Diamond X1900XTX Video Card Review :: Diamond X1900XTX Layout

Diamond X1900XTX
Brand	Diamond
Model	X1900XTX
Graphics Chip	R580
Graphics Memory Type	DDR3
Memory (MB)	512
Graphics Core Clock (MHz)	648
Memory Clock (MHz)	1548
Memory Speed (ns)	1.3
RAMDAC Frequency (MHz)	Dual 400
Active Cooling on Graphics Chip	Yes
Heatsink on Memory	Yes
Video Capture	Yes
Ports
Dual Monitor Support	Yes
VGA Out	DVI-Ix2
Video In and Out	S-Video Out
Package and Support
Printed Manual	Yes
Driver CD	Yes
Performance Tool Software	Overdrive
Major Games	None
Major Software	None
VR Glasses	No
DVD Player Software	Maximus DVD
Video Recording Software	N/A

In form, the Diamond X1900XTX is identical to ATI's reference card. The X1900XTX is a 2-slot video card, meaning that you would need to install the card in a system with a free PCI slot in addition to the PCI Express x16 slot. The length of the card is the same as the ATI card. In point of fact, the card has an ATI logo on the cooling fan and Ruby on the heat sink.

Side Shot of card

2-slots

Ruby logo

Top of card

The cooling system on the Diamond X1900XTX is the 29-fin radial fan found on reference X1800XT, X1900XT and X1900XTX cards from ATI. The air is drawn in from the grill through the cooling fan and out the rear of the card via grills. The heat sink covers the entirety of the rest of the card with the exception of the very rear, including the memory chips.

29-fin fan

rear of card

ATI PCI Express cards are all native cards. Early NVIDIA video cards on this new standard required a Bridge chip to operate, as they were designed for the AGP bus. Examples of early NV PCI Express cards include the 5750 and 5300. Today every video card manufactured is PCI Express native, as PCI Express has totally replaced the AGP standard. PCI Express x16 provides up to 4GB of bandwidth between the card and the system bidirectional.

6-pin Power

I/O

PCI Express connection

The rear of the card has a lot in common with other X1900XTX cards. There is a 6-pin power connector to provide power for the graphics card as a high-end card like the X1900XTX requires more power than the 75W the PCI Express slot provides. The Input Output block includes two DVI-I ports and a S-Video out port to connect to the TV. Dual monitors are supported via two CRTs (with the included adapters), two LCDs, or a LCD+TV.