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Conclusion

In terms of raw performance, nVidia has released another superlative which faces the same problem as its predecessor the GeForce3. This means that there is hardly any way to actually use the full potential of the card since there is no software that can really capitalize on the features supported. Demos are excluded from this statement.

What is to be gained from a Titanium serried GeForce over the older versions. There is certainly a substantial performance increase of the Ti500 over the older GeForce3 which is trivial enough since the new core runs at higher clock speed and memory frequency. What is really to be gained is the price drop in the standard GeForce3 for the consumer who can pick up these last year's models for a fraction of what they were going for only a few weeks ago. This is by no means intended to diminish the efforts by nVidia to maintain the top performing rank in the graphics industry. The Ti500 is an outstanding graphics solution that delivers a level of performance hitherto reserved to the high end workstation cards at an enthusiast price point. Furthermore, even though the performance gain over the older GeForce3 is only evolutionary (as the technology behind it), the gain was necessary to counter ATi's release of the R200 chip implemented in the Radeon 8500.

So much about nVidia, the topic of this review is actually the ASUS V8200T5 Deluxe. As difficult as it is to distinguish one nVidia GPU-based graphics adapter from the other, ASUS as the probably largest supplier of graphics cards in the world has done a great job implementing all possible features into their version of the Ti500.

Video-in and out as courtesy of the Philips SAA7 108E that has not changed since the original GeForce3 and a rather generous software bundle add some real value. Personally I would prefer a $50 off coupon for the latest version of Ulead but everybody has a different taste.

Shutter Glasses

I have never been a friend of those, they are simply giving me headaches but there are enough consumers out there that might get a kick out of them. Needless to say that especially DroneZ and MDK2 are an overwhelming experience in 3D and probably worth the extra Aspirin. Aquamark, unfortunately has no noticeable z-depth, no offense meant, the underwater world abides by different rules.

Final Words

The ASUS V8200T5 is the new flagship of the world's biggest supplier of video cards. Excellent performance and top manufacturing and image quality that also set the record straight about the often bashed 2D quality of nVidia graphics cards are the pros for the V8200T5. The level of overclocking we were able to achieve also indicates that ASUS is picking from the best of the lot, regardless of whether the chip markings are all equal within the Ti 500 GPU series and the memory used. With the Deluxe version, ASUS adds all features one could possibly expect from a graphics card and that were reserved not long ago for a few professional graphics and video acquisition cards. If the price is secondary, the V8200T5 is certainly the graphics adapter of choice right now. For the budget oriented user, the choices are more difficult, that is, the standard GeForce vs. the Ti200 could become a difficult decision. We'll have more on this subject shortly.

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