Conclusion:
The performance of the ASUS EAH3850 TOP Overclocked Radeon HD3850 Graphics Card was impressive and definitely exceeded my expectations. As reviews of the HD3800 series of cards started to hit the web I had some idea of what to expect, but it wasn't until I was able to quantify it on my own system that it all came together.
In addition to a card that offers strong performance, the bundle of accessories provided by ASUS is also a positive feature. Adapters are provided for just about any video device you would want to connect to, and a power adapter is provided in case your PSU isn't modern enough to have PCIe plugs. On top of everything else, you get a full copy of "Company of Heroes - Opposing Fronts", so you are able to take advantage of the full DirectX 10 potential of the card right out of the box.
Having a single slot cooling solution is a plus in my book, although having the hot air exhausted directly out of the case can help keep the overall system temperature in check. The card never got extremely hot, but the fan did get rather loud once the GPU temperatures climbed above about 70C. There would be a short burst of loud fan noise, and as soon as the temperature had been dropped enough, it would return to near silent operation.
The negatives for this card are rather limited, and would mostly be related to those who expect this (or other ATI based cards like the HD3870) to provide the ultimate performance from a PCI Express card. While this may bring ATI closer, it doesn't get them there. As shown in the test results, what it does provide is an upgrade beyond what you might expect as an owner of a previous generation Radeon based card, and it does it without breaking the bank.
A search of PriceGrabber shows a handful of online outlets with the ASUS EAH3850 TOP Overclocked Radeon HD3850 Graphics Card in stock, with one of the better deals being at Newegg.com. With a price under $200 (US), it really does offer quite a bang for the buck, and makes it quite appealing for gamers in pursuit of performance without a ton of money to spend.
Considering the performance, value, and overall quality of the bundled accessories, the ASUS EAH3850 TOP Overclocked Radeon HD3850 Graphics Card earns the "Recommended" and "Good Value" awards.
 
Pros:
» Solid performance
» Overclocked speeds out of the box, but capable of even more
» Generous bundle of accessories, plus "Company of Heroes - Opposing Fronts"
» Competitively priced
» Single slot cooling solution
» Supports 4-way CrossFire configurations
» Not silent, but generally very quiet
Cons:
» Fan gets loud when things get hot
» Cooler exhausts air back into the case
Special thanks to ASUS for providing the ASUS EAH3850 TOP Overclocked Radeon HD3850 Graphics Card to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
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