MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE GeForce 7950GX2

Name: MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE GeForce 7950GX2
Brand: MSI

by Shane Unrein — Thursday, September 21, 2006, 03:00 PM EDT

Introduction, Specifications & Features

NVIDIA created a ton of buzz in the gaming community when it first introduced SLI. That buzz quickly gave way to a huge success, and the buzz and success really haven't diminished since. In fact, the birth of Quad SLI has only reinvigorated the buzz. Quad SLI is currently possible thanks to NVIDIA's GeForce 7950 GX2 video card. A 7950 GX2 is a single card that features two G71 GPUs. This means that you can run pseudo-SLI in a single PCI Express x16 (or x8) slot and essentially enjoy the benefits of SLI on some non-SLI capable motherboard (as long as the motherboard's BIOS has been updated to provide support for the 7950 GX2).

We finally have another retail 7950 GX2 in the HotHardware labs, and it comes from MSI. Rather than just call it the "MSI GeForce 7950 GX2," MSI opted to call it the NX7950GX2-T2D1GE. Like other 7950 GX2s, this bad boy features 1GB of fast DDR3 memory and a 512-bit memory interface. The GPU and memory clocks are the same as the NVIDIA reference card speeds (500MHz and 1.2GHz, respectively). So let's jump right in and see how the NX7950GX2-T2D1GE performs.

MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE: Features & Specs

Enter MSI's GeForce 7950 GX2 (MSI Part No: MS-V801-065)

Features
Support Memory: 1GB DDR3 Video Output Function - TV-out (S-Video Connector) - Dual DVI Connector 512-Bit Memory Interface	MSI Vivid Video Technology - Vivid brings the easiest way to optimize graphic quality. - Colorize your vision when browsing digital photos!!! - Sharpen characters' edges!!! - Enhance contrast when playing games!!!

Technical Specifications
NVIDIA CineFX 4.0 Shading Architecture Vertex Shaders Support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Vertex Shader 3.0 Displacement mapping Geometry instancing Infinite length vertex programs Pixel Shaders Support for DirectX 9.0 Pixel Shader 3.0 Full pixel branching support Support for Multiple Render Targets (MRTs) Infinite length pixel programs Next-Generation Texture Engine Accelerated texture access Up to 16 textures per rendering pass Support for 16-bit floating point format and 32-bit floating point format Support for non-power of two textures Support for sRGB texture format for gamma textures DirectX and S3TC texture compression Full 128-bit studio-quality floating point precision through the entire rendering pipeline with native hardware support for 32bpp, 64bpp, and 128bpp rendering modes 64-Bit Texture Filtering and Blending Full floating point support throughout entire pipeline Floating point filtering improves the quality of images in motion Floating point texturing drives new levels of clarity and image detail Floating point frame buffer blending gives detail to special effects like motion blur and explosions NVIDIA Intellisample 4.0 Technology Advanced 16x anisotropic filtering (with up to 128 Taps) Blistering- fast antialiasing and compression performance Gamma-adjusted rotated-grid antialiasing removes jagged edges for incredible image quality Transparent multisampling and transparent supersampling modes boost antialiasing quality to new levels Support for normal map compression Support for advanced lossless compression algorithms for color, texture, and z-data at even higher resolutions and frame rates Fast z-clear	API Support Complete DirectX support, including the latest version of Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 Full OpenGL support, including OpenGL 2.0 NVIDIA Digital Vibrance Control (DVC) 3.0 Technology DVC color controls DVC image sharpening controls NVIDIA SLI Technology Patented hardware and software technology allows two GPUs to run in parallel to scale performance Scales performance on over 60 top PC games and applications NVIDIA UltraShadow II Technology Designed to enhance the performance of shadow-intensive games NVIDIA PureVideo Technology Adaptable programmable video processor High-definition MPEG-2 and WMV9 hardware acceleration Spatial-temporal de- interlacing Inverse 2:2 and 3:2 pull-down (Inverse Telecine) 4-tap horizontal, 5-tap vertical scaling Overlay color temperature correction Microsoft Video Mixing Renderer (VMR) supports multiple video windows with full video quality and features in each window Integrated HDTV output Composited Desktop Hardware Engine Video post-processing Real-time desktop compositing Accelerated antialiased text rendering Pixel shader-driven special effects and animation Advanced Display Functionality Dual integrated 400MHz RAMDACs for display resolutions up to and including 2048x1536 at 85Hz Dual DVO ports for interfacing to external TMDS transmitters and external TV encoders Full NVIDIA nView multi-display technology capability Advanced Engineering Designed for PCI Express x16 Designed for high-speed GDDR3 memory
System Requirements
- A compatible PCI Express motherboard and SBIOS. Please visit www.nvidia.com/GX2 for a list of compatible motherboards and SBIOS. - A 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connector. - A minimum recommended 400W system power supply (with 12V current rating of 27A).

The MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE is packaged in a blue and white box that features an angelic female and boasts the card's features and specifications. The box also includes a handle for easy transportation of the package.

The NX7950GX2 rests snugly surrounded by sturdy styrofoam. Our sample arrived without a problem, so we believe the packaging is adequate. Inside the package, MSI includes a plethora of accessories and software. The accessories include a TV-out cable (S-video and component supported), two DVI-to-VGA adapters, an S-video cable, a Y-power cable, a Quick Installation Guide, and a Quick User's Guide. The software includes a full game (King Kong - The Official Game of the Movie) and a bunch of utilities, which you can find listed below. Overall, it's a decent bundle, but we would like to see a newer game included.

MSI developed software
.	VGA Driver
.	MSI Live Update Series ( Live VGA BIOS & Live VGA Driver)
-	Automatically online download & update VGA BIOS & Drivers, reduce the risk of getting the wrong files, and never have the trouble on web site searching.
.	GoodMen
	Automatically release the system memory space, reduce the risk of system hang-up.
.	LockBox
-	Instantly enter the data lock mode when you must leave your system for a while.
.	WMIinfor
-	Automatically list the detail system configuration, it helpful for engineering service people.
.	MSI VIVID
-	Vivid brings the easiest way to optimize graphic quality. Colorize your vision when browsing photos!!! Sharpen characters edge! Enhance contrast when playing game!
.	MSI Live
-	Including all real time life information you need, such as Live MSI Product News, Live Daily Information, Live Personal Schedule Manager, Live Search and more.
.	MSI Secure DOC
.	E-Color
.	MediaRing
.	ShowShift
.	ThinSoft Be Twin
.	Adobe Acrobat Reader
.	Norton Internet Security 2005
.	Microsoft DirectX 9.0