The impressive looking, feature packed, pre-overclocked 9600GT 1024MB from Gainward is finally with us here and I must say that this card is really worth your money.
The Appearance
The Gainward Bliss 9600GT 1024MB looks almost exactly like the 9600GSO 768MB that I reviewed a few weeks back. Nevertheless it still uses the same impressive heatsink as seen on the 9600GSO.
The memory modules at the back of the card are covered by a plate to aid in heat dissipation.
The card comes with 2x DVI port, 2x HDMI port and 1 SPDIF output.
The Bundle
– Power connector
– Optical SPDIF cable
– Internal SPDIF cable
– 1x DVI-VGA converter
– Installation guide & driver CD.
– CyberLink DVD Solution
– ExperTool Utility
– Tomb Raider : Anniversary
Card Details
Here’s a summarized detail of the card.
GPU | 9600GT |
GPU Code Name | G94 |
Memory Type | DDR3 |
Memory Bandwidth | 256-bit |
Memory Capacity | 1024MB |
Core Clock | 700Mhz |
Memory Clock | 1000Mhz (2Ghz DDR) |
Shader Clock | 1750Mhz |
More details at the official product page
As you can see, the Gainward Bliss 9600GT 1024MB Golden Sample is also a pre-overclocked 9600GT, running at 700 / 1000 instead of the reference 650 / 900.
Test Setup
The computer setup used for this review.
Processor | Intel E2140 Overclocked @ 3.2ghz |
RAM | 2x 2GB OCZ DDR2 PC2-8500 Reaper HPC Edition |
Motherboard | Albatron PXP35 |
Cooler | Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer Heatsink |
Monitor | 20″ Dell Ultra-sharp Wide-screen LCD |
Operating System | Windows XP (SP2) |
Driver Version | ForceWare Release 175 (Version: 175.19) |
The Performance
All tests were done with 4xAA (except for 3dmark06), with 16xQ CSAA when possible. The card will be compared to the 9600GT, however the 9600GSO results were taken from an earlier review using a slightly older driver but the difference should be minimal.
3Dmark06
Default setting.
Card | Score |
9600GT 1024MB | 10940 |
9600GSO 768MB | 10237 |
Lost Planet : Extreme Condition
Graphic Detail : Maximum at 1680 x 946
Card | Snow (Average) | Cave (Average) |
9600GT 1024MB (4xAA) | 31.3 | 43.1 |
9600GSO 768MB (4xAA) | 25.1 | 36.4 |
9600GT 1024MB (16xQ CSAA) | 23.7 | 32.5 |
9600GSO 768MB (16xQ CSAA) | 16.8 | 23.9 |
F.E.A.R.
Graphic Detail : Maximum at 1680×1050
Card | Average |
9600GT 1024MB (4xAA) | 67 |
9600GSO 768MB (4xAA) | 48 |
Company Of Heroes : Opposing Fronts
Graphic Detail : Maximum @ 1680×1050
Card | Average |
9600GT 1024MB (4xAA) | 53.2 |
9600GSO 768MB (4xAA) | 54.1 |
9600GT 1024MB (16xQ CSAA) | 49.3 |
9600GSO 768MB (16xQ CSAA) | 41 |
World In Conflict
Graphic Detail : Maximum @ 1680×1050
Card | Average |
9600GT 1024MB (4xAA) | 33 |
9600GT 1024MB (16xQ CSAA) | 31 |
Crysis
Graphic Detail : Maximum @ 1680×1050
Card | Average |
9600GT 1024MB (4xAA) | 21.9 |
Overclocking
Speaking of which, I’m sure you noticed there’s no OVERCLOCKED results here, simply because I’ve already decided not to include overclocking in graphic card reviews. 🙂
Nevertheless, since we’re still on this matter I’d like to highlight Gainward’s Expertool utility which is comes in handy for those who want more out of the graphic card.
It allows you to monitor temperature, set fan speed and of course – OVERCLOCKING! A neat utility that’s even friendly to newbies. 🙂 The only thing I didn’t like about it is I have to right click on the system tray icon to choose the section I wish to enter, would’ve been better if Gainward could set it with tabs to make it even more user friendly.
Operating Temperature
The card runs at around 43°C on idle and around 59°C on load. Great temperature I must say, considering it’s already an overclocked card but nevertheless the temperatures were still lower than the 9600GT on reference speed and reference cooler.
Readings were taken when ambient temperature was around 25°C.
Conclusion
Firstly, you get a super-charged 9600GT right out of the box. Secondly, you have excess graphic card memory. Thirdly, it comes with dual HDMI and even SPDIF output which I’ve yet to see on any other card.
All this, for less than RM 550! Bear in mind that the 9600GT even on reference speed is pretty close to that of an 8800GT graphic card. So the pre-overclocked nature of this card brings you even closer to the 8800GT.
It also comes with a Tomb Raider game.
Erm.. 1 question, planning to upgrade my current GC to 3870 OC either this 9600gt/gso?
going from 3870 OC to 9600GSO is a downgrade.
going from 3870 OC to 9600GT (regardless of memory size or speed) is not an upgrade either.
I’d say go for HD4850 or 9800GTX+ at least
without 4850, this would be a great card.
DAAMIT 4000 series really a headache to nvidia.
I guess it would come down to being a matter of price then. a 4850 at rm700 vs a 9600GT 1gb at rm550.
I wonder about power requirements tho. would a 450W true power be able to handle this card?
the HD4850 is now around RM 650, the 512mb versions of 9600GT is less than RM 500 now. 🙂
450w PSU can handle the 9600GT cards, no problem. I tried them before, even tried the 2900XT/3870X2 with 450w watter. 😀 the 2900XT made it, the 3870X2 didn’t.
haha, when the price of this 9600GT comes down, Geforce 9 would be history already.
i think those manufacturers really having a big lose with these 9600GT custom design after Nvidia’s price slashes.
This time ATI wins no doubt, since it forced the prices down of every new nvidia invention that has come out (9800 GTX, GTX 260/280) and even spurred the launch of the 9800 GTX+.
I’m not a particular fan of either company, but I think nvidia still has some great cards out there. At least the competition would allow us consumers to have better deals and good quality. Imagine if there was only one.. it’ll be a monopoly and we might be stuck with high prices for mediocre cards.
man. all that texture memory is really really tempting..
i have a question..which graphic card is the best in value if I only intend to use 1024×768 resolution for games..tq in advance
koppers, for that resolution the 9600GSO and HD4670 are the cards I’d look at, they work great even on 1680×1050 and both are around RM 300.
so the card even work perfectly for the demanding games, in 1024×768? i dont think i’ll use 1680×1050 res anyway (my monitor is old), so i dont want to spend more to something i wont even get, and at the same time, i want to make sure im able to play any games in fine performance (no performance problems whatsoever)..
any thank u so much goldfries..ur a legend :p
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