Asus EAH3650 256MB TOP Videocard Review

[One4yu2c]

Today we look at the Asus EAH3650 TOP videocard. Unlike ATI's flagship HD 4870, the HD 3650 isn't chasing after any performance crowns. Instead, an HDMI connector and low power consumption suggests that the living room PC would make a more suitable home than the main gaming rig, but does it sacrifice too much in performance to remain a viable option in today's DirectX 10 landscape? Let's take a look.
Paul Lilly

Asus EAH3650 256MB TOP Videocard Review

[Boy'nBlack]

Paul, I beg you...you guys HAVE to get the new AIW card and kick it's tires! It's just a perfect time for what I think is the perfect part. I'd just love to see something solid my desire to replace a 3650 with a 3650AIW. There's just not enough meat out there to tell me what it exactly adds, and how it performs. Heck, I'm just running HDMI out with the audio throughput and really wondering what the AIW means in this day and age.

Just wondering what the difference reallly is. Perhaps the AIW just finally puts the card in that says "Hey, you're groovy!"

The 3650 is a fine card for living rooms if you ask me. I'm not sure about that TOP. Overclocked cards just seem funny in a SFF media box...kinda warm And you sure that's copper they use for heatsinks? The Asus cards I've ran through seemed, pretty positively, to use Aluminum sinks that were anodized to a golden color. You could heat test it to see when it melts, or more realistically pluck the fins. Copper doesn't resonate a tone, aluminum (like the top?) has a twang.

Kitties! They make any review reader smile! Great addition to an otherwise great read. I'm going to trust you fully though. If I get this, I'm going to get a cat. Are their options? Because I haven't had a pure white cat or a calico in years. Actually, I'd like a hack for this to get a Scottish Fold. Possible?

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by Boy'nBlack

The 3650 is a fine card for living rooms if you ask me.

And that's really the bottom line. It's great for HTPC duties and distractions of Peggle, but you have to choose the right variant. The model reviewed is tough to find in 256MB form, and over priced when you do track one down. Even worse with the HIS 3650 512MB, which costs almost twice as much as the least expensive 512MB variant (look for a review this Monday).

None of these cards get a free pass in gaming, though. Between the GamerOSD label, gamer girl graphic, and the giant "10% faster" graph printed on the box, we're going to hold HTPC cards to the fire, particularly when they start breaching price points of mid-range offerings.

Originally Posted by Boy'nBlack

Paul, I beg you...you guys HAVE to get the new AIW card and kick it's tires!

We're working on it!

[Boy'nBlack]

Nice...challenging the marketing ploys *drool*

Love it, hate it, but that stuff on the box HAS to be held to trial. I'm so dismissive and really don't look at the box these parts come in...I totally overlooked that aspect. But they do say that stuff and should hold up to what they claim, astric and small print be damned. Others read that stuff I'm sure (now that you point that out). 10% from...what?

And I'm biased in the living room as well. I'm a casual gamer in the living room, and could NEVER compete with the desktops in the Dawg Pound. I fly, I do some RTS, and the 3650 (EAH3650 with the black sink and $85) does quite well. You do point out that it's not a gamer card, so just underlining that it can game on the bigscreen if you play nicely with it.

You're dead on all over (except I still don't have that kitty). I'm just more amazed at what we get for that money. Seems unfair really with the stuff we've had to deal with in the past. This is the Ti4200 perhaps? I just don't see anything in that price range that can compete on all these fronts. I'm spoiled of late in seeing $200 and $300 cards back to being the norm when that thing delivers expectations on an easy budget. This is back to budget when we have been paying dearly to get by. I'm mighty proud the game is back on.

About that gamer girl and the sink I'm doubting: I'd trade cooling, if that typical Asus cooler is an indicator, for a spec cooler with the full gamer girl sticker. At least you get a hint at some butt cheek pr0n for a moment before you install it upside down to never be seen again. It's a good butt too. Such a shame. See?

[azianai]

interesting, but honestly for the price and for HTPC, i'd go with the 3450 myself. I use one in my HTPC and its good enough without breaking the bank =)

[RangerXLT8]

Nice card for a media center station. Definitely not a gaming card. The cooler is tricked out, very nice, from the results it keeps the GPU nice and cool. For a person who does not play DX10 games this a great card.