The Leadtek WinFast GeForce 3 Ti500 TD...
Yes, There is a Video Card Under all that Metal!

By, Marco Chiappetta
November 15, 2001

Here we are again, in the same predicament we have found ourselves in many times before.  With the release of a "new" NVIDIA GPU, inevitably comes an onslaught of cards all based on a standard reference design.  The up side to this "situation" is that all of the cards based on the reference design have gone through a rigorous testing regimen to insure compatibility, stability and performance.  The down side is that it becomes increasingly more difficult to distinguish one product from another as more and more brand-name cards hit store shelves.

Manufacturers are left with the daunting task of differentiating their cards in a sea of similar products that all look, perform and cost roughly the same.  Leadtek thinks they are up to the task, and have introduced two cards based on the NVIDIA GeForce 3 Ti500...the WinFast GeForce 3 Ti500 TD and the WinFast GeForce 3 Ti500 TDH.  The card we'll be looking at today is the "TD" model.  We've got a lot to cover, so let's jump right in and see if Leadtek's spin on the GeForce 3 Ti500 is worth spending your hard earned money on...

Specifications Of The Leadtek WinFast GeForce 3 Ti500 TD
A Ti500 with some extra metal...

       
CLICK ANY IMAGE FOR AN ENLARGED VIEW

Leadtek WinFast GF3 Ti 500:
  • NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 500 nfiniteFX (tm) GPU
  • On Board 64MB - 3.8ns DDR Memory
  • 8.0 GB/sec memory bandwidth
  • Core / Memory speed 240/500 MHz
  • Lightspeed Memory Architecture
  • 350 MHz RAMDAC
  • AGP 4X/2X, AGP texturing and Fast Write support
  • Programmable Vertex Shader
  • Shadow Buffer Technology support
  • 3D textures support
  • Microsoft DirectX 8.1 and OpenGL 1.3 support
  • High-Performance Hardware Antialiasing (HRAA)
  • On-board DVI support
  • On-board TV-out support up to 1024x768 resolution
  • DVD software included
  • Drivers Support for Win 9X, ME, 2K and XP
  • Leadtek WinFox system utility
  • 2 Full Games Bundled (DroneZ and Gunlok)

Leadtek Value-Added features:

  • 64MB 3.8ns Memory onboard
  • Support RCA & S-video TV-out
  • Special Designed Active Cooling Module
  • 2 Full Games Bundled (DroneZ and Gunlok)

DVI Display Resolutions Supported:

 
Display Resolutions Supported:

THE BUNDLE:

 

Leadtek has included some excellent software and accessories with the WinFast GeForce 3 Ti500 TD.

 

In the box you'll find a standard composite (RCA type) video cable, an S-Video cable and an S-Video to composite adapter.  If you plan on using the TV-Out function, you won't need to purchase any additional adapters to get this card connected to your VCR or television...unless of course your using an ancient TV that is only equipped with an F-Type connector.

 

A slew of software is also included with the Leadtek WinFast GeForce 3 Ti500 TD.  There is a CD containing all of the necessary drivers needed to get the card functioning.  On this CD you'll also find Leadtek's "WinFox" software suite and "Speed Runner" software that give users the ability to tweak many of the card's settings.  Some third party applications are also bundled with the "TD", including Cycore's CULT 3D, Colorific and the excellent WinDVD 2000.  So far, so good.  The surprise came when we found two full version games in the box, Dronez and Gunlok!  Many enthusiasts claim the power of the GF3 goes to waste without games that take advantage of the new features.  Well, Leadtek is trying to negate that argument...

 


 

The Card, it's Drivers and Other Features