XFX 9600 GT

XFX 9600 GT Graphics Card

XFX

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Features & Specifications

The XFX 9600 GT Graphics Card we are looking at today is a stock video card that is not overclocked at all. The stock clock speed for the XFX 9600 GT Graphics Card is 650MHz on the core, 1625MHz on the shader clock and 1.8GHz on the memory. The XFX 9600 GT Graphics Card has 512MB of DDR3 RAM and a 256-bit memory bus. The card is compatible with PCI-E 2.0 as well as standard PCI-E.

Outputs include HDTV out and a pair of DVI outs capable of resolutions up to 2560 x 1600. The XFX 9600 GT Graphics Card is also HDCP compliant for playing back protected HD content. The MSRP for the XFX 9600 GT Graphics Card is $179.99. A minimum 400W power supply with one 6-pin power adapter is required.

Test Machine

The test machine used in this review has the following specifications:

• CPU- Intel QX6850
• Mainboard- XFX 680i
• PSU- PC Power and Cooling 1KW
• Display- Dell 30-inch
• OS- Windows XP Pro
• RAM- 2GB DDR2 PC6400

Benchmarks & Testing

To test the performance of the XFX 9600 GT Graphics Card I will be using 3DMark06, Crysis, Bioshock and Quake Wars. The first test up is 3DMark06.

3DMark06

I ran 3DMark06 at default settings in the NVIDIA control panel as well as the application. The XFX 9600 GT Graphics Card scored as follows on 3DMark06:

• Total 3DMarks- 11397
• SM2.0- 4665
• HDR/SM3.0- 4403
• CPU- 4707
• Return to Proxycon- 37.492
• Firefly Forest- 40.252
• Canyon Flight- 39.817
• Deep Freeze- 48.244
• CPU1- 1.565
• CPU2- 2.264

To compare scores for other recently tested video cards, the ASUS EAH3850 Top scored 10257 3DMarks (tested on different test machine), the XFX 8800 GTS 512MB scored 14012 3DMarks, and the XFX 8800 GT XXX scored 13546 3DMarks.

Crysis

I ran Crysis at a screen resolution of 1920 x 1200 with all settings on medium and 4x AA. I used Fraps to record frame rate data while playing a single player game starting from the original beach insertion until the fight with the first enemy soldiers on the beach. Fraps recorded the following frame rate data:

• Min- 9 fps
• Avg- 16.082 fps
• Max- 28 fps

Bioshock

I ran Bioshock at a screen resolution of 1920 x 1200 with all settings on high. I used Fraps to record frame rate data on the Fontiane Fisheries level where you must leave your weapons behind in the pneumo. I used Fraps to record frame rate data and the numbers were as follows:

• Min- 25 fps
• Avg- 40.674 fps
• Max- 69 fps

Quake Wars

The final game test for the XFX 9600 GT is Quake Wars. I ran the game at a resolution of 1920 x 1200 with all settings on high and 2x AA. I used Fraps to record frame rate data on a single player mission at the Africa refinery. Fraps recorded the following frame rate data:

• Min- 44 fps
• Avg- 59.697
• Max- 63 fps

Final thoughts

The XFX 9600 GT performed very well in testing and easily beat the similarly priced ASUS HD 3850 Top that is mildly overclocked. Factory overclocked versions of the NVIDIA 9600 GT are coming and will significantly increase the performance of the 9600 GT. As it stands now it will be hard to find a better graphics card in the $150 to $200 price range than the XFX 9600 GT.