Bundle and warranty
HIS ships an almost identical bundle with each card - only the packaging and included dongles differ - so it makes sense for us to look at both together.
Buyers of the IceQ Turbo get a box with a see-through section to let them look at the card - those opting for the Zalman Fan have to make do with a picture on the outside instead. Could this tip the balance?
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Driver CD |
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In each case, HIS's bundle can only really be described as stingy.
The IceQ Turbo model will have the requisite DVI-to-HDMI adaptor bundled in but the Zalman model won't, and that's a big negative when considering the latter card for use in an HTPC system. The adaptor transmits sound via HDMI, a feature that generic DVI-to-HDMI adaptors most likely do not support.
The bundled copies of Half Life 2: Lost Coast and Half Life 2 Deathmatch turn out not to be included. Instead, there's a leaflet advertising the free download of these games to any owner of ATI/AMD graphics cards!
Warranty
HIS offers a two-year warranty with each card, the first year through the retailer, the second directly with HIS.
Returns to HIS are made to a UK address, saving shipping time and cost compared to a mainland European office as some companies use.
