XFX 9600GT 512MB

INTRODUCTION

As a general rule most computer product review sites have the mission in mind to release their reviews of a new product on or even before the manufacturer's intended release date. We at Bjorn3D concur that in most cases that is the best strategy to take both from a business standpoint and more importantly for our reader's enlightenment. We've been reviewing computer related products at Bjorn3D for well over a decade now and in that time we've learned some valuable lessons. One of those lessons is that there are those times when it is better to let the dust settle a little with some new products before presenting our take on them. The primary reason for using this approach is that it allows us to thoroughly investigate those issues that are certain to surface with any new product and present a much more comprehensive review to our readers.

Now the question for all of you computer enthusiasts is, Can You Say 9? We've heard for a while that the new 9000 series of NVIDIA® graphics solutions were just around the corner, and now that corner has been turned. With the 9000 series of graphics cards NVIDIA® has chosen a much different marketing approach than they this with their 8000 series. Instead of releasing their high-end components first as was the case with the 8800GTX and then over time filling in the blanks beneath it, NVIDIA® has opted to release their 9600GT first. We can only speculate that the 9600GT is the 9000 series equivalent to the 8600GT although the clock speeds are closer to that of the NVIDIA® reference 8800GT. Where this card fits in the 9000 series chain of products is also a bit of a mystery. Ah so many unanswered questions!

Today we have the distinct pleasure of introducing the XFX's rendition of NVIDIA's 9600GT 512MB graphics solution. The model of the card we received for testing from XFX, the PV-T94P-YDF4, has the same specifications as NVIDIA's reference standard card. We have been assured by XFX that two other factory overclocked models will be available in the very near future. It has been our experience in testing a base model card such as this that often we're able to achieve an excellent overclock, in many cases even superior to the factory overclocked models. We'll soon see!

XFX: The Company

XFX, otherwise known as PINE Technologies, is a brand of graphics cards that have been around since 1989, and have since then made a name for themselves with their Double-Lifetime enthusiast-grade warranty on their NVIDIA graphics adapters and matching excellent end-user support.

XFX dares to go where the competition would like to, but can't. That's because, at XFX, we don't just create great digital video components--we build all-out, mind-blowing, performance crushing, competition-obliterating video cards and motherboards. Oh, and not only are they amazing, you don't have to live on dry noodles and peanut butter to afford them. 

 

XFX is a division of PINE Technologies, a leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art processing components. To learn more about PINE, click here.