9600GT vs. Any Contenders?

[izx2]

Price Range: $0 - $200
Requirements: Play all* games on maximum settings on 1024 x 768 resolution (*except Crysis) at a decent* framerate minimum (*sufficient for me: 30+ FPS, meaning that I will not cry if I don't get 1,000,000 FPS). HDMI input/dongle is kind of important since I got a LCD TV recently.

I saw the 9600GT's on NewEgg... *drools* They look cool, but I want some input to find out if there are any cards I'm missing that would do better at a similar price.

Cards I saw and thought about:
8800GT (I know it does better, not sure due to cooling issues)
ATi's 3850/3870 ('70s are a bit expensive and '50s aren't as good as 9600GT's)
5500 PCI Interface (jk XD)

So... please don't bash my beliefs/thoughts... just say what you think is right and would help me make a decision.

 

[Matthew DeCarlo]

For the price, I don't think you can beat a 9600GT at this second. The 8800GT 512MB seems to perform a tad better, but you'll obviously pay for it.

 

[izx2]

Thanks for your replies, Zenosincks... Let me know if you know of any other cards...

 

[kpo6969]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127329

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150253

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318

Enough said

 

[Mictlantecuhtli]

HDMI input/dongle is kind of important since I got a LCD TV recently.

You mean HDMI output? Pretty much any card with a DVI output can be equipped with a DVI-HDMI adapter since the signal is compatible with DVI-D and DVI-I.

 

[_FAKE_]

The 9600GT is pretty much equal to the HD3870. It loses to it but barely, like 1%. Its has a higher consumption. The 8800GT is better in my opinion. The 8800GT is about 10-15% faster and from the looks of it overclocks better. So the 8800GT gets my vote. That or the HD3850 512MB

 

[SNGX1275]

I don't think you have much of a choice at this point, all the 8800GTs I see are over $200.

Personally I'd get the 9600GT, perhaps that card also supports the PhysX update that nvidia has done to their 8000 series.

I'll also second Mictlantecuhtli's suggestion of a DVI to HDMI adapter. I run a DVI->HDMI cable from my pc to my LCD tv with no problems.

 

[Ghasede_Del]

only 9600 and nvidia

 

[kpo6969]

I don't think you have much of a choice at this point, all the 8800GTs I see are over $200.

Personally I'd get the 9600GT, perhaps that card also supports the PhysX update that nvidia has done to their 8000 series.

I'll also second Mictlantecuhtli's suggestion of a DVI to HDMI adapter. I run a DVI->HDMI cable from my pc to my LCD tv with no problems.

Read post #4
under $200

 

[aznn3rd]

I would rather spend $150 on the 3850 and spend $50 on crysis.

 

[SNGX1275]

Read post #4
under $200

Click your links again. None of them are even close to under $200.

 

[Rick]

Click your links again. None of them are even close to under $200.

They are, but 'after rebate'... They are all $199... Not including tax + S/H

 

[SNGX1275]

Alright Rick and kpo6969. So you got me, by $1. Some people don't like to deal with rebates, or can't afford the initial hit. Whatever the case is, the 9600GT is $30 less ($36 if we want to play rebates). I don't care one way or the other what this guy gets, but $36 is $36. And when you are dealing with $200 that is an 18% difference.

 

[kpo6969]

Alright Rick and kpo6969. So you got me, by $1. Some people don't like to deal with rebates, or can't afford the initial hit. Whatever the case is, the 9600GT is $30 less ($36 if we want to play rebates). I don't care one way or the other what this guy gets, but $36 is $36. And when you are dealing with $200 that is an 18% difference.

Ok, I'll bite
Lets play with your $36 amount
Look this over:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/21/nvidia_geforce_9600_gt/page20.html

Lets forget the $ vs performance stuff

If you don't want to part with your $36 play money, why not just get a 3870 as opposed to a 8800GT, rather than the 9600GT?

 

[tastegw]

the real question i think we should be asking is

the 9600 compated to the 8600.

this should give us an idea about the 9800 models that should be following up soon.

but i could be wrong. :0

nvidia has done this since the 6000 models right?
6600 -6800
7600 -7800
8600 -8800
9600 -9800

sure their are other breeds inbetween those models but those are the lower end models and we should not be worried about those.

what i see with the new 9600 is they have taken a 8600 and doubled the 128-bits to 256-bits aswell as the Stream Processors from 32 to 64. and the price only went up about 25-30% .....also the core clock seems to be about 10-20% higher

if they can duplicate this with the 9800models from the 8800 models, we are in for a treat.