The casing of the exhaust-air channel is not flush with the backplane of the card, raising doubts about its CE-conformity. The user can choose between two fan speeds using a switch.

The software bundle consists of Cyberlink's PowerDVD XP 4.0 and PowerDirector 2.5 VE as well as the games "Zanzarrah - The Hidden Portal" (THQ) and "Ballistics" (Grin). Another CD containing six game demos completes the bundle. HIS includes a nine-page installation manual with the card. Lastly, an S-VHS cable, a composite video cable (cinch) and a DVI-VGA adapter for use with a second CRT are also part of the bundle.

Conclusion

This highly efficient cooling solution allows the card's use even in tight cases or in systems with bad airflow, since the warm air is funneled outside. The card also gets points for its very low noise level. However, despite the elaborate cooling system, ATi's R350 chip still manages to heat up the card; the memory chips, for example, reached 60°C. The 3D performance was on the level one can expect from a Radeon 9800 Pro based card.

With the Excalibur Radeon 9800 Pro IceQ, HIS has created a well-balanced and cool-running system, which has also earned it an editor's choice award.