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InnoVision's 9 video cards - a complete assortment of value-sector solutions for AGP and PCI-EAuthor: Anna TimofeevaDate: 06/08/2005
Today's material is not ordinary. First, because we are not reviewing a separate graphic card or a line of boards built on the same chip (the so-called Roundup) but a whole series of varied solutions built on both the AGP and PCI-E interfaces, all made by InnoVision Multimedia. To start with, a few words on the company which is a manufacturers of video cards built on NVIDIA chips only. Not so long ago, many users safely referred to the produce of InnoVision released under the trademark Inno3D as a member of the unenviable community of «noname» solutions. We must admit, even today some people have this erroneous and unjust opinion. Unfortunately, many currently eminent and very large companies used to be referred to the "noname". As regards the produce of InnoVision, today we are reviewing nine video cards in the Retail package bundle which are a complete assortment of solutions built on NVIDIA chips and related to the low-end and mainstream sectors. Since some things have been replayed in the value sector and much has happened during the time (life is dynamic not only in the high-end sector), let's refresh our memory and analyze the products offered by both companies in these sectors for our attention. So, here they are:
Inno3D GeForce 6200TC 128Mb and 256MbPackage bundle of Inno3D GeForce 6200TC 16Mb (128Mb): 
Package bundle of Inno3D GeForce 6200TC 64Mb (256Mb): 
So, you see two 6200 boards offering the TurboCache technology that allows fitting small video memory capacity on. The PCI-Express bus for its good bandwidth serves as the basis for linking the system memory to the GPU. Therefore, much of what used to be stored in the local memory of the graphics card (textures, frame buffer, etc.) is now placed into the system memory. That has been done primarily for the purpose of reducing the prime cost of the board. From this viewpoint, it is not quite clear why many manufacturers decided to fit BGA memory chips on cards like these because this adds to the price of the solution - it would be better if the board were equipped with TSOP-chips. We should also understand that these boards are mainly aimed at the OEM sector of the market, that is why much focus is given to the cheapness. They won't appeal to gamers, since most of them do not provide the minimum acceptable performance in modern games. On the other hand, OEM partners acquire modern cheap external (!) graphics for the PCI-Express. Let's examine the boards.
Inno3D GeForce 6200TC 16Mb (128Mb)
Inno3D GeForce 6200TC 64Mb (256Mb)
The differences are not only about the capacity of installed memory, but in the capacity of the bus which is 32-bit in the lower model. The cooling system on both the boards is a regular aluminum radiator for cooling the GPU. Fitting a more sizeable cooling system is not justified since the heat emission of the chips is rather small. The NV44 chip is made following the 0.11 nm process technology, and the clock speed is not high. To prevent the board from damages upon contacts with the radiator, protective washers are fitted on its foot. The GPU frequency in both boards is 350MHz. The chip offers four pixel pipelines, three vertex units. Note that the formula is original and final. Therefore, as the memory exchange bus can't be more than 64-bit here, the number of pipelines can't be increased (unlike NV43 with its activated 4 pipelines, with the possibility to unlock as many as 8). Inno3D GeForce 6200TC 16Mb offers 16 Mb of local video memory of GDDR standard with a 32-bit data transmission bus, assembled of one Hynix BGA chip of 2.5 ns access time, which is equivalent to 800 MHz DDR operating frequency. The nominal operating frequency of the video memory is 700 MHz DDR. The memory chip is positioned on the front side of the board. But Inno3D GeForce 6200TC 64Mb offers 64 Mb of local video memory of GDDR standard with a 64-bit data transmission bus, assembled of four Samsung TSOP chips of 4 ns access time, which is equivalent to 250 MHz (500 MHz DDR) operating frequency. The nominal frequency of the video memory is 550 MHz DDR, which is 50 MHz above the nominal. The video memory chips are positioned in two along each side of the board.
As the thermal interface, the "thermal chewing gum" is used. Both boards are equipped with one analogous and digital outputs, as well as a TV-OUT.
