Between eVGA and MSI

[mdahc]

Zipzoomfly should have the MSI in today or tomorrow (according to a rep), with the eVGA not far behind. Anyway, the only real difference I can see is the fact that the MSI has VIVO. However, I'm not sure that MSI even bundles any video capturing software with the one Zipzoomfly is going to be selling (MSI's site says that WinDVD Creator Plus is optional, and Zipzoomfly doesn't list it). Thus, any feedback concerning warranty/tech support/customer service for the two brands and/or comments on the VIVO feature would be much appreciated.

 

[QuestMGD]

Read the review of various cards on Anandtech.

Their criticism of the MSI heatsink is valid. I have a MSI 6600GT which isn't in a computer yet. When I first looked at it, I was suspicious about the heatsink installation, Anandtech verified this.

I now have the heatsink detached and am sanding down the heatsink surfaces. I haven't seen any 6600 aftermarket heatsinks, and since the MSI heatsink looks nice and is reportedly quiet, I decided to get the heatsink working. The heat sink is copper color coated aluminum, not copper.

If I had known about this problem I would have gotten another brand card. Probably something that throws in a copy of DoomIII. The MSI box has a doom3 logo, but the game is not included. BTW there are a lot of CDs included in the package, but I haven't installed them, so I'm not sure how useful. Here is a brief description (mostly what the CDs are titled as):
WinDVD Creator Plus
CD titled MSI game collection (probably a bunch of free/shareware)
Driver disk
Disk with photoshop album SI and 3d-album
MSI 3D desktop
InterVideo WinDVD 5.1 channel/ Supreme Foreign Language Learning Machine (huh?)
MSI Media Center Deluxe II
Virtual Drive Pro/ Restore It! Pro
URU
Prince Of Persia: The Sands of Time (2CD)
XIII (4CD)
+ HDTV/S-Vid adapater, DVI/15-pin adapter.

I think this is the standard package since it is the one shown on the MSI site. I got mine from NewEgg.
After this sanding, the heat sink looks like it will work fine because it fits well, but I don't think I would voluntarily do this if I didn't have to.
Lapping details available on request.

Hope this helps.