ASUS EN9800GX2 Top Video Card Review

Today we are going to check out the first NVIDIA 9800 GX2 to hit my desk that is overclocked from the factory. The card is from ASUS and is called the ASUS EN9800GX2 Top. ASUS claims that the card is overclocked by 11% for better performance. To see how well it stacked up to the other 9800 GX2 cards I have reviewed read on.

Gallery

2 images

Benchmarks

Features & Specifications
The ASUS EN9800GX2 Top shares the same features with the other 9800 GX2 cards we have looked over the last several weeks. Features include a pair of DVI outputs and a HDMI out. The card has 1GB of GDDR3 split up into 512MB chunks for each GPU. The card has a clock speed of 670MHz on the core and 2.13GHz on the memory. The shader clock runs at 1675MHz. ASUS does offer a nice bundle with its video cards and the ASUS EN9800GX2 Top is no exception. ASUS includes a full version of Company of Heroes- Opposing Fronts and provides a leather-like folder for the CDs included with the video card.

Test Machine
My test machine has the following specifications:

• OS- Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 32-bit
• PSU- Top Power 1100W
• RAM- 2GB Aeneon DDR3-16000
• CPU- Intel QX9770
• Display- 30-inch Dell

3DMark06
The first test up for the ASUS EN9800GX2 Top was 3DMark06. I ran 3DMark at default settings in the NVIDIA control panel and default settings in the 3DMark application. The ASUS EN9800GX2 Top scored as follows in 3DMark06:

• Total 3DMarks- 16936li>SM2.0- 6501
• HDR/SM3.0- 8141
• CPU- 4761
• Return to Proxycon- 53.835
• Firefly Forest- 54.508
• Canyon Flight- 94.509
• Deep Freeze- 68.320
• CPU1- 1.523
• CPU2- 2.381

Quake Wars
The first of my gaming tests for the ASUS EN9800GX2 Top was with one of my favorite games, Quake Wars. I ran Quake Wars at 2560 x 1600 with all settings on high, 4x AA and shaders on ultra. I used Fraps to record frame rate data on a single player map in Africa campaign called refinery. Fraps recorded the following frame rate data:

• Min- 39 fps
• Avg- 59.202 fps
• Max- 62 fps

Crysis
The next gaming test up for the card was the system killer Crysis. I ran Crysis at 1920 x 1200 with 2x AA and all settings on medium. I used Fraps to record frame rate data on a single player game from the initial beach insertion until combat with the first enemy soldiers.

• Min- 52 fps
• Avg- 94.732 fps
• Max- 134 fps

Bioshock
The final game test for the ASUS EN9800GX2 Top was Bioshock. I ran the game at 1920 x 1200 with all settings on and everything on high. Fraps recorded frame rate data on a level set in the medical bay. Fraps showed the following:

• Min- 38 fps
• Avg- 59.671 fps
• Max- 63 fps

Final Thoughts
Every time I look at a 9800 GX2 I am impressed by the performance delivered by a single graphics card. The ASUS EN9800GX2 Top is the fastest 9800 GX2 that I have tested to date and has a very nice bundle with it. ASUS might not be a name you think of immediately when it comes to overclocked graphics cards, but ASUS is working on that.

Verdict

Conclusion

Pros

• Good bundle
• Excellent performance

Cons

• Requires 6 and 8-pin power connectors

Verdict
The ASUS EN9800GX2 Top is the fastest 9800 GX2 that I have tested yet and has loads of performance. You may need a new PSU to use the ASUS EN9800GX2 Top thanks to the 8-pin power plug requirement, but if you want the fastest single card you can get the ASUS EN9800GX2 Top is worth the upgrade.

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