EVGA GeForce 7900 GS KO 256MB

Conclusion

Conclusion

We have heard much about EVGA for a long time now, from actual reviews to forum posts. However, this is the first time we had the hardware to judge for ourselves at firsthand. The consensus, not surprisingly, is that all the good is for real. The quality of the hardware is undoubted and the performance reflects that, as the EVGA GeForce 7900 GS KO manages to edge out its similarly clocked rival from XpertVision. Overclocking was decent and it matched the other GeForce 7900 GS cards in our comparison. We also observed noise and temperatures to be on par with the competition. In short, the EVGA GeForce 7900 GS is a different class from the generic and more affordable variants out there and thoroughly deserves the 'elite' image it has acquired.

However, what has become a hallmark of an EVGA product - the lifetime warranty - has been lost in translation as it made its way from USA to our shores. While there are still some uncertainties regarding how EVGA's policies will translate into the local context, it is very unfortunate that EVGA's excellent pro-consumer programs likely won't be implemented in its entirety here. It only serves to show the obstacles faced by local consumers when it comes to getting their hardware as it was meant to be. And it may even dilute the EVGA brand as enthusiasts may be disgruntled by the lack of differentiation that earned EVGA its claim to fame in the serious hardware community.

Considering that the EVGA GeForce 7900 GS KO can be found at online hardware retailers for around US$225 (S$357), the local recommended retail price of around S$379 may seem reasonable and competitive with other major brands. But that's only if a major oversight like the exclusion of the bundled game be rectified as soon as possible and one that the distributor has acknowledged to resolve. For now, the lack of EVGA's pro-consumer service in this region is the only downside, which doesn't embody the true EVGA spirit. Hardcore enthusiasts may feel shortchanged when comparing the US counterpart's full service offering, but one should also realize that it's only due to the fact that EVGA itself doesn't operate in this region to extend the same policies. Apart from that note, if a solid GeForce 7900 GS is what you're looking for, the EVGA KO-edition is definitely one to look out for.