X2: The Threat	Source: Egosoft

A completely rewritten 3D engine based on DirectX8 encompasses many visual effects such as volumetric Nebulae (gas clouds) that have a real impact in the game (you can hide in them), many new engine, shield, weapon and explosion effects. Objects cast real dynamic 3D shadows! Dynamic DP3 bump mapping allows a previously unseen level of detail.

X2: The Threat - 1024x768-32bit
Anti-Aliasing	FPS	Ranking
XGI Volari V8 2x AA	38.1
XGI Volari V8 4x AA	34.3
Anisotropic Filtering	FPS	Ranking
XGI Volari V8 2x AF	46.5
XGI Volari V8 4x AF	25.2

Unreal Tournament 2003	Source: Epic

Unreal Tournament 2003 is the sequel to 1999's multiple 'Game of the Year' award winner. It uses the very latest Unreal Engine technology - where graphics, sound and game play are taken beyond the bleeding edge. Unreal Tournament 2003 employs the use of Vertex as well as Pixel Shaders and it's recommended that you use a DirectX 8 videocard to get the most out of the game.

UT2003 - 1024x768 Flyby
Anti-Aliasing	FPS	Ranking
XGI Volari V8 2x AA	80.55
XGI Volari V8 4x AA	59.85
Anisotropic Filtering	FPS	Ranking
XGI Volari V8 2x AF	103.12
XGI Volari V8 4x AF	98.45

UT2003 - 1024x768 Botmatch
Anti-Aliasing	FPS	Ranking
XGI Volari V8 2x AA	54.18
XGI Volari V8 4x AA	45.12
Anisotropic Filtering	FPS	Ranking
XGI Volari V8 2x AF	65.41
XGI Volari V8 4x AF	64.27

As a lower end video card, the Volari V8 showed us respectable performance for its value. If, as XGI stated, they see the V8's principle competition as being the low end Radeon 9600SE's and FX5700LE's of the industry, then they certainly have them beat in performance, if not necessarily in image quality and compatibility.

However, as things stand, it's difficult to recommend the Volari V8 over its competitor's mid-mainstream cards. It can't really keep up, except in a few bright spots. A lot will depend on how XGI prices and markets this card.

We were concerned about the occasional compatibility and image quality issues that cropped up, especially the flat refusal of 3Dmark 2001 to run. We'll put this down to driver immaturity for now, given that XGI is only up to version 1.02 of actual WHQL certified drivers for the Volari line. In the Volari V8, XGI appears to have a decent GPU crying out for better drivers.

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