Inno3D GeForce 6200 and 6600 PCI-E based on NV43Package bundle of Inno3D GeForce 6200: 
Package bundle of Inno3D GeForce 6600: 
Why did we decide to merge descriptions of these two cards? All is simple - in fact, they differ in only the number of pixel pipelines, which has been cut down to 4 in GeForce 6200. In what follows, in the part to do with the tests, we'll try to fix that annoying thing. Of course, now that all NV43-based 6200 have been officially replaced with GeForce 6600LE, it would not be quite logical to review GeForce 6200. However, since GeForce 6200 can't disappear in a day will still be embellishing the retail shelves for some time, we can afford to explore this board also now. Besides, as we found out, GeForce 6600LE makes little difference from GeForce 6200, the performance data can be easily interpreted.
Well, let's look at the cards. I suggest that you should play the game called "find 10 differences".
Inno3D GeForce 6200 PCI-E   Inno3D GeForce 6600 PCI-E
In fact, it's useless to play the game because the only difference is hidden under the cooling system in the form of an aluminum radiator covering the GPU, and it is even not visible to the naked eye. The chip in both the cards runs at 300 MHz. There are eight pixel pipelines in GeForce 6600 and four in GeForce 6200. The boards are equipped with 128Mb of GDDR video memory, with a 128-bit data transmission bus, in the form of eight Samsung TSOP chips positioned on the front side of the board. The access time is 4 ns, which is equivalent to 250MHz (500 MHz DDR) and which is the standard frequency for these two cards. As the thermal interface, the "thermal chewing gum" is used. 
The boards do not offer a SLI connector, but the SLI mode can be activated with ForceWare drivers of version 77.72 and higher. The set of outputs is also standard - analogous, digital, and TV-OUT.
Inno3D GeForce 6600GT PCI-E
Package bundle of Inno3D GeForce 6600GT PCI-E: 
What catches the eye first is the cooling system. It appears to be a kit comprising a radiator with a fan on the GPU (by CoolerMaster) and separate radiators on the video memory chip. The cooling system by CoolerMaster is also used on other high-end products made by InnoVision. Note that the foot and the heat-spreading fins of the radiator on GPU are made of copper, whereas the lid, like radiators on the memory chips are made of copper-styled aluminum. The noise coming from the cooling system is not high, which in combination with the cooling efficiency gives a weighty advantage over many competitor solutions.
A few months ago, we reviewed five PCI-E boards built on GeForce 6600GT offered by various manufacturers. Presented were not only solutions with the "classical" characteristics, but also alternative versions having increased frequencies and equipped with memory much faster than standard (2 ns) – offering 1.6 ns access time. This version of the board is just the set of standard characteristics, starting with the GPU and memory frequencies which amount to 5000/1000MHz as it should be according to the specifications.
GPU GeForce 6600GT (NV43) offers eight pixel pipelines and three vertex units. The operating frequency in 2D is 300MHz, and 500MHz in 3D. The boards are equipped with 128Mb of GDDR3 video memory, with a 128-bit data transmission bus, in the form of eight Infineon BGA chips positioned on the front side of the board. The 2ns access time is equivalent to 500MHz (1000MHz DDR) operating frequency. 
Inno3D GeForce 6600GT offers support for the SLI mode, both through an adapter (there is a respective connector onboard) and with the driver. Note that the SLI implementation via the SLI adapter is more efficient in the end because otherwise the job of synchronization of two boards has to be done by the PCI-Express x16 bus, which affects the overall speed. Therefore, the most efficient way of SLI implementation is still the good old SLI bridge. Moreover, unlike 6600 (LE) which lacks a special connector or other way of supporting SLI than the driver, this case offers us a good alternative. We are now moving on to examining Inno3D boards with the AGP 8x interface.
Inno3D GeForce 6600 AGP 256Mb and 128Mb
Package bundle of Inno3D GeForce 6600 AGP:  The information on installed memory is labeled on the orange sticker on the front side of the box.
The package bundle in both of these boards is absolutely identical, so it makes no sense to repeat it again. Let's look at the boards. As you must have noticed, there are few differences between them. The cooling system on both the boards is a regular aluminum radiator for the GPU and the HSI bridge. By the way, many users found the version of the cooling system when the GPU and the HSI are cooled by a common radiator not efficient enough. The cause was allegedly the poor pressing of the radiator to the bridge and thus overheating of the latter. But now that there are lots of alternative cooling facilities for video cards on the market, it's not a problem for exigent users to choose whatever they want just for their board.
