NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT Graphics Card Review

Dashken · 12th Nov 2007, 01:18 AM

The NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT is the lite version of the NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS. Designed to succeed the GeForce 7600 GT, it not only offers better performance but also support for DirectX 10.

For many gamers on a budget, the DirectX 10 support was the biggest reason to upgrade to the GeForce 8600 GT. Unfortunately, this graphics card falls short of expectations.

Here's a quote from the review :-

Quote:

"Unlike the GeForce 8600 GTS, the GeForce 8600 GT's memory bandwidth is unchanged from that of its predecessor, the GeForce 7600 GT. However, it has a 28.6 % higher fill rate. Will that be enough to offer current GeForce 7600 GT users a real reason to upgrade?"

Link : NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT Graphics Card Review

The_YongGrand · 12th Nov 2007, 09:52 PM

Great review! I read it in another tech website that the 8600GT is a joke - only 20% faster than the 7600, but in certain cases, it's a little bit behind 7900 in certain benchmarks.

If one has the 7600GT already, it isn't good to change to an 8600GT anymore. Either obtaining an X1950Pro, a 7900GS/GT or the 7950 will help if you are doing DirectX9 gaming, or straight to the 8800 series if you are into DirectX10.

From the Tomshardware's graphics comparison charts, they even mentioned that an upgrade will be very effective if the new card is at least 3 tiers higher than your current one in terms of performance.

J.m.h.o

playahata123789 · 13th Nov 2007, 04:59 AM

Great review, though you didn't do a oc part, even though results from oc may vary. Here's my oc on that card. They're a beast for oc: 540->635 core, 700->850 mem. I did get the V2 cooler from thermalright. It is one really really good cooler. I'm not done oc'ing it either.

Chai · 13th Nov 2007, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by playahata123789

Great review, though you didn't do a oc part, even though results from oc may vary. Here's my oc on that card. They're a beast for oc: 540->635 core, 700->850 mem. I did get the V2 cooler from thermalright. It is one really really good cooler. I'm not done oc'ing it either.

Having a V2 cooler will improve the overclocking by a significant margin. It wouldn't be fair to compare.

Adrian Wong · 13th Nov 2007, 05:22 PM

That's the problem with an overclocking test. It varies quite a bit even between cards from the same manufacturer, what more different cards from different manufacturers. Overclocking this reference sample would not be indicative of the overclockability of retail GeForce 8600 cards.

goldfries and I were just discussing this card today. I agree with him that compared with the GeForce 8600 GTS, it would actually be better to buy this card cause it's much cheaper, and overclock it. The GeForce 8600 GT is really nothing more than an underclocked GeForce 8600 GTS.

However, the lack of an additional 6-pin power connector (and associated circuitry), and the use of a less-powerful cooler may limit its overclockability.

The_YongGrand · 13th Nov 2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

That's the problem with an overclocking test. It varies quite a bit even between cards from the same manufacturer, what more different cards from different manufacturers. Overclocking this reference sample would not be indicative of the overclockability of retail GeForce 8600 cards.

goldfries and I were just discussing this card today. I agree with him that compared with the GeForce 8600 GTS, it would actually be better to buy this card cause it's much cheaper, and overclock it. The GeForce 8600 GT is really nothing more than an underclocked GeForce 8600 GTS.

However, the lack of an additional 6-pin power connector (and associated circuitry), and the use of a less-powerful cooler may limit its overclockability.

Wow... I almost bought an 8600GT because of I wish to handle some more modern DX9 games like R6:vegas and all the newer unreal3 engine games. Well, according to my friend who has a HD2600XT, he could play the Medal of Honor: Airborne at max settings too.

I guess the 8600GT is between the 7600 and the 7900 then. I usually recommend people to purchase an 8600/HD2600 if he/she hasn't got a card, or getting a new computer.

If the user upgrades from a 7300/7600 -> 8600, I'm not totally sure how much more could the card squeeze out. From what I heard, these 8600 cards are having difficulties handling all the latest DX10 games...

what do you think?

Chai · 13th Nov 2007, 06:56 PM

8800GT! It's cheap and much faster!

Adrian Wong · 13th Nov 2007, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_YongGrand

Wow... I almost bought an 8600GT because of I wish to handle some more modern DX9 games like R6:vegas and all the newer unreal3 engine games. Well, according to my friend who has a HD2600XT, he could play the Medal of Honor: Airborne at max settings too.

