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Bundle

The 7800 GS OC AGP graphics card shipped to us in an average BFG green and grey box, with picture-window view of the new AGP card. The bundle is a bit slim, but fits the price range just fine.

List of box contents:

• BFG GeForce 7800 GS OC 256MB graphics card
• Quick install guide
• DV-I to VGA dongle
• Driver cd including: Nvidia ForceWare unified drivers, Manual(.pdf) and Nvidia NDVD 2.0

Features

The architecture of the 7800 GS AGP features the same technology that the Nvidia Geforce 7800 GPU line included in its initial launch last year. Some of the highlights were SM 3.0, Intellisample 4.0, HDR, PureVideo and transparency adaptive multisampling and transparency adaptive supersampling antialiasing.

Below is a summary of the architectural features of the 7800 family. If you've read our 7800GTX Preview, you'll already know about some of these features. If not, we encourage you to take a closer look at the Architectural changes from the 6800 family, as well as our discussion on Intellisample 4.0, HDR, Transparency antialiasing, and PureVideo.

The architecture includes the following feature:

• Next-Generation Superscalar GPU Architecture - Delivers up to 2x the shading power of previous generation products taking gaming performance to extreme levels.
• Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 Support - Ensures top-notch compatibility and performance for all DirectX 9.0 applications, including the latest Shader Model 3.0 titles.
• NVIDIA CineFX 4.0 Engine - Delivers advanced visual effects at unimaginable speeds. Full support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 enabling stunning and complex special effects. Next-generation shader architecture with new texture unit design streamlines texture processing for faster and smoother gameplay.
• UltraShadow II Technology - Enhances the performance of bleeding-edge games, featuring complex scenes with multiple light sources and objects. 2nd-generation technology delivers more than 4x the shadow processing power over the previous generation.
• Full-Speed 128-Bit Studio-Precision Computation - 128-bit studio-precision computation (32-bit per component) through the entire pipeline delivers increased image quality with no performance compromise by preventing image defects due to low precision and thereby ensures the best image quality for even the most demanding applications.
• Transparency Antialiasing - Dramatically improves the display quality of objects modeled with alpha-tested textures (typically environmental details like chain link fences, grass, leaves, or other vegetation).
• NVIDIA Intellisample 4.0 Technology - The industry's fastest antialiasing delivers ultra-realistic visuals, with no jagged edges, at high speed. Visual quality is taken to new heights through a new rotated grid sampling pattern, advanced 128 tap sample coverage, 16x anisotropic filtering, and support for transparency supersampling and multisampling.
• 64-Bit Floating Point Texture Filtering and Blending - Based on the OpenEXR technology from Industrial Light & Magic (http://www.openexr.com/), NVIDIA's 64-bit texture implementation delivers state-of-the-art high dynamic-range (HDR) visual effects through floating point capabilities in shading, filtering, texturing, and blending.
• 256-Bit High-speed Memory Interface - Delivers more memory bandwidth and efficiency to power the latest games and applications.
• NVIDIA PureVideo Technology - NVIDIA PureVideo technology is the combination of high-definition video processors and video decoding software that delivers unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for all video content. It turns your PC into a high-end home-theater.
• Adaptable Programmable Video Processor - NVIDIA PureVideo is a programmable technology that can adapt to new video encoding formats as they are developed, providing a future-proof video solution.
• MPEG-2 Decode Acceleration - Allows smooth playback of all MPEG-2 videos with minimal CPU usage, freeing the PC to do other work. Requires the PureVideo decoder available on the press Extranet.
• WMV Decode Acceleration - Playback videos in Microsoft's Windows Media Video High Definition (WMV HD) format without skipping frames or losing video detail.
• Inverse Telecine (3:2 & 2:2 Pulldown Correction) - Recovers original film format data to provide more accurate video playback and superior picture quality.
• Spatial-Temporal De-Interlacing - Smoothes video and DVD playback on progressive displays to deliver a crisp, clear picture that rivals high-end home theater systems.
• High-Quality Scaling - Allows for upscaling of a low-resolution video to HDTV resolutions (up to 1080), while maintaining a clear, clean image. Also allows for downscaling videos, including high-definition, without experiencing any annoying flicker, while preserving image detail.
• Video Color Correction - Corrects differences in color characteristics of RGB monitors and TV monitors through NVIDIA PureVideo’s ProcAmp Color Controls settings, such as Brightness and Contrast. The display gamma correction ensures videos are not too dark, overly bright, or washed out regardless of the video format or display.
• Integrated TV Output - Provides world-class TV-out functionality (Composite/S-Video/Component) up to 1080i resolution.
• NVIDIA ForceWare Unified Driver Architecture (UDA) - Delivers a proven record of compatibility, reliability, and stability with the widest range of games and applications. ForceWare ensures the best out-of-box experience for every user and delivers continuous performance and feature updates over the life of NVIDIA GeForce GPUs.
• OpenGL 2.0 Optimizations and Support - Ensures the best performance and application compatibility for all OpenGL applications.
• Dual 400MHz RAMDACs - Blazing-fast RAMDACs support dual QXGA displays with ultra-high, ergonomic refresh rates up to 2048x1536 @ 85Hz.