Components

Asus AGP-V8440

At a Glance

Asus ASUS V8440 GEFORCE4 TI 4400 (Asus-V8440TD128M)

Mick LockeyPhotograph by: Rick RiznerAsus AGP-V8440In our gaming tests, the Asus AGP-V8440 delivered the third best overall performance score after the EVGA.com E-GeForce4 Ti 4600 and the VisionTek Xtasy GeForce4 Ti 4400. Like other cards equipped with an NVidia GeForce4 Ti 4400 chip, it also delivered comparatively fast frame rates in 3D Studio Max--a 3D modeling application.Based on our tests running Unreal Tournament 2003, the V8440's antialiasing didn't significantly improve image quality in games (we used Asus's recommended 2X mode, which takes two samples per pixel). We noticed darkened patches on a bright white floor's tile patterns, for instance, and a few jagged edges on a grated bridge and other objects.

Asus is one of only a handful of companies that do not provide toll-free support. (Matrox and ATI are two others.) Though the company gets a nod for providing 12 hours of technical support during weekdays--more than other companies typically offer--you'll have to pay toll charges if you run into problems and need to call.

At $250, it's a bit pricey, but on a par with similarly outfitted graphics boards offering the same processor and amount of memory. The basic software bundle includes Aquanox, a game with more fog than a San Francisco summer, and Midnight GT Rage Rally, plus a few sample games.

This board has a basic assortment of ports: A DVI output allows you to connect digital flat-panel displays, and a TV-out connector provides the wherewithal to watch movies on your TV using your computer's DVD-ROM drive. However, your TV needs to be near your PC, as the included S-Video cables are a bit short.

The user manual is a scant 15 pages, printed on tissue-thin paper. It seemed more like an afterthought than a proper tool for getting the most out of your new video card. The manual covers the basic steps of installing and setting up the card, but it doesn't have a troubleshooting section or a number to call in case of problems. To get technical support, you must visit Asus's support page and follow the steps listed there.

To test image quality, a three-person panel watched demos of our test applications and observed each card's ability to render complex textures and to display colors and contrast. Like most graphics boards we tested, we saw little difference in image quality between this higher-priced board and the budget models.

Better for experienced users who don't need much in the way of technical support and who want a good balance of price and performance in a high-end board.