Inno3D GeForce 6600 AGP 128Mb   Inno3D GeForce 6600 AGP 256Mb Both boards are based on GPU NV43. The standard operating frequency is 300 MHz. There are 8 pixel pipelines, 3 vertex units. Support for AGP 8x is provided via the HSI bridge. The boards are equipped with different GDDR video memory capacity - 128 and 256 Mb. The data transmission bus is of 128-bit capacity. The memory chips on the 256Mb board are made by Hynix, and by Samsung on the 128 Mb modification. The 4ns access time is equivalent to 500MHz DDR operating frequency. The standard memory operating frequency on both the boards is also 500MHz DDR. The set of outputs is also standard - analogous, digital, and TV-OUT.
Inno3D GeForce 6200A 128Mb and 256MbPackage bundle:  The information on installed memory is labeled on the orange sticker on the front side of the box.
The package bundles in the 256Mb and 128Mb versions of Inno3D GeForce 6200A are absolutely identical. The same applies to the cooling system which appears to be an aluminum radiator for cooling the GPU.
Inno3D GeForce 6200 AGP 128Mb   Inno3D GeForce 6200 AGP 256Mb GeForce 6200A makes a fundamental difference from its predecessor of the same name (except the letter À) and based on NV43-V chip. First of all, NV44A is a chip of native support for AGP. Therefore, the board does not need the HSI bridge. That means the board does not require additional power supply as it used to be on 6200 (NV43-V) and is not equipped with a respective connector. Secondly, all the boards on the base of NV44 offer a memory exchange bus of no more than 64-bit capacity.
Hence, it is not quite clear why such weak products are equipped with large capacities of video memory which makes the cards even more expensive. There are known cases when GeForce 6200A was equipped with 512 (!)Mb of video memory. Perhaps all these tricks are aimed at the unsophisticated user who would be tempted by getting a cheap card with «as many as 512Mb!!!» onboard. But we can only set hopes for the test results which will clearly indicate the boost produced by extra 128 Mb on this card and whether the game is worth the candles. The cards in question are equipped with different DDR video memory capacities. The data transmission bus is of 64-bit capacity. The Samsung chips offer 4ns access time which is equivalent to 500MHz DDR operating frequency. But, be careful! The standard memory operating frequency on this (!) 256 Mb board is 400MHz DDR. That is 100MHz lower than the regular video memory frequency for similar cards (500MHz DDR). Things are fine with the 128Mb version – 500MHz DDR. The memory chips are positioned in two along each side of the PCB.  The frequency of the NV44A GPU (4 PP/3 VP) on both boards is 350MHz. Like in the previous cases, the set of outputs is also standard - analogous, digital, and TV-OUT. Now on to overclocking and benchmarking.
Test configuration
To test the ATI video cards, we used the latest Catalyst 5.7 WHQL-drivers, and ForceWare 77.77 beta drivers - for NVIDIA cards .         
Overclocking InnoVision's PCI-E video cardsSince we have been long at overclocking video cards based on 6200TC/6600/6600GT, it will not be difficult to give an impartial estimate of the overclocking capability of our today's heroes because "who has never tasted bitter, knows not what is sweet". Let's start with the «little kids» - two GeForce 6200TC boards. For the chip, they demonstrated a surprising solidarity - both attained the 425 MHz bar. As regards the video memory overclocking, we were unable to overclock the 16Mb modification at all – any attempt to raise the frequencies resulted in image artifacts. On Inno3D GeForce 6200TC 64Mb (256Mb), we were able to overclock the memory to 670MHz DDR. Note that this GPU overclocking result cannot be regarded fantastic since almost all formerly tested 6200ÒÑ boards offered somehow better overclocking of the GPU – 440-450MHz on the average. In this category, the very first GeForce 6200TC card, a reference sample by NVIDIA proves an absolute champion. We were able to overclock it to 493(!) MHz for the core. As regards the results for memory overclocking, all depends on how fast (to be more precise, how slow) the memory on the card is installed. In particular, we were able to overclock boards of 3.6ns video memory most often to 650-670MHz DDR. But overclocking the GeForce 6200TC equipped with 5ns memory (we did have these as well) amounted to merely 460MHz DDR (the nominal speed is 400MHz DDR). That is, we can safely state that memory overclocking for both these Inno3D video cards proved successful. At the same time, it should