ATI Radeon X1950 PRO Shootout (AGP)
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The PowerColor Radeon X1950 PRO 256MB
The PowerColor Radeon X1950 PRO 256MB
What's the difference between the PCIe and AGP version of the PowerColor Radeon X1950 PRO? Again, if not for that small Rialto chip on the back, not much. Unlike the cramped board layout on the GeCube for example, there is even some empty PCB space for the PowerColor, reminding us of the PCIe version. The other similarity is of course the choice of Arctic Cooling's Accelero X2 cooler (the Accelero X2 is only found on the PowerColor Radeon X1950 PRO Extreme and not the reference board version known simply as PowerColor Radeon X1950 PRO).
For those who have experienced the silence of the Accelero X2, let's just say that it performed to our expectations. Quiet and cool, Arctic Cooling has produced another blockbuster cooler, that is if you are willing to overlook some minor flaws. Mainly, it concerns the size of the cooler. Besides being a two-slot cooler, the Accelero X2 is also tall, meaning that when installed onto a standard mid tower casing, the side panel will just clear the top of the cooler. No doubt Arctic Cooling had the measurements down to the millimeter so that it could fit into a standard chassis but some users may not like height, especially in a crowded casing. Finally, we have to admit that the cooler is just a little unsightly and awkward looking. But if you're only interested in the performance, then the Accelero on the PowerColor Radeon X1950 PRO is our favorite cooler of the four AGP cards present.
Despite the excellent cooler, PowerColor has gone with the standard clocks of 575MHz and 1380MHz DDR. Of course this doesn't prevent consumers from trying their hand at overclocking and for starters, they can use the ATI Overdrive tool in the Catalyst Control Center. The included bundle was also decent with most of the standard accessories and the ever-popular CyberLink DVD Solution though there was nothing really exciting in the package as this is what we have come to expect from PowerColor. The packaged items are listed below:
- 1 x DVI-to-VGA adaptor
- 6-pin Molex power connector
- 9-pin mini-DIN to Component dongle
- 9-pin mini-DIN to Composite dongle
- S-Video extension cable
- Quick installation guide
- Driver CD
- CyberLink DVD Solution
