Conclusion
XFX 8400GS
The XFX 8400GS didn’t fail to impress at any stage. The 3D performance of the card was solid and only came in second in some of the tests, while maintaining a solid lead in the rest. HD media playback didn’t disappoint either, although the ATI offering did impress us more. If you plan on using the card exclusively for HD media playback and desktop use we would recommend you look at the Zotac card instead. If you however plan on playing a 3D game here and there than the XFX 8400GS is precisely what you are looking for. It was the only card in this roundup that didn’t force us into choosing between high 3D performance and silent operation. For gaming alone this card is obviously a bit weak, but considering its low price and long list of features, we can’t help but recommend it.
The XFX 8400GS is available at for £36.24 Inc VAT
Zotac 8400GS
Throughout the entire testing the Zotac 8400GS was lagging behind the XFX offering and sometimes behind the ATI HD2400XT as well. Considering its slow shader clock this wasn’t really a surprise. But the card is not aimed at quite the same market anyway. While the XFX 8400GS aims to please media enthusiasts that like to play a game here and there the Zotac card with its passive cooler tries to win its way into a home entertainment center. Every design choice was made with that in mind and we can honestly see no reason the card wouldn't feel right at home in a living room somewhere.
The Zotac 8400GS is available at for £34.99 Inc VAT*
*The passively cooled Zotac 8400GS is not available in retail at the time of writing. Its price should be close to the price of the fan cooled 8400GS that’s already available.
ATI Radeon HD2400XT
At first the HD2400XT didn’t impress us, as its cheap looking cooler simply didn’t inspire much confidence. The performance of the card was exceptional however and except for a few tests the HD2400 managed to beat the competition. Unfortunately there was a steep price to pay – the reference cooler on the card can become very audible, something that should not happen with cards in this price sector. The HD video playback is currently second to none however, so getting an HD2400 primarily for this feature is certainly a wise move, especially considering the low price. Hopefully some of ATI’s partners will opt for a better cooling solution, possibly one that will be as quiet as the one found on the XFX card.
The MSRP of the ATI HD2400XT is $79/£39