be noted that the 256Mb version is equipped with 4 ns memory (nominal frequency 500MHz DDR). Therefore, we were able to overclock the memory by 170MHz above the nominal! Then there goes the NV43-based GeForce 6200 in our list. We couldn't help attempting to unlock the pixel pipelines. Since the chip we got was of revision A2, there were no much issue at that. You can judge the performance boost yourself by the above graphs. Note that we did the overclocking on a locked (!) card. The total is 450/650MHz. Is that much or little? Let's see. For the chip, it seems normal enough. Of course, we used monsters capable of running at 500 MHz or higher without modifications to the cooling system, but generally 450 MHz is the limit for standard cooling. By the way, the "full-fledged" GeForce 6600 even failed to reach that threshold - we were able to overclock the chip to merely 425 MHz. The poorest chip overclocking result for 6600/6200 (NV43) from our vast collection is 370 MHz. But that is already an "accident". The overclocking for video memory in Inno3D GeForce 6200 amounted to 650MHz DDR, which is good enough for 4 ns memory. We were able to overclock Inno3D GeForce 6600 equipped with the same memory to 625MHz DDR. Now we are moving to the last PCI-E board by InnoVision – GeForce 6600GT. In terms of overclocking, it brought no surprises – 560/1070MHz. The GPU overclocking is practically identical to all the cards we tested. As usual, video memory overclocking depends on the quality of memory installed on board, because there are solutions with both memory regular for GeForce 6600GT offering 2 ns access time, and the faster modifications offering 1.6 ns access time. Lastly, a couple of tests for overclocked cards as compared to the nominal operation modes.  
Overclocking InnoVision's AGP 8x video cardsWe explored overclocking Inno3D AGP video cards through our experience of overclocking similar NV43- and NV44A-based video cards. As to the latter, we came across both boards able to cope with 475 MHz bar for the chip and specimens of not successful at overclocking. If we judge by the scale, overclocking Inno3D video cards equipped with 128 MB memory can be referred to as successful enough options, i.e. 470 MHz. On the contrary, the 256Mb modification was able attaining merely 420MHz. For the memory, the result is nor bright – merely 500MHz DDR (the memory default frequency for this board is 400MHz DDR). Overclocking of memory in 6200À 128Mb also proved quite moderate – the same +100MHz, but since the standard frequency is 500MHz, in the end we were able to get 600MHz DDR. Nor we found any wonders of overclocking on other 6200A boards offering the standard memory frequency 500MHz and 4 ns access time. With the standard cooling, the record proved 650 MHz (for the boards that we personally tested). The last thing we dwell on is the overclocking of two modifications of GeForce 6600 AGP. Both boards showed approximately the same results for overclocking the GPU – 430MHz in Inno3D GeForce 6600 128Mb, and 440 in the 256Mb modification. That is a middling result, since basing on our own experience and numerous response from owners of boards like these, quite a large number of specimens are able running at frequencies higher than 500MHz. Of course, installing a more powerful cooling system and various modifications could raise the bar even more. As regards the video memory overclocking, the 128Mb modification proved much faster – 670MHz DDR. Overclocking the video memory on Inno3D GeForce 6600 256Mb amounted to 610MHz DDR. However, for memory of 4ns access time (nominal frequency is 500MHz DDR) that is quite a good result.
Finishing our talk about the overclocking capability, let me remind you that any overclocking is an advantage (shortcoming) of a specific specimen of the card. Of course, some general conclusions can (and should) be made - we have tested a lot of cards, so there is more than enough materials for analysis. Nevertheless, we shall not be liable for the overclocking capability of your video cards which will most likely be different from our results in either ways. What we wanted to do is to wish you a good luck, successful overclocking because according to our experience it is the mainstream and low-end sectors where the number of users into overclocking is the highest. We don't mean enthusiasts who spend a lot for quality hardware and comparable cooling system to beat the performance records. That is already an extreme, but we are talking about the easy ways accessible to most. Finally, a couple of tests for overclocked Inno3D AGP video cards.  
