MSI NX8600GT Twin Turbo Video Card Review

Specifications:

Features:

• HDMI with Audio Integration Solution (Optional)   The NVIDIA® GeForce® 8 Series graphics card supports HDMI with audio integration solution. With a DVI-to-HDMI adapter and an extra signal cord through the bracket, audio source from sound card(S/PDIF) can be integrated into HDMI interface by simply plugging the cord into the pinhead located on graphics card. Only 1 single HDMI cable is required while streaming audio/video data to flat-panel display devices, such as Plasma/LCD TVs, or projector.
• NVIDIA CineFX 5.0 Shading Architecture
        • Microsoft Vista Features
  Vertex shaders
  - Support for Microsoft DirectX 10.0 Vertex Shader 4.0
  - Encompass' Transform and Lighting
  - Displacement mapping
  - Geometry instancing
  • Pixel shades
  - Support for DirectX 10.0 Pixel Shader 4.0
  - Support for full pixel branching
  - Support for Multiple Render Targets (MRTs)
  - Infinite-length pixel programs
  • Next-generation texture engine
  • Full 128-bit studio-quality floating point precision through the entire rendering pipeline,with native hardware support for 32 bpp,64 bpp,and 128 bpp rendering modes.
•  64-Bit Texture Filtering and Blending
        • Full floating point is supported throughout entire pipeline
  • Floating point filtering improves the quality of images in motion
  • Floating point texturing drivers new levels of clarity and image detail
  • Floating point frame buffer blending gives detail to special effects like motion blur and explosions
• NVIDIA Intellisample 4.0 Technology
        • Advanced 16X anisotropic filtering (up to 128 taps)
  • Rotated-grid antialiasing for removing jagged edges for incredible edge quality
  • Support for advanced lossless compression algorithms for color, texture,and z-data at higher resolutions and frame retes
  • Fast z-clear
  • Support for normal map compression
  • New transparent supersampling and transparent multisampling antialiasing modes.
• NVIDIA UltraShadow II Technology
        • Designed to enhance the performance of shadow-intensive games,like id Software's Doom 3
• NVIDIA SLI Technology
        • Patented hardware and software technology allows two GPUs to run in parallel to scale performance
  • Scales performance on over 60 top PC games and applications
  • Support for NVIDIA nView multi-display for scalable performance across two displays.
• NVIDIA PureVideo Technology
        • Patented hardware and software technology allows two GPUs to run in parallel to scale performance
  • Three dedicated video engines
  • MPEG-2 HD and WMV HD video playback up to 1920 X1080p resolution
  • H 264 hardware decode acceleration
  • Decryption supported for all standard HD Video formats-AES-128 CTR mode,AES-128 CBC mode,and AES-128 ECB mode.
  • Industry's most advanced video algorithms
  • Overlay color temperature correction
  • Microsoft Video Mixing Renderer (VMR) support for multiple video windows with full video quality and features in each window
  • Integrated HDTV output.
• NVIDIA Digital Vibrance Control (DVC) 3.0 Technology
        • DVC color controls
  • DVC image sharpening controls
• API Support
        • Complete DirectX support,including the latest version of Microsoft DirectX 10.0 Shader Model 3.0
  • Full OpenGL support,including OpenGL 2.0
• MSI Bundled Sftware  
•    VGA Driver
  •     MSI Live Update Series ( Live Graphics Card BIOS & Live Graphics Card Driver)
  -     Automatically online download & update VGA BIOS & Drivers, reduce the risk of getting the wrong files, and never have the trouble on web site searching.
  •     StarOSD NEW!
        StarOSD can monitor system information, adjust monitor figuration, and overclock system.
  •     Dual Core Center NEW!
  •     GoodMen
        Automatically release the system memory space, reduce the risk of system hang-up.
  •     LockBox
  -     Instantly enter the data lock mode when you must leave your system for a while.
  •     WMIinfor
  -     Automatically list the detail system configuration, it helpful for engineering service people.
  •     MSI VIVID NEW!
  -     Vivid brings the easiest way to optimize graphic quality. Colorize your vision when browsing photos!!! Sharpen characters edge! Enhance contrast when playing game!
  •     MSI Live 
  -     Including all real time life information you need, such as Live MSI Product News, Live Daily Information, Live Personal Schedule Manager, Live Search and more.
  •     MSI Secure DOC
  •     E-Color
  •     MediaRing
  •     ShowShift
  •     ThinSoft Be Twin
  •     Adobe Acrobat Reader
  •     Norton Internet Security 2005
  •     Microsoft® DirectX 9.0c