Final Thoughts on the MSI N460GTX Cyclone 768D5 OC Edition
MSI’s Afterburner software coupled with their unlocked voltage firmware for the GTX 460 GPU has created a little monster in their N460GTX Cyclone 768D5 OC Edition card. Not only does the cooling solution provide for a quiet gaming experience, but the cooler also gives the card the ability to overclock to a completely stable 895 MHz which was not only validated by the included stability testing utility, but also the fact that it made it through our entire testing suite without a hiccup. If you are into getting your performance by yourself, then this card is a steal. Did I mention that it compares favourably against AMD’s latest and greatest HD 6850 while being a few bucks less?
While the bundle is pretty non-existent with this video card and the warranty is only 3 years compared to the lifetime warranty provided by the ZOTAC, I still think this is one heckuva card for the price. In all reality if you’re really into gaming you’d change your video card after 2 years anyway. While having a game in the box is a nice gesture, most mainstream gamers already have a collection of games that they choose to play. Fun can be had by simply being able to turn up all the eye candy in your favourite game without worrying about playable frame rates.
Most importantly at only $169 US, it’s perfect for gamers on the budget that are willing to work a little for their frame rates. Even then, it’s really easy with the included MSI Afterburner software and the excellent cooling solution. Definitely an Editors’ Choice in my books.
Overall Rating: 9.0 / 10.0
Final Thoughts on the ZOTAC AMP! Edition GTX 460 1GB
While the MSI N460GTX Cyclone 768D5 OC Edition receives our top award the ZOTAC AMP! Edition GTX 460 is definitely one to contend with when it comes to a great user experience. Who can say no to free games and a great performance out of the box without working for it?
I know that many enthusiasts scoff at buying pre-overclocked anything. The reality is that overclocking enthusiasts make up a small portion of the market. Most people don’t want to overclock. They just want to buy a card that provides excellent performance out of the box with some fun games in the box to get you started on your road to becoming a hardcore gaming and computer enthusiasts. It doesn’t matter if you can run a utility and easily overclock it. For that market, this card satisfies all the criteria and it’s no surprise why we find ZOTAC video cards at many big box retailers.
While it too tops the gaming performance of the new AMD HD 6850, it doesn’t completely run away from the overclocked and much cheaper GTX 460 from MSI. But where it does shine is in one area where an overclock needs to be stable and guaranteed and that’s using Adobe’s Mercury Playback Engine under Premiere Pro CS5.
When you factor in what you get with the ZOTAC which is the game, the guaranteed overclock and the lifetime warranty, the price premium of $229 US after rebates over a standard $199 US 1GB GTX 460 really isn’t that bad at all. It’s also a unique looking card that’ll look great in a windowed case. I have a hard time not recommending this card for many of the reasons above.
Overall Rating: 8.5 / 10.0
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