Performance analysis and conclusions Inno3D GeForce 6200TC 16Mb (128Mb) and 64Mb (256Mb) – are definitely not for gamers. But those whose interests are different may find purchasing a solution like that quite a good options especially in view of the current price being about $60 for the lowest-end, and $66 for the 64 (256)Mb modification. Among the alternatives, there are boards based on RV370 (SE) – RX300 (SE) HyperMemory also equipped with different capacity of onboard memory. Judging by the test results, their performance is approximately the same (i.e. very low). So, if you are up to buying a video card of this class, the major criteria for selection is the price. That is, the cheaper the better. However, GeForce 6200TC offers a functional advantage - in particular, support for DX9.0c and HDTV. Inno3D GeForce 6200 PCI-E – we must keep it in mind that boards based on GeForce 6200 are gradually going off the retail shelves, and if they sell today from the old stocks, they soon may turn into a "rare species". The major advantage is in the possibility to unlock 4 pixel pipelines. Thus, the board turns into a full-featured analog to GeForce 6600, which occurred to the card being reviewed today. However, there are also pitfalls in that because not all NV43 revisions are easy to unlock and boxes normally don't indicate the chip revision. So if you don't want to run the risks of playing lottery games, the best choice for you would be a full-featured GeForce 6600, which costs merely extra $20. Therefore, the price for Inno3D GeForce 6200 PCI-E is currently $97, whereas the price of Inno3D GeForce 6600 PCI-E 128Mb - $118. As to the competitors, the most dangerous is currently RX600XT which has essentially grown cheaper and is now in the same price sector as GeForce 6600. But in terms of performance GeForce 6600 in most ways looks more preferable and offers more advanced technologies, whereas RX600XT in terms of the architecture is a direct heir to RV350/360. GeForce 6600GT PCI-E – rather remarkable product. First, its plus is that it offers a high-quality and efficient enough cooling system by CoolerMaster – a copper radiator on the GPU and separate aluminum radiators on the memory chips. The boards' specifications are absolutely standard, and the overclocking amounted to 560/1070MHz. Currently, the board can be made available on sale at $172. Note that a solution based on GeForce 6600GT is still an optimum buy in its price sector. The direct competitor RX700 PRO shows lower results practically everywhere, while RX800-based boards (both 128Mb and 256Mb versions) are already priced higher. In fact, the situation may soon radically change because the announcement of ATI's new mainstream solution RX800GT is at hand, which in terms of the price is positioned as a direct competitor to GeForce 6600GT. At the same time it already demonstrates really impressive characteristics and value to overclockers. But we'd better refrain from any announcements and assumptions since we haven't yet tested the CrossFire. Inno3D GeForce 6200A 128Mb and 256Mb are not quite suitable for gamers as well. However, compared to the Low-end of the previous generation – GeForce 5200, 5500 and Radeon 9250 - they look definitely better. As regards Radeon 9550, at performance it is somewhere in the middle between the 256Mb and 128Mb modifications of 6200À. Generally, the 256Mb version is quite a disputable product since the performance boost is almost negligible, especially in the version when the 256Mb card is equipped with memory originally running at 400MHz DDR, which is 100MHz lower than the normal frequency of the video memory for these cards (500 or 550MHz DDR). Because of that, we see a lag of even the 256 Mb card from the 128 Mb version, while the price for Inno3D GeForce 6200À 256Mb is $100, and $77 - for the 128Mb version. But note that the situation with video memory frequency on Inno3D GeForce 6200A is rather disputable since price-lists show the memory frequency to be 550MHz DDR. Therefore, while buying it try to find out that question separately, if possible. Inno3D GeForce 6600 AGP 128Mb and 256Mb – at equal frequencies, the increase in memory capacity has played its part but not to the extent that allows estimating it as a total victor. However, the price difference is not great either – the 128Mb version will cost you $123, and the 256Mb version – $135. In any case, that is sensible enough. As an alternative options here it is no longer Radeon 9600XT which is worse at performance (but at the same time cheaper), but Radeon 9800 PRO 128Mb whose price has recently dropped essentially to reach about $130. Due to the 256Bit bus, 9800 PRO looks better as the resolution goes up and copes better with the quality modes. Anyway, most GeForce 6600 have currently dropped in price to the $100-110 level, which automatically brings them to the cheaper sector. Hopefully, solutions by other manufacturers, including InnoVision, will soon move over there. SummaryAll the cards by InnoVision reviewed today are dignified budget solutions which mostly offer an adequate price/performance ratio, as well as a good quality. You can absolutely safely treat produce of this company as an option for upgrade of the video system in your computer. We appreciate ASBIS company for the video cards presented for tests.
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