From our previous review on the 6800 Ultra SLI mode, we've seen what this card can do when doubled up and put under the stress tests. Throughout these pages, we've seen how this card performs as a single PCI-E card and we can surely say that the results will satisfy even the most hardcore gamer.

The AOpen Aeolus 6800 Ultra dominated in almost all benchmarks, with the exception of the 3DMark05 where the comparison rival card, the X850XT managed to achieve better results, though with minor differences. With the tested games, the Aopen Aeolus 6800 Ultra did quite well and in no case was a game rendered unplayable as the average fps never dropped to low levels, exception in the case of "Thief 3", a game which is infamous for torturing VGA cards.

The Aeolus 6800 Ultra comes with a complete retail package, containing all the software and hardware needed for the potential buyer to enjoy his graphics card right out of the box, including power cables and a DVI adapter. The package also includes seven games, five of them in "Lite" version (i.e. demo), while two of them are full version games, though the bundle is not likely to draw your attention, since it can be described as outdated. This is not a drawback, although it would be nice if the released bundles contained a collection of full version latest games. Last but not least, the package also contains the AOpen Nvidia VGA drivers, which we advise should not be used. A download of the latest official Nvidia VGA drives is recommended for optimal performance (aka updated profiles).

The noise generated by the GPU cooler is not great, but is noticeable, especially when the GPU load is increased, when the fan's rotation is likewise increased in order to keep the GPU cool. As discussed before, the heatsink is a rather simple yet effective cooler that will keep the temperature at normal levels. The metal fins located on the right side of the heatsink help the process and it's a nice addition to the cooler system.

OC capabilities are described in detail in the SLI mode review for this card, which can be found here.

One may ask, why buy a this PCI-E SLI enabled VGA adapter if not for its SLI capabilities? The answer is simple. The only PCI-E 6800 that can be found on the market is the SLI model. But whether for single card use or for future SLI investment, the 6800 Ultra is an excellent choice for games enthusiasts who are willing to sacrifice a few extra $$$ for game performance. The AOpen 6800 Ultra costs approx. US$465 at newegg.com.

Pros:
- Excellent performance in all tests
- Excellent cooling system
- Considerably low noise levels
- Great nVidia features improve image quality

Cons:
- High priced, aiming at PC games enthusiasts

Performance:
Overclocking:
Bundle:
Value for money: