The XFX GeForce 8500 GT ships in a small but sturdy box, which displays info about the card on the backside.
XFX GeForce 8500 GT Retail Box - Front
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XFX GeForce 8500 GT Retail Box - Back
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Removing the pull-over cover displays the video card in it's protective casing, thus allowing the purchaser to view the video card before removing it from the box.
XFX GeForce 8500 GT Retail Box - Unsheathed
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The PCB is fairly small in size, measuring in at just over 7 inches. The layout of the card is very clean as it contains few visible components, due to not requiring sophisticated power management circuitry as is the case for the more performance-driven cards.
XFX GeForce 8500 GT - Front
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Some of you may have noticed the dark electric tape along the top of the card where the SLI connector is typically found. Connection via the SLI bridge is not required for SLI on the 8500 GT's. The PCB of some manufacturer's don't have the cutout at all.
XFX GeForce 8500 GT - Back
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It features both a VGA out for analog monitors and a Dual-Link DVI out capable of driving monitors up to 2560x1600.
The TV-out sports the 7 pin layout with a slot along the bottom. This connection supports all three varieties of TV-out cables, be it with 4 pins, 7 pins or 9 pins. A nice touch for TV-out compatibility from XFX.
XFX GeForce 8500 GT - Contents
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The XFX GeForce 8500 GT ships with a driver CD packed with useful information, a quick install manual in 16 different languages and a 4 pin S-Video cable. The information on the Driver CD is aimed at novice to intermediate-level DIY'ers and covers various areas of interest, from fine-tuning a system to improving airflow.
XFX has opted to provide HDCP capabilities on their card, which is much appreciated as HDCP capabilities are optional on the 8500 GT.
The XFX GeForce 8500 GT is covered by XFX's awesome Double Lifetime Protection Warranty (USA & Canada only). XFX will repair and service the card for life, for free, even if the card has been pushed to its limits. The warranty can be transferred to the second owner, which can raise the resale value of the card.
