Specs:
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT
Processing Technology: 130 nanometers
GPU Speed: 500MHz
Memory: 128MB DDR3
Memory Speed: 500MHz (1GHz Effective)
Memory/Core Interface: 128-bit
Pixel Pipelines: 8
Bus: PCI Express x16
DirectX Support: Full DirectX 9
Output Options: DVI / S-Video / VGA (With DVI-VGA Adapter)
Maximum Resolution: 2048x1536 @ 85Hz

Features:
The first thing I noticed with the PCI Express version of the 6600GT is the angle of the cooler. This is because the AGP version had to use a bridge chip alongside the GPU to essentially "convert" the chip to AGP. This bridge chip required a separate heat sink as you may recall from the pictures of our 6600GT AGP review. As the chip is native to PCI Express it has no need for this bridge chip, and without the large heat sink from that chip the cooler can be rotated slightly to line up perfectly with the card. The cooler used on this card is the same cooler that was used by Nvidia on their reference 6600GT cards, just the sticker on the top has been changed to an XFX theme as opposed to the green reference Nvidia theme.

(Click to enlarge)

For the PCB of this card XFX has stayed with their dark blue colour which I have seen on all the XFX cards I have had experience with. For those with a windowed computer case, it just adds a little more to see than the standard green PCB used by the majority of manufacturers (although most companies are starting to adopt their signature colours now).

On the edge of the circuit board across from the PCI Express connector you'll see the SLI connector, something the AGP version didn't have! Since PCI Express has the ability to do Nvidia's SLI this card also has full support for it. Those who are wondering why their AGP cards don't have it, it's because SLI is native to PCI Express only so you'll never see it on the AGP platform.

Something the PCI Express version has also dropped over the AGP version is the need for an external power connection. You may remember that the AGP version required one molex connector to plug into the rear of the card. This connector was required because the AGP slot simply can not supply enough power for such a powerful card as the 6600GT. Being as this card is design for PCI Express which has the ability to provide more power than an AGP slot can provide, this external connection is not needed.

<<Previous Page<< - >>Next Page>>