VisionTek Radeon HD 3870 X2 (PCI-e, 1GB)

Intro: The VisionTek Radeon HD 3870 X2 is a 1 GB, mainstream 3D card.Compared to other mainstream 3D display cards on the market, it is expensive at around $490.

Noteworthy Features: Has 1 GB RAM, which is somewhat more than some similarly priced display cards.Also, this graphics card has a PCI express 2.0 x16 interface, which is somewhat faster than some similarly priced display cards.This 2 chipset on which this card is built is one of the most advanced graphics accelerators on the market today.

Weaker Features: None noted, given available product data.

Suitability: Suited for all productivity tasks, as well as for the casual 3D gamer.

Value: In general, this graphics card's features are in line with its price.Also, if you were to judge strictly by the card's chipset you could expect to pay as much as 40% less for a similarly capable card.Also, mainstream 3D adapters having similar features and memory have an average cost of around $370.

Suggestions: (1) Since this card is DVI-capable, you might want a DVI-enabled monitor or a flat-panel display to connect with it -- this will pass the digital video signal directly without converting it to analog, making for better performance.(2) CNET's graphics and sound content can help you decide if this card is the right purchase to make.