VGA Card Buyer's Guide 07/2003

Leadtek WinFast A300 Ultra TD MyVIVO, Continued

The WinFast 2.0 tool suite offers system information and software overclocking options for the card.

MyVIVO functionality:

Leadtek bundles the WinFast PVR software for use with the Video-in functionality. In addition to displaying incoming video signals, the tool also supports recording directly to hard disk as well as pre-programmed (timer) recording. This last feature only makes sense in combination with an additional TV tuner card, though. The timeshifting feature makes it possible to watch the program being recorded (from the beginning) during recording. A picture-in-picture option lets users check on several sources simultaneously. The combination of TV-in plus an actively recording Video-in, in addition to S-VHS at the same time did not work, though. Videos can be edited using the (slightly dated) Ulead Video Studio 6 SE DVD. Lastly, the software bundle also includes the 3D rendering software Cool 3D SE, which can be used to create 3D animations with text and simple 3D objects.

Conclusion: Leadtek has chosen a very different route by housing practically the entire card in an aluminum case. As a result, reactions may be mixed - either you like it or you don't. While the card stays cooler than its sibling, this improvement is accompanied by an increase in noise in 3D mode. In 2D mode, the card is all but silent, since the fans stay switched off. Aside from that, the Leadtek WinFast A300 Ultra TD MyVIVO is an easy card to recommend. We especially liked the good software bundle and the VIVO features.

+ Extraordinary cooling solution (card is entirely encased)
+ Silent in 2D mode (fans switch off)
+ TV-In & TV-Out (with special Leadtek WinFast PVR recording software)
+ Video editing software
+ Leadtek Tool-Suite WinFox 2.0 (overclocking, etc.)
+ Software DVD player
+ Color calibration utilities
+ Good games bundle
+ Video cables included
+ 3D rendering software

- Audible fans in 3D mode
- Heavy card
- Video cables too short