A few months ago ATI introduced the X800GT which was meant to compete the performance mainstream market. The new SKU was built using one of three ATI graphics cores, the R423, R430, or R480. Many have speculated that the main point of the new line was to sell-off excess inventory of those graphics cores to make room for the next generation of products based on ATI’s R5x0 architecture.

While the SKU was essentially dead on arrival, that did not hamper sales of the X800GT product which turned out to be a pretty decent card (if you could get past the lack of SM3.0 support). Continuing with this R4x0 inventory sell-off, ATI has introduced the X800GTO, essentially a pumped up X800GT based on the same graphics technology.

HIS, unsurprisingly, was one of the first of ATI’s add-in board partners with products based on the new SKU. In this review we will be checking out their X800GTO IceQII Turbo and comparing it with an X800GT and a couple 6-series GeForce cards to see how fast the thing really is.

Bundle

HIS has always impressed with their retail bundle and the X800GTO IceQII bundle is no different. In the box you’ll find the usual cables and adapters, a driver CD, and an install manual. Along with that there’s a bonus DVD full of game and application trials, demos, and a full version of the original Dungeon Siege RPG game, an iTurbo install CD (more on iTurbo later), and finally a full retail version of the extremely fun Flat Out racing game. Here’s a breakdown of the bundle:

• HIS X800GTO IceQII Turbo
• DVI-to-VGA Adapter
• S-Video cable
• S-Video to composite adapter
• Component out adapter
• Driver CD
• Bonus DVD
  • Dungeon Siege
  • PowerDirector 3 SE
  • Power2Go 4
  • 3D Album Picture Pro
  • PowerDVD Trial
  • [email protected] 3 Trial
  • PowerBackup Trial
  • Game Demos
    • Roller Coaster Tycoon 3
    • Half-Life 2
    • Act of War: Direct Action
    • Tribes Vengeance
    • Axis & Allies
• Flat Out full retail