Overclocker Cafe - ABIT Siluro GeForce4 MX440

ABIT Siluro GeForce 4 MX440

Manufacturer: ABIT
Supplied by: Arena Computers
Price: $115

By Dean Barker (4/2/2002)

Introduction

When a new line of graphics cards come out, you can rest assured that ears perk up and lips moisten in anticipation of the expected new technology and lighting speed. The GeForce 4 series is no different. The budget version of the GF4, the MX, has come out in force while it's big brother, the Ti has been slowly filtering in. It's no wonder with the Ti at present being almost three times the price. Today, we are fortunate enough to have an ABIT Siluro GF4 MX440 up on the bench courtesy of Arena Computers.

When you think GeForce 4, be it in the Ti or the MX line, you think about a generational step forward. The GeForce 4 MX is a step forward, just not what you would expect. The GeForce 3 that is now over a year old is powered by NVidia's NV20 GPU. So what is NVidia's technical name for the GF4 MX... the NV25, NV30, what is it you ask? Try the NV17.

This is why you will hear people compare the GF4 MX to the GF2 MX. No one actually expected a new product to come out after the GF3 and have it be named the GF2 MX version 2. So NVidia is not really playing a name game here in my opinion being that the technology is advanced from that of the GF2 MX line. In an effort to show the GF4 MX (NV17) and put it in perspective with the GF3 (NV20) as well as the GF2 MX we are going to bench it with one of each of those cards. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's look over the ABIT GF4 MX first.

Specifications

Here is some copy/paste of the specs as off the ABIT website.

Features
NVIDIA GeForce4® MX440 256-bit 3D GPU - 64MB high-speed 128-bit DDR RAM memory
AGP 2X/4X with Fast Writes and AGP Texturing Support - 1 billion texels/sec. Fill-rate - 6.4GB memory bandwidth
Integrated dual 350MHz DACs supporting 2 independent CRT displays at 2048 x 1536 resolution @ 75Hz - NVIDIA nView technology supporting multiple displays
NVIDIA Lightspeed Memory Architecture II (LMA) Technology boosts effective

Memory bandwidth
NVIDIA Accuview Antialiasing delivers unprecedented AA performance and quality to mainstream market
Integrated TV encoder supporting 1024 x 768 resolution - Integrated Dual-Channel TMDS Transmitter enables 2 independent LCD displays at resolutions up to 1280 x 1024
NVIDIA Video Processing Engine (VPE) enables the highest-quality, full-frame rate, full-screen HDTV and DVD playback
API Support
OpenGL 1.3 and lower; DirectX 8.1 and lower

I/O Interface
15-pin D-sub VGA connector - TV-out Connector (S-Video/Composite)
DVI-I Supports LCD Monitor (Siluro GF4 MX VIO model only )
Video-In Connector (Siluro GF4 MX VIO model only)

Software Bundled
Installation CD: Driver/3DeepR/True Internet ColorR/ABIT SiluroDVD
Ulead VideoStudio (Siluro GF4 MX VIO only)

ABIT Siluro DVD
SiluroDVD To bring your DVDs and video files to life, we've included ABIT SiluroDVD. ABIT SiluroDVD combines the best visual and audio effects with advanced features such as time stretching, thumbnailed bookmarks, fully-adjustable zoom and pan, and much more. Take control of your video session with ABIT SiluroDVD.

Ulead VideoStudio
VideoStudio eliminates the steep learning curve associated with video editing. An intuitive user interface and the latest technology take the steep learning curve out of video editing. Guided workflow makes the entire creation process easy-to-follow Plug-and-play video transfer for quick connection and easy video capture Drag-and-drop control for quick and easy video creation