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Sharky Extreme :


Latest News


- Patriot Updates their DDR2 4GB PC2-8500 Line to "Revision 2"
- Mushkin Releases a New Line of Ascent Redline and XP eVCI-cooled Memory
- OCZ Hits 2.0 GHz using High-Density 2GB DDR3 Modules
- Dell Raises the Bar with Quad-CPU/Quad-Graphics XPS 730 H2 and H2C Gaming Systems
- Kingston Unleashes Low-Latency 800MHz HyperX FB-DIMMs for the Skulltrail
News Archives

Features

- SharkyExtreme.com: Interview with Microsoft's Dan Odell
- SharkyExtreme.com: Interview with ATI's Terry Makedon
- SharkyExtreme.com: Interview with Seagate's Joni Clark
- Half-Life 2 Review
- DOOM 3 Review

Buyer's Guides

- March Extreme Gaming PC Buyer's Guide
- January High-end Gaming PC Buyer's Guide
- November Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide

HARDWARE

  • CPUs

    - AMD Phenom X3 8750 Review
    - Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Review
    - AMD Phenom X4 9850 Black Edition Review
    - Back in Black: Phenom 9600 Black Edition Review

  • Motherboards

    - AMD 780G Chipset Review

  • Video Cards

    - ASUS EN8800GT TOP 512MB Review
    - Gigabyte GeForce 8800 GT 512MB Review
    - PNY XLR8 GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB Review




  • Instead of going to the drivers for uniqueness, Gigabyte went to the old tried and true method of bundling games and software. The GA-GF2560 comes with a pretty darn good game bundle consisting of: Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit (the last good racing game in the NFS series), Superbike World Championship, Future Cop LAPD (third person action) and Populous: The Beginning (strategy). While none of these games are blockbusters, they'll keep most gamers happy for quite awhile.

    It also comes with a trial version of PowerDVD (a mediocre but mostly functional DVD playback) and a copy of PowerPlayer SE (a Windows Media Player replacement), but we'd rather see a full version of a better DVD playback program. Overall, the bundle is excellent but we'd like to see DVD playback software as well. If the bundle appeals to you, especially the games, then you should seriously consider the GA-GF2560.

    Several manufacturers are attempting to differentiate their GeForce cards from the products of other companies by bundling customized drivers with extra features. In this department, Gigabyte gives a little bit of effort. The GA-GF2560 uses slightly altered NVIDIA drivers. Essentially, they are the NVIDIA reference drivers with a few Gigabyte images scattered around and the addition of an overclocking slider. While the Gigabyte CD eases installation through a nice setup program, we still recommend you use NVIDIA's actual reference drivers just because you'll be assured of getting the most recent version. On our own personal systems, we usually do just that.





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