Features

Specifications

250MHz core clock
460MHz memory clock (230MHz DDR)
64MB 4ns DDR memory
4 pixels per clock
1 gigapixel per second
8 texels per clock
2 gigatexels per second
31 million triangles per second
350Mhz RAMDAC

In the box

GLADIAC ULTRA video card
Tangible users manual
GLADIAC ULTRA installation CD-ROM w/utilities & documentation
3D Revelator glasses
3D Revelator installation CD-ROM and cabling
3D-Demo sampler
6-year warranty

The GLADIAC ULTRA

Software Bundle

ELSA gives customers the option to purchase up to three full-version games at OEM cost. You can pick one game for $8.99, two for $15.95, or three for $19.99. You can check out the full list here. The pickings look pretty slim at first glance, but the games are still a pretty good deal for $9-$6 a pop.

Notes

The GeForce 2 Ultra is basically an overclocked GeForce 2 GTS. The Ultra has the exact same features as the GTS; the Ultra is simply faster. The GTS has a 200MHz core clock. Improvements in the GeForce 2 chip's 0.18 micron manufacturing process has allowed NVIDIA to increase chip speeds substantially, and the new Ultra features a 250MHz core clock.

Of course, the Ultra's most important change is the increased memory speed. ELSA's GLADIAC ULTRA sports 64MB of 4ns DDR memory. The 4ns memory is rated at 250MHz (%50 faster than the GTS's 166MHz memory), but ELSA clocks the memory to 230MHz just to be on the safe side. Judging by the heatsinks sitting on the memory chips, we'd say that playing it safe is a good thing™, but overclockers should be able to crank up the speed to 250MHz.

Points

Lines

Back when we previewed the Ultra, a few people raised concerns that NVIDIA shipped out "golden" sample cards with 4ns memory to hardware review sites, and that actual cards may not ship with 4ns memory. Well, we asked ELSA about the GLADIAC ULTRA's memory, and they told us that they guarantee that every card will have 4ns memory; the ULTRA box proudly lists "4ns Access Time" in fairly large font on the front of the box.

You'll most likely see the effects of the faster clock and memory speeds in high resolutions at 32-bit color. Games are CPU limited at lower resolutions, but the video card becomes the limiting factor at higher settings. Don't expect the Ultra to boost your 640x480 Quake 3 uglified frame rates. You should see significant frame rate increases once you reach 1024x768 and higher resolutions.

Solids

What's happening?!?

Revelator

ELSA also throws in a pair of 3D Revelator glasses with the GLADIAC ULTRA. To be honest, we're not all that crazy about 3D glasses around here (they generally get thrown into the darkest depths of our hardware cabinet, only to be brought out during Halloween). In any case, if have your heart set on gaming in 3D, you can read more about the glasses here.