Gigabyte is already the second big-name manufacturer that has deviated from the single-supplier strategy, opting instead to offer product lines based on ATi' as well as NVIDIA' processors. chips. The Gigabyte GeForce FX 5950 Ultra, code-named the internal designation GV-N595U265V, is the current top model of the new Gigabyte NVIDIA DirectX9 family branch the company is launching.

The card layout follows NVIDIA's reference design to a tee. All Gigabyte did was put its sticker on the fan so it looks identical to many other 5950 Ultra cards on the market. The sample we received from Gigabyte came with a green colored PCB. The final version of the card that will see retail distribution features a blue PCB.

The card's most striking attribute is its huge heatsink/fan, which is large enough to block the first PCI slot. As is typical for NVIDIA-based cards, the fan's speed is regulated by the driver in two steps. In 2D mode, the chip's core frequency is lowered and the fan's speed reduced, making the card almost silent. Although the fan is audible in 3D mode, it is not unpleasantly loud. The back of the card is cooled by a passive heatsink.

The front of the card.

The backside.