All-In-One and One For All
Written: Aug 06 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Video editing abilities; VR goggles; excellent compatibility; fast; strong software
Cons: Pricey for basic functionality
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| jakemgold's Full Review: Asus AGP-6600 |
Remember the days when you had to get two or three cards for a complete graphics solution? There was ussually one for your basic SVGA graphics, and then there was an add on if you wanted MPEG-2 acceleration, and another add on if you wanted powerful 3D graphics (think the Monster 3D), and yet another if you wanted video input / output. All that has changed, and not only does ASUS supply all these features crammed into one relatively small AGP card, but all of these features work beyond expectation.
ASUS's V6600 Deluxe is based on the nVidia GeForce256 SDR chipset. The GeForce256 chipset has recieved rave reviews from reviewers all around. Even with the recent introduction of the GeForce 2 chipset and 3Dfx's Voodoo5 chipset, the GeForce256 continues to hold its own, performing only slightly below these chipsets, and in some cases, still faster. And to even use the word slow in this context seems misplaced; given that the eye can only detect 30 frames per second (the frame rate of our TVs), comparing 60 frames per second (FPS) and 70 FPS in Quake II seems rather silly. And given that this chipset is relatively old in computer terms these days (more than 4 months old...), it admirably holds itself above most other "modern" chipsets. In other words, the GeForce256 is a worthwhile investment -- it will last. We'll explore the advantages of the GeForce256 chipset later in this review.
However, ASUS has supplemented the basic 2D / 3D graphics chipset with a slew of extras on the deluxe version of this card. Not the least of which is full screen, 704x480 video capture support, as well as general video input and output (synchronized with audio fed in through your audio card). In addition to supporting digital output, the V6600 Deluxe includes a pair Virtual Reality goggles which work quite well. Finally, MPEG-2 encoding / decoding, DVD acceleration, and every other bell or whistle you might need is right on board. To top it off, ASUS includes all the software you'll need, some tailored for its specific card. We'll expore all these areas below.
GEFORECE256 AND 2D/3D GRAPHICS
There's not a lot to say about 2D performance / quality. The colors are beautiful, going all the way up to full 32-bit color. Resolutions up to approximately 1900x1700 are supported for those with large monitors, and refresh rates are quite reasonable. While 2D is flawless, those only interested in business applications should look elsewhere for this price tag. I'd recommend the ATI Rage Pro chipset for 2D only.
In terms of 3D, the GeForce256 soars. With full 32-bit color support (a highly debated issue with 3D acceleration), AGP 4X fast write, support for just about every fancy 3D function (with the exception of the brand new FSAA - a fancy form of anti aliasing), 32 megabytes of SGRAM, and high resolution support, there is little more one could one. Note that there is an identical model graphics card with DDR memory (dual speed), dubbed the ASUS V6800 Deluxe. However, given the price difference, and the relatively inconsequetial performance difference, this yield more bragging rights than speeds differences.
To top it off, the V6600 Deluxe version comes with a pair of VR goggles. They essentially synchronize to the monitor's refresh rate and operate on the same principal that the VR theaters operate on. I'm not very knowledgable on this topic, so I'd refer you to a review on Anandtech (www.anandtech.com) of this graphics card for further details. However, I can say from experience, the effect is quite realistic, and it adds to the enjoyment of the game (although it seems to cause eye strain if used for a long period of time).
Again though, if your only looking for 3D, I'd recommend you buy a new GeForce 2 based graphics board. The chipset is much less expensive (more advanced manufacturing that's less expensive) and is ussually faster. At the least, downgrade to the "Pure" (as opposed to "Deluxe" version of the V6600).
VIDEO INPUT/OUTPUT AND CAPTURE
One would expect that a video card whose focus is 2D/3D graphics would implement "half done" video I/O and capture, perhaps with low resolutions, shotty quality, or poor frame rate. Ironically, I've found this card fares better then others designed for this functionality. On the back of the card, where the monitor is plugged in, there is are two S-Video (SVHS supported) adapters - one for input and one for output. There is one standard video out as well. To make life easy, in addition to including an S-Video cable in the box, ASUS includes an adapter to going from S-Video to standard video. Currently, I have an old Zenith VCR plugged into the video input on my V6600, with it's sound connected to my Vortex2 SQ2500 audio card's audio input. With ASUS's excellent proprietary software (see more below on that), I have been able to flawlessly watch taped movies (a sad experience after the life DVD brought to the PC) on my PC. Furthermore, I can capture video at full screen 640x480 at an impressive 29.97 frames per second. (TV frame rate is 30 frames per second, the 29.97 is designed for compression). You can tweak the hue, saturation, brightness, and other settings independantly. Video output works as expected as well. Making matters even more pleasant, a TWAIN driver allows you to capture screen shots from the video in in any TWAIN supporting application (including Adobe Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro). ASUS's video out connector (as opposed to S-video) can also be directly hooked up to a TV, offering up to an 800x600 display on the TV. This allows users to use their TV as their PC monitor. This can be nice for gamers. For more information on video editing abilities see the software section.
