Tags : 1Gb DDR3   Geforce 8800GT Max   nvidia g92   Reviews   Video Cards   Vvikoo   zalman vf1000  

Introduction Specifications Photos and Pictures Installation and Package Test Setup and Procedures Benchmarks: F.E.A.R. (DX9) Benchmarks: Lost Planet (DX10) Benchmarks: Call of Juarez (DX10) Benchmarks: Crysis (DX10) Benchmarks: 3DMark 2005 Benchmarks: 3DMark 2006 Verdict and Conclusion

Vvikoo introduces a 1Gb version of the Geforce 8800GT. But does extra memory really help performance. 

 

INTRODUCTION 

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Vvikoo is a French based company which was established in 2007. They specialise in gaming graphic cards and multimedia products. And towards the end of 2007, they announced and released a 1Gb version of the Geforce 8800GT graphics card. It's one of only a few graphic cards available on the market that features 1Gb of video memory. Here's a little blurb from their website.

"VVIKOO, established in Paris, is one of the world leading companies whose objective is to create a new gaming environment for customers all over the world. The meaning of Vvikoo: The sound of Vvikoo is similar to "video cool" in English. These words are synonymous with what we stand for, so when people hear Vvikoo for the first time, they know they are talking about cooler, better graphics cards."

Over the years, there's always been a debate on whether a graphics card with extra memory is better or not. Tests have always shown there's vitually difference at all ... so the extra memory onboard, doesn't mean better performance. However, the extra memory will help if you run a resolution of 1920x1200 or higher. Mind you, I haven't come across many people that use such a high resolution during gaming.

 

 

 

The Vvikoo Geforce 8800GT Max has 1Gb of DDR3 ram, and features an all copper Zalman VF1000 cooler. It looks virtually identical to the recently reviewed MSI NX8800GT Zilent. But here ... Vvikoo does not use an overclocked Geforce 8800GT (G92) GPU. Instead, they left it as standard @ 600Mhz. The memory speed is also left untouched @ 1800Mhz. So what we are looking at is a very "standard" Geforce 8800GT ... with the only difference being the extra memory and a fancy Zalman copper cooler. Using Nvidia's reference PCB board, Vvikoo had to install the extra memory ICs on the back of the graphics card. These extra memory ICs are covered by, what looks to be a thick heatspeader made from Aluminum. The pre-installed Zalman VF1000 cooler features 4 copper heat pipes that fan out into a fairly large array of copper fins ... this is then cooled by a silent fan that spins at approx. 2,500rpm.

 

 

We're expecting good performance from the Vvikoo Geforce 8800GT Max, and I don't expect anything less, specially from a Geforce G92 GPU. However, since it's only using a "standard" non-clocked GPU, it may not fair well against some of the well known brands such as XFX, who's cards are already factory overclocked. What will be more interesting, is how well this pre-installed Zalman VF1000 all copper cooler will work. And more importantly, whether 1Gb of DDR3 ram onboard makes any real differences in real-life gaming.

 

          

 

In this review, we'll be testing the Vvikoo Geforce 8800GT Max, with several GPU intensive DX10 games with both 4xAA and 16xAF options enabled, as well as your usual 3D Mark 2005 and 2006 tests. Our test rig includes an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ default 2.4Ghz, Abit IX38 QuadGT motherboard, OCZ PC2-8500 DDR2-1066 2Gb Kit, Coolermaster Real Power M700 PSU and a 19" Samsung monitor that output 1600x1200 resolution. All-in-all, it's a decently spec'd system for DX10 gaming.

OK, lets not waste any more time and see how well the Vvikoo Geforce 8800GT Max perform against other cards on the market.

 

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Introduction Specifications Photos and Pictures Installation and Package Test Setup and Procedures Benchmarks: F.E.A.R. (DX9) Benchmarks: Lost Planet (DX10) Benchmarks: Call of Juarez (DX10) Benchmarks: Crysis (DX10) Benchmarks: 3DMark 2005 Benchmarks: 3DMark 2006 Verdict and Conclusion