Board analysis

ASUS Extreme AX600XT/HTVD

The back of the card

More recently, ASUS has really gone out of their way to design graphics cards that differ from other manufacturers, which frequently stick with reference designs. For instance, ASUS is well known for their line of single-slot GeForce FX 5900 Ultra and GeForce FX 5950 Ultra cards, despite the fact that most people associate these cards with coolers that occupy two slots. While on the ATI side, ASUS was the first (and only) board manufacturer to integrate ATI’s Rage Theater chip on their RADEON 9800 XT and RADEON 9600 XT line of graphics cards, providing video input to these VPUs. Previously the only way to get video input support on an ATI card was to purchase one of the more expensive ALL-IN-WONDER cards.

This tradition of providing more features than other manufacturers continues with the X600 XT.

Rage Theater chip onboard

ASUS starts by integrating Rage Theater on the PCB of the EAX600XT/HTVD. This provides the video input functionality that made ASUS’ 9800 XT and 9600 XT cards so popular among enthusiasts last year. ASUS includes the same purple VIVO (video-in/video-out) module ATI currently uses for ALL-IN-WONDER, for connecting the Extreme AX600XT/HTVD to video devices such as your camcorder.

What is that weird VGA connector?

VIVO and HDTV cables

If you look closely at the back plate of the EAX600XT/HTVD, you’ll also notice an unusual black connector located where the VGA connector is located on ATI’s reference X600 XT design, just above the DVI and S-Video connectors. This is strange connector is for outputting to an HDTV display. ASUS provides a YPbPr component video cable in the EAX600XT/HTVD’s packaging specifically for this purpose.

ASUS’ attention to detail with this connector is impeccable. Rather than locking the cable to the connector with a twistable knob like you see on a VGA or DVI cable, the HDTV cable snaps into place. Then, once you’re ready to remove the cable, simply press the buttons on each side to release the locking mechanism, and pull the cable away from the graphics card.

Unfortunately, in order to accommodate the HDTV connector, there’s no room for a second VGA output. This limits the EAX600XT/HTVD support to one DVI or VGA display, with the second output being the HDTV. This card doesn’t support dual VGA displays, even though the VPU natively supports it. If this is a major concern to you ASUS offers a second X600 XT SKU, the EAX600XT/TD, but as its “TD” designation denotes, the Extreme AX600XT/TD board lacks video input and HDTV support.

Besides the addition of HDTV and video-in, ASUS goes another step beyond ATI’s reference X600 XT design in its cooling implementation. ATI has outfitted their board with a robust cooling solution while ATI borrowed the heatsink/fan unit used on RADEON 9600 PRO/RADEON 8500.

Closer look at the cooler

Plastic duct is removable

Curved fins on the heatsink

ASUS’ X600 XT cooler relies on internal-air ducting. This means that the cooler takes the air from within your case and draws it over the card’s heatsink in order to keep the VPU and memory modules on the top of the card cool. The fan is located offset of the graphics core in order to increase the effectiveness of this ducted design, essentially giving the fan more room to work its magic.

A plastic cover directs the fan’s airflow over the area of the heatsink directly above the X600 XT graphics core. This cover has been inscribed with ASUS’ logo, and is completely removable. The cooler is then finished off with a blue LED, which sits in the center of the fan. This added touch gives the board a light blue hue when the system is powered on, making it perfect for use in systems with case windows.

Finally, ASUS tops the EAX600XT/HTVD board off with a free CD case and copies of ASUS DVD XP, Deus Ex: Invisible War (full retail version) Power Director 3, Media Show, and Ulead® Cool 3D 2.0 Photo Express 4.0 SE (2 in 1).

But besides the additional hardware, ASUS goes one step beyond other board manufacturers by including Smart Doctor, one of the most powerful video card utilities we’ve ever seen ship with a graphics card!