grace the average home users desktop. In addition,
its ease of use is commendable.
Conversely, we
would have appreciated more detailed documentation with our
unit. Although we were up and running in no time, we
felt that maybe we may be missing out on some interesting
feature that we are unaware of.
(update 11/19/01 - there is a full html driven manual on the
install CD. Shame on us for not looking into this.
Add another point for VT!) Also, it would have
been nice to have a higher end GeForce2 Ti or GeForce3 Ti
bundled with this kit. The GeForce2MX 400 is nothing
to scoff at but we would only consider it entry or mid level
graphics hardware at this point. However, if at the
end of the day, price is a concern for you, this full
featured kit that competes with the "All In Wonders" of the
world, is a steal at a retail price of $199 with street
prices around $179.
We're giving the
Visiontek XTasy Everything a HotHardware Heat Meter Rating
of...
Do you
have something meaningful to say or do you just want to flap
your gums?
Get
some in the Hot Hardware PC Hardware Forum now!
|