ASUS V9999 Gamer Edition 256-MB Review - Page 10

Benchmark Analysis

The ASUS V9999 Gamer Edition 256-MB is a serious performer for the class, and although it includes a GeForce 6800 core, overall performance was actually closer to the GeForce 6800 GT. In terms of overall benchmark results, the card performed like an extremely fast GeForce 6800, and the ASUS V9999 GE demonstrated that with the right surrounding hardware and higher clock speeds, it is a definite contender for your high-end dollars. Overclocking was also impressive, and its ability to easily match and surpass comparative GeForce 6800 GT scores was quite impressive. The V9999 Gamer Edition 256-MB is also a single-slot card design, and offers a sleeker, quieter, and cooler design than a GeForce 6800 Ultra.

Value

Evaluating the value component of the ASUS V9999 Gamer Edition 256-MB is a tough job, as the card utilizes the less-expensive GeForce 6800 core, but virtually everything else is high-end and more expensive. Sporting 256-MB of high-end GDDR3, the ASUS V9999 Gamer Edition is right up the same alley as the GeForce 6800 GT and Ultra boards, and its approximate retail price of $400-$425 is also a bit higher than anticipated. The ASUS V9999 GE is less expensive than the comparable ASUS V9999 GeForce 6800 GT 256-MB ($470-$490) and the ASUS V9999 GeForce 6800 Ultra 256-MB ($540-$560), but it's still tough to allocate the value quotient. For high-end buyers, the ASUS V9999 Gamer Edition is a better value than the GeForce 6800 Ultra, but the GeForce 6800 GT still rests in that sweet spot where the price-performance ratio is the greatest.

* Please note that online prices reflect Retail models. Prices are taken at the time of review, and are not intended to reflect long-term trends.

Conclusion

The ASUS V9999 Gamer Edition 256-MB is a very interesting product that combines many different technologies into one compelling design. It starts off with the mainstream GeForce 6800 core, and then surrounds it with 256-MB of high-end GDDR3, clocked at a 1 GHz speed. This mix of the mainstream and the high-end really pays off in terms of overall performance, and overclocking is superb, but we'd like the card a lot better if its retail price was just a bit lower.

Pros:

• Great 3D Performance for the Class
• 256-MB of 256-bit GDDR3
• Single-Slot Design

Cons:

• Expensive

Ratings: