You can also edit and create your own movies. Unfortunately, I was not able to procure a video camera to be able to show off. I had hoped to get some in-car footage driving around in frau.

Here is a shot of the MGI workspace.

There are a few samples to practice on, splicing, fading, etc. Clicking, dragging, and menu selections make it all fairly intuitive, but I recommend you take a look at the tutorial.

Alienware Area 51:Aurora (Budget Trim)

• AMD Duron at 900MHz
• Abit KT7A-RAID KT133A motherboard
• 256MB PC133 Virtual Channel CAS2 SDRAM
• 15GB ATA66 7200rpm HD
• Sound Blaster Live! X-Gamer
• Linksys 10/100 NIC
• MidiLand S4 8200 5.1 Sound System
• Martian Red Case and Keyboard

Again, we are not reinventing anything here. It is an MX 400, it does have active cooling and it is a well-built card. Performance is on par with every other MX 400 out there. Twin-View is available as the card includes two VGA out and the WDM has the S-Video out.

Default clocks are 200MHz core and 166MHz memory. I was able to get a modest overclock out the Samsung 6ns SDRAM of 190MHz. The core hit 210MHz before locking on loops.

Here are a couple of quick numbers. These results should not be directly compared to other reviews.

Quake 3: Team Arena (1.27)

I used Team Arena because it is more fillrate intensive to represent future demands, especially the plethora of games based on a revised Quake 3 engine. I have a demo called Four that is full of good action and represents normal to heavy deathmatch play. While the MX 400 is a HUGE step back from the GeForce3, it was not as painful as I thought it would be.

Mad Onion: 3D Mark 2000

I know, you want me to explain what the heck I am doing here. Well, 3D Mark 2000 represents a majority of Direct3D games out there right now. So Team Arena for future, 3D Mk 2K for the present.

I am opposed to a composite score to rate a video card. Even 3D Mark bills the benchmarks as "system tests". The multi-texture fillrate synthetic benchmark and the Helicopter demo are the two most indicative scores for evaluating a card. What I read from these numbers is that the GeForce2 MX 400 is capable of handling most games, just don't let it get too complex, turn down the details a bit, or sacrifice the resolution. You cannot have it all, unless you opt for a Ti 500.

What did I like?

The software worked wonderfully with the hardware it is teamed with. I could not be happier with the overall performance of the Xtasy Everything. It delivers on advertised features. It comes with a REMOTE! That means so much to the male brain.

The installation was simple. It is a rare occasion that anything having to do with I/O runs right out of the gates. I was a bit concerned that the documentation is a bit vague, but the concerns were unfounded.

The software is intuitive and forgiving. Intervideo was an outstanding choice for a partner in the Home Theater side of the Everything, and MGI VideoWave satisfies video-editing needs sufficiently.

The negatives?

The GeForce2 MX 400 is not the GeForce3. While it did not let me down, I am entirely too used to the latest generation's performance level. It would be hard to give up my GeForce3 even if it means all of the additional capabilities. Perhaps if they would bundle a GeFirce3 Ti 200 Everything, you would have the perfect all-around package. I ahve a feeling that when the ATI 7500 DV hits the shelves, it will follow shortly.

Overclocking results were somewhat disappointing. I will throw out that adding the power requirements of the WDM module may have hampered the clockspeed increases, but disconnecting the module did not help. You would assume that the power subsystem had been changed to accommodate the umbilical cable's termination point.

Should you buy it?

If you have a GeForce2, this is a lateral performance wise, and it may be worth it depending on your needs. GeForce owner? No brainer, go for it. You have a second system? Absolutely. This is going in my workstation tonight!

VisionTek has another retail winner on their hands. While pricing is not available, I suspect it will land in the sub $200 zone. Did I mention that it comes with a three-year warranty?

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