Looks like there's another inconsistent specification or two --
Fry's product page:
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5410969
Specifications
Memory Size: 512MB
Memory Clock: 1400MHz
Memory Interface: 128-bit
Memory Type: GDDR3
Ports: 2 x DVI, HDTV / S-Video Out
Package Contents
2 x DVI to VGA/D-sub Adapter
...whereas EVGA's product spec. PDF
http://evga.com/products/pdf/512-P2-N756-TR.pdf
...for the card model listed in the Fry's rebate form:
At A Glance
* 512 MB 128-bit DDR2 Memory (700 MHz clock - 1.4 GHz effective)
* 22.4GB per second memory bandwidth
Features:
Two dual-link DVI outputs support two 2560x1600 resolution displays.
...Now the PICTURE in the same EVGA product spec. PDF shows
*ONE* DVI-I port (supposedly dual-link capable), *BUT* the other
connectors are *ONE* DB-15 VGA analog port, and *ONE* S-VIDEO/COMPOSITE
video output port. So EVGA's own spec/pictutre don't match in that there's
ONE usable DVI port, NOT TWO. If this is correct, it makes the Fry's
specification that the card has:
"Ports: 2 x DVI, HDTV / S-Video Out"
"Package Contents ...2 x DVI to VGA/D-sub Adapter..."
...quite bogus as well.
Also, as previously noted, Fry's page says 512MBy *DDR3* @ 1400MHz,
whereas the EVGA PDF says 512MBy *DDR2* @ 1400 Mhz effective
(double data rate 700 MHz clock). Gee I didn't know they made 700 MHz
input clock DDR2 memory; it'd be 200Mhz faster input clock than the DDR2-1066
that's used in fast PC memory, though I guess it's possible.
Whereas some guy added a review on the Newegg page of the card
model matching the Fry's rebate saying that there's actually 512MBy-DDR2,
AND claims that the memory clock for it is not 1400MHz but only 800MHz:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130292
Maybe he's wrong about the clock rate; if he's right then seemingly
Fry's, Newegg, AND EVGA aren't listing the proper memory clock rate, which
is rather a stupendous blunder if true.
So basically the memory type (DDR2 vs DDR3) is in serious question,
as well as the possible lack of a SLI connector (though as someone sald
above I guess they can do it over the PCIE bus with no SLI connector
at a bit of a cost of performance) as well
a question of the the number and type of video ports
(DVI + DVI + 2*DVI to VGA dongle) vs
(DVI + VGA + 1*DVI to VGA dongle).
I have yet to see any benchmark review of the actual performance difference
between an EVGA card with 8600GT + 512DDR2 vs 512DDR2 vs 256DDR3;
I'm sure there's an improvement in highly detailed textures etc. for having
512 vs 256 memory, and I'm sure there's a performance loss in having DDR2
vs. DDR3 but who knows what that really is.
Seems like nobody has even the basic facts straight about this card.
WTF is so difficult about getting basic model numbers, features, specifications
straight? Argh.
That being said the absolute cheapest PCIE video cards I found of ANY type
were $18AR (huge rebate, old 7300 series model), $27AR (8500 model),
$40ish ar (8400gs series), $55ish AR (2400PRO and various 8500s),
and then this one. This is likely a lot more performant with 512MBy and the
8600gt chip vs. the other options for less than twice the cost, so I suppose
it's not too bad in comparison.
There are many passively cooled cards (no fan noise) in this low end
product range, though, for HTPC/quiet-PC use that may have some advantage
in that respect for that attribute only (though I bet many of them run HOT
under load with passive cooling in small cases).
This isn't bad for high performance 2D GUI / casual 1024x768 DX9 gaming /
HD and SD video playback, but the lack of consistent specifications is maddening.
