Conclusion

Conclusion

The very first passive-cooled 9700 Pro board from Sapphire brings heavy metal glamour to the graphics industry. The board also doubles as a very dangerous bludgeon.

Well, to end on a high note, we have a not-so-new, but seemingly refreshed, entrant into the graphics board business. Sapphire, who has taken Hercules’ exclusive crown as supplier of ATI boards in Europe, is making headway into the US market through Tier Two retail outlets, as well as e-tailers such as NewEgg. Sapphire used Comdex to launch a 9700 Atlantis Pro board, the first, the company claimed, with a passive cooling solution. It’s a heavy baby, but very cool in more ways than one. Cool, as in heat dissipation, and that little pipe used to conduct heat between heatsinks on either side of the board makes the board look like a custom Harley low-rider, at least in graphics board terms.

In a day dominated by Nvidia’s launch, and not much else of great note, it seems fitting to end on a graphics note. We will keep trawling the Comdex highways for more interesting products and news as we find it. For now, off to the Blackjack tables at Circus Circus where there is, apparently, a one dollar minimum. Oh, yeah, baby !