I guess the 8600GT is between the 7600 and the 7900 then. I usually recommend people to purchase an 8600/HD2600 if he/she hasn't got a card, or getting a new computer.

If the user upgrades from a 7300/7600 -> 8600, I'm not totally sure how much more could the card squeeze out. From what I heard, these 8600 cards are having difficulties handling all the latest DX10 games...

what do you think?

If you want a cheap and good card for DX9, nothing beats a GeForce 7950 GT.

It's generally faster than the Radeon X1950 GT and it's cheap because the masses have decided to dump the GeForce 7 series for the GeForce 8600/8500 because they support DX10.

Well, like I mentioned in the Conclusion, it doesn't make much sense for someone to upgrade from a GeForce 7600 GT or faster to a GeForce 8600 GT. If you are upgrading from 7300/7600 GS to the GeForce 8600 GT, you will get at least a noticeable performance boost.

But I agree with Chai. As mentioned in the conclusion of the review too, the GeForce 8800 GT is the best choice. It only cost twice as much as the GeForce 8600 GT and is many times faster.

NoFormz · 14th Nov 2007, 12:10 PM

Actually, after reading the Geforce 8800GT review, I felt that the card is really worth a lot more for its value. Get me? The price performance ratio. XD That's why I'm planning to get it for my new rig this coming December. XD

Adrian Wong · 14th Nov 2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoFormz

Actually, after reading the Geforce 8800GT review, I felt that the card is really worth a lot more for its value. Get me? The price performance ratio. XD That's why I'm planning to get it for my new rig this coming December. XD

Yup, I absolutely agree. The GeForce 8800 GT really offers a great price-performance ratio - a lot of performance of the price. That's why we gave it our Editor's Choice Award.

12th Nov 2007, 09:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_YongGrand Hyperactive Join Date: 12 Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere in 甲洞... Posts: 2,726 Reputation: 1144 Rep Power: 18	Great review! I read it in another tech website that the 8600GT is a joke - only 20% faster than the 7600, but in certain cases, it's a little bit behind 7900 in certain benchmarks. If one has the 7600GT already, it isn't good to change to an 8600GT anymore. Either obtaining an X1950Pro, a 7900GS/GT or the 7950 will help if you are doing DirectX9 gaming, or straight to the 8800 series if you are into DirectX10. From the Tomshardware's graphics comparison charts, they even mentioned that an upgrade will be very effective if the new card is at least 3 tiers higher than your current one in terms of performance. J.m.h.o __________________ Intel Core 2 Duo E7200, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Gigabyte 945GCMX-S2, Sapphire ATi Radeon HD4850 512MB DDR3 Intel Pentium Dual Core E2140, 2GB DDR2-667 RAM, Asus P5B-E Plus, nVidia Geforce 7950GT 512MB DDR3

13th Nov 2007, 05:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 32,208 Reputation: 3531 Rep Power: 75	That's the problem with an overclocking test. It varies quite a bit even between cards from the same manufacturer, what more different cards from different manufacturers. Overclocking this reference sample would not be indicative of the overclockability of retail GeForce 8600 cards. goldfries and I were just discussing this card today. I agree with him that compared with the GeForce 8600 GTS, it would actually be better to buy this card cause it's much cheaper, and overclock it. The GeForce 8600 GT is really nothing more than an underclocked GeForce 8600 GTS. However, the lack of an additional 6-pin power connector (and associated circuitry), and the use of a less-powerful cooler may limit its overclockability. __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

13th Nov 2007, 06:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 27,870 Reputation: 4630 Rep Power: 81	8800GT! It's cheap and much faster! __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

14th Nov 2007, 12:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
NoFormz Warming up Join Date: 25 May 2005 Location: Malaysia Posts: 114 Reputation: 19 Rep Power: 5	Actually, after reading the Geforce 8800GT review, I felt that the card is really worth a lot more for its value. Get me? The price performance ratio. XD That's why I'm planning to get it for my new rig this coming December. XD __________________

13th Nov 2007, 04:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
playahata123789 Super Active Join Date: 11 Dec 2003 Location: TEXAS Posts: 1,881 Reputation: 40 Rep Power: 7	Great review, though you didn't do a oc part, even though results from oc may vary. Here's my oc on that card. They're a beast for oc: 540->635 core, 700->850 mem. I did get the V2 cooler from thermalright. It is one really really good cooler. I'm not done oc'ing it either.