Absolute Multimedia Outrageous Ultra GeForce DDR

Conclusion

There are often many motives to introducing a updated card model. In some cases a company will add features to a dying product line in order to revive sales. Other times a company will maintain the same name simply due to brand name recognition even though a product may have changed drastically. Neither of these cases appear to be the motive behind Absolute Multimedia's Outrageous Ultra GeForce DDR card update. Absolute Multimedia may try to mask this update as a new card targeted at hard core gamers but the true purpose of this revamp is on a more basic level: Absolute Multimedia knew of the 2D image problems encountered in the Outrageous GeForce DDR and needed to fix them.

Masked or not, the update is well needed and long awaited. By repairing the 2D image quality problems that plagued the first version, Absolute Multimedia has created a lower cost DDR GeForce card that is on the same field as more expensive ones. Although the "gaming fan" provides no noticeable improvement over a standard heatsink and fan combination, the card does contain some features we usually only expect on higher cost cards. The video-out powered by the Brooktree 869 chip as well as the use of thermal grease in bonding the GPU to the heatsink surface are usually features that we find and request on higher priced cards. The Absolute Multimedia Outrageous Ultra GeForce DDR gets some good points by including these features.

Absolute Multimedia, the company which first brought Software Select to the video card market, continues this tradition in with the Outrageous Ultra GeForce DDR. The card comes with a certificate that entitles the user to 3 of some of the more popular game titles that we have seen. You may choose from games such as Unreal Tournament, Heretic II and Darkan as well as many other quality games. This feature is a definite plus, as the software bundle is not only customizable for each user but also includes games that we may actually enjoy playing, unlike the games included in other software packages. The package also comes with WinDVD for software DVD recording: a useful feature to couple with the Brooktree 869 video out chip. Also pleasing is the card's extensive warranty: 3 years of covered care. It is always reassuring to see a company that has faith behind their products and is willing to place a comprehensive warranty to back their confidence.

The Outrageous Ultra GeForce DDR brings what the Outrageous GeForce DDR should have originally delivered. By providing clear, crisp text and graphics at resolutions of 1600x1200 and higher, our initial reservations regarding the Outrageous GeForce DDR are all thrown out. By updating the card to produce the Outrageous Ultra GeForce DDR, Absolute Multimedia now has a card that is able to compete with others in this class. We are unsure whether the Outrageous Ultra GeForce DDR will be replacing the Outrageous GeForce DDR completely or if it will be sold along side the original card. It appears that the Ultra will replace the first version, but just in case, if you are looking for a lower costing DDR GeForce card stay away from the Outrageous GeForce DDR and go with the new Outrageous Ultra GeForce DDR.