Absolute Multimedia Outrageous 3D Graphics GeForce DDR

A GeForce DDR card for $265? Having such an attractive price tagged onto it, Absolute Multimedia's Outrageous 3D Graphics GeForce seems like a no brainer no matter how you look at it. It is not until the details of the card are inspected do we find the true reason that Absolute Multimedia can produce a DDR GeForce card at such a bargain price.

First there are the good aspects of the card that we normally associate with more costly video cards. There is the addition of a thin layer of thermal grease between the GeForce GPU and the heatsink, which provides for very effective heat transfer and thus high overclocked speeds. Being able to reach a core speed of 156 MHz is a very respectable trait, as this is close to the highest speeds we have been able to get on any GeForce core. Also nice is the S-Video out feature powered by the quality Brooktree 869 chip. This is a welcome addition to any video card and should provide clear DVD playback on an S-Video television.

This brings us to the software package that Absolute Multimedia includes. For the great $265, no software is included with the package, often called the OEM version. This should not really be a big upset to the consumer, for more times than not the included software in a package is useless. The things that lack here are DVD decoder software (which often times comes with a DVD drive itself) and games. If you want these features, the price rises up to $285, a price that is still not too wallet crunching. For the added $20, you get Intervideo's DVD decoding software as well as what Absolute Multimedia calls Software Choice. This neat feature is actually a DVD-ROM filled with some of today's more popular games, such as Unreal Tournament and Heretic II. Software choice allows you to play demos of the games before you buy, then choose 3 games that you want your card to include. Absolute Multimedia then, upon receipt of your requests, gives you a "unlock key" that allows for full game play. Not a bad idea at all as far as software bundles are concerned, but those of you without a DVD player are out of luck because the CD-ROM version of the games do not come included with the retail package.

The not so good aspects of the card must also be taken into account. The fact that pure reference drivers are used in place of proprietary or even customized reference drivers may deter some people from buying the Outrageous 3D Graphics GeForce. In addition, as with every time a purchase is made from a newly formed company, the quality control and product support may not be as well formed as more established companies. It is too early in Absolute Multimedia's game to say yet. By far, the largest drawback of the Outrageous 3D Graphics GeForce is its poor 2D output at 1600x1200. The low quality filters used between the RAMDAC and the VGA output may cut costs, but it could also leave the consumer with an unusable card. It may seem that the number of people using their video cards at this resolution in 2D is not significant, but the dropping prices of large monitors may place an upgrade opportunity in the hands of many users. It would be quite a shame to have to pass up a good deal on a 19" or 21" monitor due to the fact that your video card will not produce good 2D text or graphics at higher resolutions.

What has Absolute Multimedia attempted to do with the Outrageous 3D Graphics GeForce? The answer is simple: to produce a video card for the masses. By allowing the price of a DDR GeForce card to dip down into the mid $200 range, the upgrade path to a DDR GeForce card seems obtainable to many users. Is it the best video upgrade for the price? Well, it appears to be. If you have a smaller monitor and can be positive that you will upgrade your video card before upgrading your display, the Outrageous 3D Graphics GeForce makes perfect sense. Be wary, however, of being stuck with a 17" monitor because the producer of your video card cut costs by cutting quality.