Introduction

NVIDIA blew the barn doors off with their GeForce4 Ti 4600 release, and wowed buyers with an incredible combination of features and performance. Even the lower-speed GeForce4 Ti 4400 and 4200 are impressive performers and have helped make this video card lineup a prime target for the hardcore gamer. Of course, speed doesn't come cheap, and the GeForce4 Ti is still beyond many gamer's budgetary constraints, especially for those upgrading multiple PCs. The GeForce4 MX is the yin to the GeForce4 Ti yang, and offers up an interesting option to the more value-conscious buyer.

The GeForce4 MX is an intriguing technology, as it combines some of the high-end performance features of the GeForce4 Ti, while leaving others on the drawing board in order to lower costs. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a super-charged GeForce2, but a distinct core featuring a strange combination of features, seemingly lifted from the entire NVIDIA GeForce2, 3 and 4 lines. The GeForce4 MX offers value and performance in exchange for a few tradeoffs, and user requirements will determine if NVIDIA has hit the mark.

VisionTek has moved to the forefront of NVIDIA 3rd-party vendors with a host of impressive GeForce3 and GeForce4-based cards. We already know their GeForce4 Ti 4600 is a lightning-fast performer, but this time we'll be covering the other end of the spectrum. The VisionTek Xtasy GeForce4 MX 440 is a bit different product, as it does not have the benefit of using the fastest NVIDIA technology. In this review, we'll see if VisionTek is as adept at producing entry-level cards as they have been with their previous GeForce4 Ti and GeForce3 powerhouses