MSI FX5950 Ultra - Page 1

Introduction - Package

MSI is one of the largest manufacturers of NVIDIA chipset based graphics cards. We will be testing MSI's latest product from the FX family, the FX5950 Ultra VTD256. At the same time, we will be comparing it to the state-of-the-art ATI X800XT, since the two cards cost approximately the same amount of money. So the question we are about to answer is not which is the best video card but how big the generation gap between the two target cards is.

Our first impression of the MSI FX5950 Ultra was "absolutely fantastic". MSI ships the card in a huge glossy box, picturing what seems to be a gladiator on the front, besides some stickers with some of its basic features such as the 256Mb DDR. Opening the cardboard cover on the front of the box, we took a first glance at the card's sunflower shaped cooling system and an extended list of details for the FX5900 architecture.

The back side of the box ushered us in what we were about to see inside the box: MSI's excellent bundle. Believe it or not, the bundle includes 10 disks in two portable plastic cases. Five of them for gamers and another five for the regular computer user. Here's a list of the software you get:

Software Bundle
- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon
- Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (Installation disk & Construction Set disk)
- 7 in 1 Game Demo Collection
- MSI Media Center Deluxe II
- Photoshop Album SE & 3D-Album LE 2.03
- Virtual Drive Professional & RestoreIT! Professional
- InterVideo WinDVD 5.1 Channel & Supreme Forteign Language Learning Machine
- MSI Multimedia Beyond 3D ( Drivers & Utilities)

Also included is a really handy notebook (the sort you jot messages in) and the user guide, both decorated with the same gladiator theme as the box cover. We were happy to see an extra 4-pin molex power cable in the box that will make up for the power connection the card draws on from the PC power supply in order to function correctly. Finally, a DVI-I/VGA adapter, an S-to-S TV_Out cable, a 4-port VIVO cable and an MSI computer case sticker complete the bundled set of goodies.

No doubt MSI's bundle is excellent and will satisfy even the grouchiest of users.

Of course the card itself is what matters the most, but a nice bundle is always welcome and can provide an extra dose of enthusiasm with the recently bought hardware.

To discuss this card further or to discuss it with other users, go to our forum.