Max Over Clock

Everyone wants to know what kind of max over clock we can get so we wanted to fill you guys in. I unloaded the iTurbo and installed RivaTuner and low leveled the VPU clocks setting the core at 575MHz with a 1260MHz memory clock and then we ran Aquamark 3. Let's take a look.

So actually we pick up where iTurbo left off. Since we maxed out the "out of the box overclocking" with iTurbo, we will now load RivaTuner and clock past the 550/1200 cap, which should put us at or around the levels above the Radeon X850 XT Platinum Edition. Of course these speeds might not be reachable on all Radeon X800 GTO cards, but it shows that the R480 core has what takes to lift the GTO to the next level.

What did we tell ya? Knocking off at 72k on Aquamark, this card just amazes me at every overclocking attempt. It just goes on and on... We should remind you that this is still using the HIS IceQ II standard cooling system so you can imagine what a watercooling solution with do to this GTO?

Final Thoughts

The mainstream segment belongs to the mid-range market and without a doubt we have a serious performance card priced in that arena. Coming in at $179.00 USD, this card is so far the best bang on the market. The HIS X800 GTO IceQ II Turbo is packed with performance and features that make this VPU a real deal. Our test results conclude that the X800 GTO is going to be a force to reckon with. The game titles we test show excellent performance and should please any enthusiast looking for the best bang money can buy.

Another testament to cards ability is the fact we get all this performance without the need of an external power source found on its big brothers. Once more the fact is the card can clock to well over X850 XT speeds and this facilitates high end performance at a mid level price index. The HIS X800 GTO IceQ II Turbo rocks, giving the entry level and mid level gamer a real multimedia experience for a fraction of the cost over high end solutions.

What we have here is a excellent offering coming from the ATI camp and with HIS's manufacturing techniques which is above and beyond ISO9001 standards, HIS adds to the X800 GTO where ATI left off, giving the card something extra other than a reference design. The IceQ II allows for additional over clocking headroom do in part of the fantastic ventilation system and with the super fast 12 pipeline and 1.6ns GDDR3 we get superior mid-level performance that out classes last year's offering for less than half the price.

We didn't want to over emphasis the UV capabilities as we covered that pretty good in the last review of the HIS X800 GT IceQ II Turbo. So we will just stick with one shot to give the first time readers something to check out. Otherwise you can click that link and see more of the Ice-blue UV eye candy.

The HIS X800 GTO IceQ II Turbo is going to be the underdog in the X800 series line-up with performance and pricing like this card offers. If you are on a limited budget, this card is for you. It's slammin fast, amp'n with stability and plays games like a wild banchi! Hehehe...

...And for the money, this VPU will definitely be worth a stocking stuffer this holiday season. So mom's and Dad's, if you need a good gaming solution for your younger computer guru's and would like to give them a little more than just a video card, check out the HIS X800 GTO IceQ II Turbo, it's an awesome mid-level performer and for entry level new-comers, this thing would be more than enough for the first time computer user for a fraction of the price.

Even as a power user I will be using the HIS X800 GTO IceQ II Turbo to play games, it offers more than enough power for the resolutions I like to play at. Coming from someone who has seen a considerable number of video cards in the last year, this has to be the best value card we have seen period.

The HIS X800 GT we reviewed a couple months back, was then the best mid level offering from HIS, sense then, the new and improved HIS X800 GTO IceQ II Turbo takes on that roll in a major way and for that we give this latest and probably last of the X800 series the Editors Choice Award for closing out with a true performance card at an exceptional value to the consumer. I don't think you will find many people willing to argue this is a pretty powerful card for the money and while it might not suite everyone, the majority of end users will come to realize this is a fantastic deal! On an ending note we leave you with the HIS X800 GTO IceQ II Turbo in action while crunching out my favorite game - Battlefield 2.

Speaking of which I think I want to go grab a game and hit up some Wake Island 2007... Until next time...

Pros

• Excellent over clocking head room.
• Stable at maximum over clock under iTurbo
• IceQ II & UV reactive cooling system
• Quit operations and superior cooling
• Easy set up and configuration
• GDDR 3 operating at 1.6 nanoseconds
• 12 pixel pipelines
• CrossFire Multi-GPU Ready (w/ Master Card)
• Over clocks to X850 XT speeds and beyond
• Ultra fast card for its segment
• HIS quality and manufacturing
• HIS sales and support staff

Cons

• N/A

Hightech Information System Ltd.
Unit 7-9, 2nd Floor, Block B, Po Lung Centre,
11 Wang Chiu Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon,
Hong Kong

MVKTech