VisionTek Xtasy 6564 Review
By Vince Freeman :
November 16, 2001
Manufacturer: VisionTek
Street Price: About $185 USD
Availability: Now
Introduction
Lately, here has been a very interesting shift away from simply releasing a faster 3D video chip and then letting previous models move down the performance chart. This still happens, as evidenced by the GeForce3 superceding the GeForce2 ULTRA and then in turn being surpassed by the new GeForce3 Ti 500. But there is still at least some momentum to filling an existing market niche with a new low-priced product.
NVIDIA previously tried this out with the popular GeForce2 MX, but this was kind of a mixed blessing. Its 175 MHz default clock speed was certainly lower than other GeForce2 models, but NVIDIA also knocked out two of the GF2's pixel pipelines, further lowering its performance and positioning it against the higher-priced GeForce2 products. Wouldn't it have been nice to have the ability to buy a low-cost, fully-featured GeForce2 that simply had its clock and memory timings at less-than GeForce2 GTS speeds?
If that is an interesting angle, then NVIDIA has answered your prayers with the release of the GeForce3 Ti 200. This new product actually undercuts the GeForce3 in overall core and memory speeds, but comes in at an incredible price point. All the features of the GeForce3 are present, so we're not looking at another MX-like experiment here. It's simply a case of NVIDIA lowering the GeForce3 specs, lowering the price, and letting gamers reap the benefits.
With their Xtasy 6564, VisionTek once again is pacing the field with one of the first available GeForce3 Ti 200 products. VisionTek has previous experience with NVIDIA cards, since the company did offer some excellent, low-cost GeForce2 cards. VisionTek has also released the excellent Xtasy 6964 (GeForce3 Ti 500) high-performance board, as well as a very interesting Xtasy 5864, which is based on the GeForce2 Ti. Of their entire product line, the VisionTek Xtasy 6564 may have the most upward potential. VisionTek and the GeForce3 Ti 200 looks to be a potent combo and should translate into a high-performance video card with an affordable price tag.
