The GeForce 9600 Gt is in some ways a lighter version of the 9800 TT and therfore of the 8800 GT. The performance difference between these two models is in the region of 10% to 20% on average. The card can be compared with ATI’s Radeon HD 4760 512 MB that has performance levels 10% to 15% down on this one on average. In concrete terms, on a small screen (= a 5/4 19 inches and under) with the texturing filters activated the 9600 GT gives an average speed of 44 ips in World in Conflict. The 9800 GT goes up to 51 ips while the Radeon HD 4670 is at 34 ips. Another example in Enemy Territory Quake Wars, in the same conditions, you get 82 ips, 96 ips and 83 ips respectively.


When you analyse the average speeds obtained in our different tests, you can easily see that the card is really only suitable for screens that are 19 inches and under. And even then, you need to be pretty generous when it comes to graphic effects so as to retain a speed that is high enough for games such as Far Cry 2 or Crysis Warhead. For games in 2009, it’ll no doubt be necessary to settle for even less graphic detail or opt for a higher performance card.

Size, energy consumption and noise

The 9600 GT is of average size; 23 cm long. Nothing remarkable about the original heatsink, and frees up an extra PCI port. Hot air remains within the casing however instead of being expelled. A single 6-pin PCI-Express power supply is all that’s needed to plug the card in. The fan is discrete when the card is idling (we took a reading of 38 dB (A)) and audible but not too much so with intense 3D activated (44.5 dB(A)). Moderate energy consumption in both 3D (217w) and 2D (118w). ATI’s Radeon HD 4670 scores 93 and 189w under the same conditions.