An upgrade for the MX300

The MX25 - it's not really that wavy

Diamond's MX25 upgrade page

The upgrade program?

Anyone who's been around me knows how I feel about products being sold with an upgrade path in mind. Most of the time, the upgrade is delayed while the manufacturer concentrates on the next generation of technology, and by the time it's released, it's overpriced, underpowered, and in general obsolete before it even existed. In fact, it's my personal belief that some upgrades are made only to make good on the promise of originally offering an upgrade path. Case in point? Intel's Overdrive CPU upgrade.

So you can imagine the skeptical eye we raised when a package containing Diamond's MX25 appeared at the door of FiringSquad. Our thoughts immediately jumped to the Diamond Monster Sound MX300s residing in various PCs around the office (including Dennis'). Now, back when this hot sound card was released, one of its distinguishing features was the MX-Link connector, which enticed prospective customers with the lure of future upgrades.

The unassuming MX25 box

Well, the MX25 does have a few things going for it. For one, it's actually available now (and will be selling through the Diamond Store), which means you'll be able to get your hands on one. The next generation of sound cards are still a ways off, and the timely release of the MX25 seems like just the ticket for anyone looking to add the mystical element of digital to their 3D gaming experience.