EXTRA HARDWARE FEATURES
Not to be ignored, ASUS has included many other worthwhile features on its V6600 Deluxe board. For one, digitial output is supported - for those looking at a down the road investment, this is important. Futhermore, MPEG-2 encoding / decoding is important to those who frequently do video encoding. DVD acceleration (which I imagine stems from the prior feature) means relatively smooth movie playback - and believe me this makes all the difference in the world. Without DVD acceleration, not even my 16X DVD-ROM drive is able to flawlessly play DVDs - it's not an issue of speed. You'll have just as much luck on a 2X DVD as 16X without hardware support - DVDs are meant to be played at 1X in fact. DVD acceleration also increases picture quality, with "full precision sub-pixel accuracy." ASUS truly goes the extra mile with hardware functionality.
SOFTWARE
As if their impressive hardware abilites weren't enough, ASUS has thrown in a perfect set of software into the batch. For starters, it's drivers support all the proprietary operating systems, and setup was effortless. In Windows 98 Second Edition the user can instantly gain access to settings both through a tray icon (which also includes a menu connecting to all of ASUS's main software) and display settings. You can control everything from the color, to the refresh rate, to the VR goggle options, to Direct3D and OpenGL settings, all the way to multiple screen settings. I also found extremely up to date drivers on their website - a good sign given that many manufacturers (notoriously Diamond) fail to update their drivers often, if at all. I had the latest drivers downloaded and updated in no time. DirectX6, DirectX7 and OpenGL support is fully built in.
ASUS also includes a handful of their own tools. "SmartDoctor" monitors the status of the graphics card and its components (ie the fan), dynamically cooling the GeForce chip, and allowing users to tweak its settings (translate: allows overclocking). There are two programs designed to handle video input. While one is designed to support 3D videos (VR goggles), the other is for most functioning. Dubbed ASUSLive, it enables video capture (single frame to graphic and 30fps video capture). It also allows the viewer to switch to a full screen viewing mode, or an "always on top" mode that keeps the video in a window on top of all your work. You can modify the tint, brightness, and contrast right in the application. ASUS also includes a 3D image viewer for use with the VR goggles - there's a handful of 3D bitmaps on the CD-ROM.
ASUS includes their own DVD movie software, specifically designed for the acceleration in the V6600 line of cards. The excellent software contains all the functionality found in any other DVD movie software (perhaps more!), and an excellent interface. The aspect ratio is held perfectly, and it's easy to switch between full screen and always on top. With the "Hardware Acceleration" on, DVDs play virtually flawlessly.
ASUS also includes Ulead VideoStudio 4.0 - impressive considering the high price tag on this high end, well respected video editing software. While not as professional minded as Adobe Premiere, users can create impressive home videos with it - it integrates effortlessly with the V6600's video abilities.
In addition, ASUS throws in some decent games to show off it's capabilities. The full version of Hexen II - a great game - shows off the card's true OpenGL support (no 3Dfx MiniGL). "Drakan," another enjoyable game, shows of the 32-bit color DirectX7 abilities (ironically, I recieved this game with my Vortex2 SQ2500 as well, to show off it's A3D 2.0 abilities). A stripped down version of Rollcage shows off remarkable framerates, and a demo game CD fully rounds out the offerings.
CONCLUSIONS
With a high price tag (about $300 normally), the V6600 Deluxe is not meant for simple business users or gamers. Instead, it is for those looking for an all-in-one solution, and it is here that this card is easily worth it's price tag. As I head off to college, and do video editing for money on the side, my computer acts as a TV (video input), movie center (DVD and video input), game center (think 10mbps network), video editing workstation, and of course place of work. The V6600 Deluxe offers a reliable 2D workstation, powerful 3D graphics, and full fledged video input/output capabilities. It is a graphics card that worth its high pricetag and investment. Highly recommended without reserve to those looking for a complete, long lasting graphics solution.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 230
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Epinions.com ID:
jakemgold
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Member: Jacob Goldman
Location: West Hartford, CT
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 4 members
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