After the release of the new GeForce7 chipset from nVidia, most manufacturers have incorporated this chipset in their new graphics cards, promising better performance than the standard 7800GTX reference cards. The GPU and memory clock speeds have been increased to enhance gaming and video experience.

Of course AOpen could not be left behind. The latest addition to the Aeolus product series is the 7800GTX DVDC256 VGA card. Currently, this is the most powerful card AOpen has to offer and apart from the new GeForce7 chipset, it also uses 256MB of DDR3 1.6ns video memory. The card is capable of providing 32-bit colors at 2048x1536 resolution (85Hz). Being clocked at 450MHz (GPU clock) and 1250MHz(Memory clock), it promises to achieve 8000+ 3DMark05 score.

CDRinfo.com will be testing two of these graphics beasts in SLI mode. We expect the best, from two graphic cards that are among the most powerful cards on the market at this time. So, let the games begin!

- Features & Benefits

NVIDIA SLI™ Technology
Delivers up to 2x the performance of a single GPU configuration for unparalleled gaming experiences by allowing two graphics cards to run in parallel. The must-have feature for performance PCI Express graphics, SLI dramatically scales performance on over 60 top PC games.

NVIDIA UltraShadow™ II technology
Enhances the performance of bleeding-edge games

NVIDIA® CineFX™ 4.0 engine
Delivers advanced visual effects at unimaginable speeds. Full support for Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 enables stunning and complex special effects. Next-generation shader architecture with new texture unit design streamlines texture processing for faster and smoother gameplay.

NVIDIA® Intellisample™ 4.0 technology (HCT)
The industry ' s fastest antialiasing delivers ultrarealistic visuals, with no jagged edges, at lightning fast speeds. Visual quality is taken to new heights through a new rotated grid sampling pattern, advanced 128 Tap sample coverage, 16x anisotropic filtering, and support for transparent supersampling and multisampling.

NVIDIA® nView™ multi-display technology
Provides the ultimate in viewing flexibility and control for multiple monitors

Digital Vibrance Control 3.0 Technology
Allows the user to adjust color controls digitally to compensate for the lighting conditions of their workspace, in order to achieve accurate, bright colors in all conditions.

On-Chip Video Processor
Delivers unmatched video performance, features, and quality

PureVideo
combination of high-definition video processor and video decode software delivers unprecedented HD video, stunning picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for all video content to turn your PC into a high-end home theater.

Microsoft ® DirectX 9, Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0 support

The least that we should except is better performance than the older 6800 chipsets. However, it should be pointed out that the feature that users will enjoy the most is the Intellisample™ 4.0 technology (HCT). We ran several tests to investigate AntiAliasing on the 7800GTX chipsets, and we found that Gamma Corrected AntiAliasing and Transparency AntiAliasing, which are part of the Intellisample technology, greatly increased picture quality, without decreasing performance. You can read the full article on AntiAliasing performance of the 7800GTX chipset here.

- Packaging/Bundle

Red stylish box, showing the well known Aeolus faces. The following picture shows what you will get with the AOpen 7800GTX DVDC256 card.

As you can see, this is a complete package with all the connectors and converters needed to connect to a single monitor, or two CRT/TFT monitors, or even connect to a TV set. There are two games bundled with the cards, Second Sight and Pitfall - The Lost Expedition. You will also get Ulead Video Studio7.