MSI FX5800 Ultra

A new top-of-the-range graphics card based on an nVidia processor would normally warrant a larger review than this, but cards based on the GeForce Fx5800 Ultra are not setting the graphics world alight. Far from it, in fact.

The MSI FX5800 Ultra costs £370, but it is unable to convincingly outperform cards based on ATi's 9700 Pro chip. Bearing in mind that 9700 Pro cards can be had for more than £120 less, it's easy to see buyers staying away from the nVidia.

Our performance tests showed the new nVidia card is very fast, but it simply doesn't stand out against the cheaper and more available ATi offerings.

Combined with the fact that it is extremely noisy, takes up your AGP slot and obscures the adjacent PCI slot, it is easy to see the FX5800 Ultra has plenty of things not to recommend it.

Add to this the fact that manufacturers expect FX cards to be in short supply anyway and you have yourself a seriously undesirable graphics card.

The MSI version comes with a comprehensive bundle of games and utilities, but there really is nothing to make this worth considering over one of the ATi 9700 Pro cards.

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