XFX GeForce 7900GS PV-T71P-UDE3 Video Card Review :: XFX GeForce 7900GS PV-T71P-UDE3

XFX GeForce 7900GS PV-T71P-UDE3
Brand	XFX
Model	GF 7900GS 480M 256MB DDR3 Dual DVI TV XT
Graphics Chip	G71
Graphics Memory Type	DDR2
Memory (MB)	256
Graphics Core Clock (MHz)	480
Memory Clock (MHz)	1400
Memory Speed (ns)	1.4
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	7-pin HDTV Out
Package and Support
Printed Manual	Yes
Driver CD	Yes
Performance Tool Software	Coolbits
Major Games	None
Major Software	None
VR Glasses	No
DVD Player Software	None
Video Recording Software	N/A

XFX has standardized their 7900 cards with the same PCB design and layout. The 7900GS is nearly identical to the 7900GT card from XFX in look. The card is about three inches longer than a PCI Express x16 slot. The cooling is handled by a small 17-fin cooling fan. The fan is surrounded by a small heatsink, which covers some of the memory chips, but not all of them. There are 10 capacitors on the rear of the card, to regulate power.

Cooling fan

Rear of card

The XFX card has 8 32MB memory chips arranged in a semi-circular pattern around the graphics chip. The 7900GS has a 256-bit memory bus, like its bigger brothers the 7900GTX and 7900GT. High-end video cards like the 7900GTX and 7950 GX2 require more power than the PCI Express x16 slot can provide, which is 75W. The 7900GS is no exception to this rule, and has a 6-pin power connector to provide power to the card.

Side view

I/O

Virtually every card sold on the market today can do dual monitors. The 7900GS has 2 DVI-I outputs on the back panel, allowing two digital LCD monitors to be used in conjunction with the card. You can also use two analog CRT or LCD monitors, or any combination of the two with the included DVI-I to D-Sub adapter. NVIDIA cards can do HDMI, but this card doesn't have the necessary connections to do it. Also on the card is a TV-Out port, for HDTV and TV usage.