Asus EN7600GT HDMI-ready review

asus' en7600gt is identical to the other 7600GT graphics cards we've seen, but with one important difference - it has an HDMI output.

HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface and is a new type of connection that's been designed to transport high-definition (HD) audio and video. So far, we've only seen HDMI on standalone DVD players, HD TVs and projectors, but it's set to become commonplace with the arrival of Windows Vista. The crucial thing is that HDMI supports HDCP-protected video content. Once Windows Vista lands on your Desktop, watching HDCP-secured HD movies will require you to have both a graphics card and a monitor that support HDCP copy-protection - if you're missing either, then you'll only be allowed to view HD content at a drastically reduced quality, or possibly not at all.

The Asus has one DVI and one HDMI output. As both DVI and HDMI are compatible with each other, Asus has provided a little HDMI-to-DVI converter cable, so you can still run two monitors at the same time. There are also internal and external optical S/PDIF audio inputs, which look a little out of place on a graphics card. The Asus EN7600GT possesses no sound capabilities of its own, but the two inputs allow you to ferry the digital output from your motherboard or sound card direct to the graphics card. This is essential for transmitting both protected audio and video simultaneously, via the HDMI connection. Performance was very similar to other 7600GT-based graphics cards, with the Asus racking up 94% in our Call of Duty 2 benchmark.

If you're building a PC and don't want to end up throwing out your old graphics card when Microsoft Vista, HDCP and HD content become widely available, then the Asus will fit the bill nicely. Best of all it won't break the bank. Its fan is annoyingly whiny, though.

Author: Sasha Muller