Video cards

Multi-Faceted Multimedia and Safe BIOS

The Pro-VTG offers several unique features that set it apart from a standard GF3 Ti 500. In addition to its standard 15-pin VGA port, the card carries two Video Out ports (one RCA standard, one S-VIDEO) and one Video In port (also S-VIDEO).

These features give the card a great deal of flexibility when it comes to multimedia input or output. For gamers who like being able to play on the TV, the Pro-VTG offers support for both the older RCA standard and the newer S-VIDEO connector found on modern televisions. Furthermore, for a computer user who wants some video editing capability but doesn't need the full-fledged power of a card like the All-in-Wonder, the VTG's video-in port offers digital editing ability without investing in a high-end editing solution.

For those gamers who like gaming in 3D the VTG also includes a set of 3D glasses. While the ports for the glasses are included on a stand-alone PCI board, the glasses themselves are quite comfortable and sturdy and are a far cry from the cheap 3D glasses occasionally bundled by other companies. While they are only used by a very small percentage of gamers, MSI did not allow that to justify including a cheap throw-away pair.

The last major hardware feature of the MSI Pro-VTG that sets it apart from the competition is its unique dual-BIOS feature, called Safe BIOS. Safe BIOS is a very handy feature on the card that prevents the card's destruction in the event of a bad BIOS flash. If, for some reason, the card's BIOS should fail or become corrupted, a single jumper can be swapped on the card itself to restore the earlier BIOS and return the card to fully functional status. While it is extremely rare that a video card would die from a mis-flashed BIOS it is also an excellent feature for MSI to include as a safeguard protecting such a major investment.