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NVIDIA launched the GeForce 9600 GT on February 21, 2008, as the first GPU in its GeForce 9 family, targeting the sub-$200 midrange. HotHardware’s three-board shootout compared ASUS, EVGA, and Palit versions built around the same G94 GPU—not three different GPU designs, and not a three-GPU SLI setup. Their clock speeds and board details differed, while benchmark results depended on the game, settings, drivers, and test system.
What NVIDIA launched in February 2008
The 9600 GT was positioned below the higher-end cards of its day. HotHardware reported an expected launch retail range of $169–$189, while NVIDIA described the target as below $199. These are historical launch prices, not current used-market valuations. HotHardware framed the card against ATI’s Radeon HD 3850 and HD 3870, as well as the lower-priced GeForce 8800 GT alternative at the time. HotHardware’s launch-era review provides that period context.
NVIDIA’s February 21, 2008 announcement called the GeForce 9600 GT the first GeForce 9 GPU and claimed “up to 116% more performance than its predecessor.” That figure is NVIDIA’s launch claim, not an independent benchmark result. The vendor also highlighted hardware-assisted H.264 decoding through PureVideo HD for HD DVD and Blu-ray playback. NVIDIA’s announcement described partner cards as available at launch.
Core specifications and the three boards
NVIDIA specified 64 stream processors, each at 1625 MHz, and a 256-bit memory interface running at 900 MHz. HotHardware’s ASUS board listing expresses its 1800 MHz memory clock as the effective data rate, alongside 512 MB of GDDR3. The three cards in the shootout are partner implementations of the same G94 GPU; their factory clocks and board features should not be treated as universal specifications for every GeForce 9600 GT.
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| Board | GPU / shader / memory clocks reported | Memory and board details reported |
|---|---|---|
| ASUS EN9600GT | 650 MHz GPU; 1625 MHz shader; 1800 MHz effective memory | 512 MB GDDR3, 256-bit interface, 57.6 GB/s bandwidth; single-slot reference cooling, one 6-pin power connector, dual-link DVI, HDCP, two-way SLI |
| EVGA GeForce 9600 GT SSC | 740 MHz GPU; 1835 MHz shader; 1950 MHz memory | 512 MB GDDR3, 256-bit interface, 62.4 GB/s bandwidth; one 6-pin power connector and two-way SLI |
| Palit GeForce 9600 GT Sonic | Exact clocks not stated in the cited HotHardware summary; see the board-specific section of the review | Board-specific details are not stated in the cited summary; do not infer them from the ASUS or EVGA models |
HotHardware also lists DirectX 10 / Shader Model 4.0 and PCIe 2.0 for the ASUS card. NVIDIA said the 9600 GT’s PCIe 2.0 interface was backward-compatible with the original PCIe standard. That does not establish compatibility with every particular motherboard, power supply, case, or display setup.
“Three-way” in the shootout means three partner boards were compared. The series supported two-way SLI; HotHardware noted NVIDIA omitted three-way SLI support for the 9600 GT. HotHardware’s review covers the architecture and board comparison.
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How the 9600 GT compared with the Radeon HD 3850 and GeForce 8800 GT
There was no single ranking that applied to every game and setting. The contemporary reviews used different test systems, operating systems, drivers, and game suites, so their percentages should be read within each publication’s test conditions rather than combined into one score.
Ars Technica: 3DMark 2006 and World in Conflict
Ars Technica tested with a Core 2 Duo E6850 and Windows Vista 32-bit. It used ForceWare 173 beta for the 9600 GT, ForceWare 169.25 WHQL for other GeForce cards, and Catalyst 8.2 for Radeon cards. In 3DMark 2006, the 9600 GT led the Radeon HD 3850 by 7% at default settings and nearly 15% at higher detail; in the high-quality mode it remained about 25% behind the 8800 GT. Ars cautioned that a synthetic 3DMark result is not a game result.
Rank #3
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- Low profile design, Compatible with most of the computer case (even ITX or SFF), you can DIY slim or smaller system easier.
- Support: PhysX，NVIDIA CUDA，PureVideo HD 4K decode，HDR，MFAA，GeForce 3D Vision，GameWorks，G- Sync-Ready，GameStream-Ready，GeForce ShadowPlay，GPU Boost 2.0
- FUll HD I/O: HDMI + VGA + DVI-D support multi screens
- Support built-in DirectX 12 effect test
In World in Conflict, the HD 3850 beat the 9600 GT at normal quality, while increasing detail and switching to DX10 changed the ordering. The comparison is a useful illustration of why a performance claim needs its game and settings attached. Ars Technica’s review gives the test context and results.
Tom’s Hardware: resolution, antialiasing, and game-suite averages
Tom’s Hardware tested at 1280×1024 and 1680×1050, with and without antialiasing, on Windows XP with a Core 2 Duo E6850. It used ForceWare 174.12 beta only for the 9600 GT, ForceWare 169.28 beta for other GeForce cards, and Catalyst 8.2 WHQL for Radeon cards. The publication warned that its results were not comparable with its earlier tests because drivers and game patches had changed.
Rank #4
- 2GB/GDDR5/64-bit: Expertly designed by ASUS, with more performance than built-in solutions
- One-slot design: Fits in a small case, leaving room for additional expansion cards
- Super quite: Silent passive cooling is perfect for quite home theater PCs and multimedia centers.
- HDMI x4: Supports up to four high-definition displays for enhanced multitasking and productivity
- Easy to install: Plug and play - no cables from the power supply are needed
Within Tom’s Hardware’s game suite, the tested 9600 GT averaged 12% below the 8800 GT and around 15% ahead of the 512 MB HD 3850. Its result against the HD 3870 changed with antialiasing. Those are outcomes for that test suite and setup, not fixed performance ratios for all games or systems. Tom’s Hardware’s review documents its methodology and comparison.
What to check when comparing period cards
- Price: Use the reported $169–$189 expected launch range only as 2008 context; it says nothing about current availability or condition.
- Game and resolution: A result at 1280×1024 does not automatically predict performance at 1680×1050, and a synthetic benchmark is not a substitute for a named game.
- Image quality: Antialiasing and detail settings changed the relative results, including the comparison with the HD 3870.
- Board variant: Factory clocks and cooling varied among ASUS, EVGA, and Palit models. Confirm the exact card and revision rather than relying on a generic 9600 GT specification.
- System fit: For a restoration project, verify the exact card’s 6-pin power connector, case clearance, display outputs, and host-system support before buying. The historical sources do not confirm compatibility with an individual machine.
Is a GeForce 9600 GT relevant today?
The 9600 GT is best understood as a historical midrange card or a possible component for a collector’s or restoration build. Its February 2008 price and performance positioning cannot be carried forward to today’s market, and the cited reviews do not establish current used inventory, condition, pricing, or suitability as a modern gaming upgrade.
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