This card is able to perform well and at high resolutions, but only for short periods of time. I was fortunate to get to use the card in an extremely cool setting at MillionManLan. At this time, I was able to see the true capability and performance when gaming. It is a shame that the Gigabyte x800xl's performance is hindered with a sub-standard passive heat-pipe. I currently have 3 120mm fans in my fan providing great airflow, but this is not enough in warmer conditions.

This review did not turn out to be what I expected. I am disappointed in a passive cooling system on a video card. At first, I thought it may be nice to have a silent card. I now know that the silence is not worth the overheating. I promise to return soon with an update on the true performance of the Gigabyte x800xl once I setup this card with some watercooling. I have no doubt this card will overclock well with some excellent cooling. The price is right and the looks are cool. I expect this card to be an excellent value in cooler conditions.

The lack of Dual DVI on this card will probably sway many hard core PC users from shelling out ~$300. With the current price drop in LCDs, many extreme PC users are buying Dual LCDs. So if Gigabyte is targeting the extreme gamer's and PC enthusiasts with this card, why leave off a function that many video cards are offering now?

It is possible that someone looking for a silent video card may not need it for gaming and performance. This card could be right for a mid-range user that mainly uses the PC for day-to-day functions, but without the ability to game, there is not to much a $300 video card is worth. I do promise to update in the forums when I install an adequate cooling solution.