PNY's Verto GeForce 7600 GS graphics card is a great midrange option if you have either a new motherboard with a PCI-Express x16 slot or an older motherboard still relying on an AGP slot. This card is available in both flavors.

The 7600 GS features a hefty 512MB of dedicated DDR2 video memory (a 256MB version is also available) with an effective data rate of 800MHz. The core clock speed of the card is a healthy 400MHz, offering good graphics processing speed.

Installing the 7600 GS is the same for either AGP or PCI-E. You'll have to open up your system and insert the card into your graphics slot, then connect one of the cables from your power supply to the card. PNY helpfully includes a Y-adapter if you don't have any available cables.

If you have a motherboard that supports NVIDIA's SLi technology, you can have two of these cards running in tandem for a huge boost in graphics processing. Even with only a single card, the 7600 GS is a solid performer that lets you turn on all the special effects in today's games without much slowdown. It's also compatible with Microsoft's upcoming Windows Vista, so you know the card will be effective for some time to come.

The 7600 GS has a DVI output, and PNY includes an analog-to-digital adapter in case you don't have a digital display. There are also S-video and HDTV outputs, so you can use the card for outputting a signal to a compatible television.

The 7600 GS carries an MSRP of $130, but we found a number of vendors selling it for around $110 with discounts and rebates. Thus, make sure you shop around, especially if you're in the market for two cards in an SLi configuration.

PNY offers a 1-year limited warranty on the 7600 GS, but it extends it to 3 years if you fill out the registration form on the PNY website. The Verto GeForce 7600 GS is a nicely priced graphics card that provides solid performance, especially if you still rely on AGP connectivity.


Pros:  Nicely priced, good performance
Cons:  Not top-of-the-line

Warranty
1 year, extends to 3 years with registration