Cardexpert GeForce 256 DDR

Cardexpert GeForce 256 DDR

WHAT'S HOT: Though the Cardexpert GeForce 256 DDR's brand name is less prominent than much of its GeForce/DDR competition, the board offers nearly as much zoom as the big boys do--for a lot less cash. Granted, its Quake III numbers--84 frames per second using 16-bit color and 71 fps using 32-bit color--were a bit lower than the Erazor X2's and Annihilator Pro's. But like Guillemot's Hercules 3D Prophet DDR-DVI, the Cardexpert's Unreal Tournament and Viper Racing numbers were significantly higher than the scores posted by both of those top Quake III performers. In addition, the Cardexpert ships with full versions of Drakan and Rollcage.

WHAT'S NOT: While graphics looked good in both Quake III and Unreal Tournament, we saw some dithering of transparencies and dull textures in Viper Racing and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000.

WHAT ELSE: In addition to the two full games, the Cardexpert ships with a DVD software player and a Games Power Pack. An S-Video port allows users to play games on a TV. The company offers a three-year warranty on the board, and toll-free tech support for 8.5 hours each weekday.

BEST USE: If you want to get your hands on a quick GeForce 256/DDR board, but are stymied by the price of our two highest-ranking cards, you'll likely find the Cardexpert GeForce 256 DDR an acceptable compromise--especially when you consider the nice software bundle and this board's strong performance in games where the top two boards are weak. Of course, you'll have to be ready to accept something less than the very latest technology.

SUMMARY

$250 800/539-2273 www.gainward.com