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A Closer Look
The Box
It
seems Albatron have committed their entire range of
products to the snazzy metallic box designs, and why
not, they look the business. Thankfully though more
expensive, they have for the most part avoided the
temptation to use one box for all products and distinguish
them apart by using product stickers. Each box we've
seen on the graphics lineup (though not on the motherboards)
has had a unique, individually designed box to accompany
it. I know it's a minor point but it's one of those
psychological things that users often appreciate.
As in the past the box is suitable emblazoned with
all the necessary specs and buzzwords to make buying
that bit easier.
The Bundle
Nothing
has changed in the bundle since the Ti4200P-Turbo,
you still get the card, installation CD, three cables
(SVideo, Phone and SVideo-Phono adapter) and thankfully
a full version of the Excellent WinDVD. Two full retail
games included, Serious Sam (original v1.0 release),
a now rather old but still fun and frantic FPS and
Motocross
Mania which I described in my last review as "fairly
average", a verdict I stick to due primarily
to the handling characteristics of the bikes which
is dire.
The Card
If
nobody told you otherwise and you didn't have the
two cards for a side by side comparison this could
easily be the Ti4200P-Turbo as it's almost identical,
not that that's a bad thing. I'm actually a very big
fan of the way Albatron have put this card together,
it's clean and uncluttered, it cools more efficiently,
it looks good and above all it's functional in a way
the original reference design never was. The main
difference between the Ti4680P and the Ti4200P apart
capacitor placement and type is that the latter had
a PM39LV512R PMC Flash BIOS chip on the front while
the Ti4680 hasn't (below).
Ti4680P-Turbo
Front Click For Larger Image
Ti4200P-Turbo
Front
Ti4680P-Turbo
Rear
Albatron
have rightfully kept faith in the aluminium shrouded
all copper cooler design used previously. In testing
this designed proved to be very efficient and relatively
very quiet. My only reservation was with regards the
fan's long term robustness though as stated it's impossible
to judge this accurately be feel and there may well
be a lifetime of graft in them there blades.
All
in all the build and component quality remains excellent.
The blue PCB, satin finish fan shroud, copper cooler
and aluminium ram sinks give an air of quality and
style that may matter more to some buyers than others
but which does give a sense of money well spent.
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