MSI NBOX N5900 Ultra (GeForce FX 5900 Ultra)

I can think of several main ways that video card makers distinguish their 3D crunching powerhouses from their competitors' offerings, and two of those ways are card design and bundle. Personally, I appreciate it when companies focus on both aspects, and for a long time, MSI has followed that formula. By card design, I'm talking about changing what can be changed outside of the reference specifications, such as the heatsink, fan, PCB color and the like. The bundle of course includes any packaged games, software, toys and other good stuff. I have an affinity for neat looking cards and big, useful bundles. I always have. I probably and unfortunately always will. :-)

I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to review one of the best looking cards and what is most likely the best bundle (for NVIDIA cards at least) currently available. That's right. I have the NBOX N5900 Ultra-VTD256, which is obviously a GeForce FX 5900 Ultra card.

When Scott told me I was going to receive this package, I was very excited to say the least. You may recall when MSI was teasing everyone about the release of some mystery product called "NBOX." I remember speculating with some fellow Bjorn3d'ers that it was a new small form factor PC, but we were quite wrong. NBOX is simply a kickass video card package. Not only does it include one of the most powerful and best looking graphics cards around, but it also includes several top-selling and still popular games (a rarity in video card packages it seems). You'll have to read on to get the details about this unique package.

NBOX Features

• Powered by NVIDIA GeForce FX5900 Ultra New Generation GPU
• MSI Twin Flow Cooling System
• CineFX 2.0 Engine Provides Complex Cinematic Quality Effects
• Intellisample HCT Technology Delivers Silky-Smooth and Ultra-Realistic Image Quality
• 8 Pixels/Clock Rendering Pipeline Accelerates and Smoothes Game Speed
• Compatible for DirectX 9.0 and OpenGL 1.4 Applications
• Hottest & Best Games Bundle
• Best Side Kick of the Hottest Games: NBOX Gaming Mouse

MSI Twin Flow Cooling System

• Silence: 26db Fan Noise Lower
• Cooling: 8C Heat Less
• Slim: Slim & Sleek Fan-sink Design
• Endurance: Long Fan Endurance Guarantee

NBOX Specifications

• MSI Part No. MS-8929
• FX5900 Ultra GPU
• 8X/4X AGP
• 450MHz Core Clock
• 256MB DDR Memory, 256 Bit
• Dual VGA, TV-Out, Video-In, DVI-Out

Recall that the main difference between the 5900 and 5900 Ultra is the core clock speed is 50 MHz faster on the Ultra. Here's a quick comparison.

NBOX Package Contents

• FX5900 Ultra Video Card
• Manual
• DVI to VGA connector
• TV-Out S-C Connecting Cable
• S-Video extended line (1.8m)
• Power cable
• WinDVD Creator
• Drivers and MSI Utilities CD
• Game: Battlefield 1942 (full version!)
• Game: Unreal II: Awakening (full version!)
• Game: Command & Conquer: Generals (full version!)
• NBOX Gaming Mouse (800dpi optical sensor, Aluminum Made, USB Interface and Blue LED Scroll)

It's the NBOX Box :)

I Really Dig This Package Format

Nice Black Box Under the Sleeve

Greeted by This 5900 Ultra After Removing Box Lid

Take a Peek Inside at All the Goodies

Check Out the Spread

Some of the Goodies

TV-Out Connecting Cable

NBOX Gaming Mouse - N Mouse

Interesting Mouse Design

Oh Yes, That is Three Full Version Games!

It's not hard to see that this package offers a lot. Because it uses the GeForce FX 5900 Ultra GPU, the N5900 Ultra-VTD256 is one of the most powerful video cards currently available. MSI packs in its own unique features though to set this 5900 Ultra apart from the rest. The Twin Flow cooling system not only looks cool but is also supposed to outperform the NVIDIA reference cooling design with better cooling and lower noise.

What will draw most people to this package though or cause them to do a double take is the included bundle, which boasts three full version games. These three games are different from what you'd expect in a video card bundle; they are actually fairly recent and still popular! In other words, people are still buying these games, and they aren't in the $5 bin yet. The games include Battlefield 1942, Unreal II: Awakening, and Command & Conquer: Generals. That's a great selection that would provide countless hours of fun for most gamers. MSI definitely gets props for taking the initiative to create a bundle this good! Let's hope that this is the shape (or at least close to the shape) of things to come from MSI and its competitors in the future.

In addition to the unique Twin Flow system and great games, MSI includes several other useful goodies, such as WinDVD Creator, cables and the so-called N Mouse. While the N Mouse might look moderately cool, especially with the scroll wheel that lights up blue, it is very uncomfortable. It's too bad more attention wasn't paid to ergonomic aspects of its design. The edges are rigid and not curved like most mice, and the buttons are quite stiff compared to the Logitech MX500, Microsoft Intellimouse Optical and Intellimouse Explorer 3.0. The N Mouse is also about one inch (2cm) shorter than the Intellimouse Optical. My hands are probably of average size for a male, and I find it awkward to use. It's also lighter than I would want a mouse to be. This comes down to personal preference, but I like a solid, durable feeling mouse under my palm, not something that feels cheap and breakable. You might think that there's nothing to like about the N Mouse by now, but that's not entirely true. I am a huge fan of brushed aluminum, so I really like the fact that aluminum was used in the construction of this mouse. The silver, black and blue LED scroll (it lights up blue thanks to an LED when plugged in and powered on) all look great together. Additionally, the N Mouse also performs quite well. If you can get past the comfort issues, and I'm not sure how most could considering how much you use your mouse, this would be a fine mouse for everyday use, especially for smaller hands.