Digital Trends

ATI All-In-Wonder X800 XL

November 1st, 2005 | by Ian Bell

Features and Design

There are a few subtle differences between the AIW X800 XL and the AIW X800 XT. First of all, the X800 XT has a faster memory clock of 500MHz versus the XL's 490MHz. The GPU engine clock speed on the XT is also faster at 500MHz versus 400MHz on the X800 XL, pumping out 8 Gpixels compared to 6.4 Gpixels, and having a geometry fill rate of 750 MTriangles compared to 600 MTriangles. This means better gaming performance only and should have no affect on the multimedia capabilities outside of gaming. ATI has taken the same R410 core that is found on their X800 XL gaming card and moved it onto the AIW X800 XL product. The AIW X800 XL comes with a separate component video input cable, where the XT version comes with an output block with built-in component video connections along with S-Video output. The bottom line here is that the AIW X800 XT will appeal to hardcore gamers that have a little extra money to spend

The real highlights of this card though are found on the multimedia side. With the AIW X800 XL you can watch 125 channels of analog cable TV, listen to stereo FM radio broadcasts, capture and edit your home videos using the video/audio inputs and the included software, record television shows using the Gemstar GUIDE Plus+ software, and output HD content.

The AIW X800 XL comes with a few new tricks up its sleeves. First of all, say good bye to the old Philips TV tuner. ATI has opted to use a newer, smaller tuner chip from Microtune named the MT2050 which is hidden beneath a gold cover. The Microtuner card consumes less power and generates less heat. ATI also throws in their Remote Wonder remote control. If you get the XT version of this card, then you get the larger Remote Wonder II remote control which gives you more features including RF technology.

ATI gives you just about everything you need to give your PC a real media punch. That is unless you are a HDTV enthusiast; for that you will need to purchase a separate HDTV tuner card. In the box you get an antenna cable for the integrated FM radio tuner, an input connection block used for S-video, composite, and RCA stereo audio inputs, an output connection block which supports S-Video and RCA audio connections, and HDTV connection cable, composite video cable and the S-video cable. AS for the software, ATI includes Pinnacle Studio 9 (ATI Edition), Matchware Mediator 8, muvee Autoproducer, Guide Plus+ and Visual Communicator web.

We found the price of the AIW X800 XL to be all over the map, priced at some merchants for $299 while others are selling it for upwards of $400 dollars. For $400 dollars at some merchants you can get the faster X800 XT card which includes the component video/HDTV connection block. So make sure that you shop around to get the best deal. As of the time of this review, the AIW X800 XL is only available in a PCI-Express version. So if your system has an AGP slot, you will need to look at the XT version of this card. The AIW X800 XL is also not MAC compatible.

Picture Courtesy of ATI Technologies