Leadtek 9500GT

By Justin Robinson
17:09 Oct 24, 2008 | 9 Comments
Tags: leadtek | graphics | card

Performance:

61%

Features:

55%

Value:

71%

Build:

68%

---

Verdict:
"... poor performance, incredible noise and a barebones bundle..."

Earplugs definitely not optional.

Based on the same core that last month’s 9500GT was based on, the Leadtek card is a stock-standard card with a different cooler to the norm.

The core itself is running at 575MHz, while the memory is running at a rather slow 500MHz. With only 32 stream processors, we can’t really expect this card to set new levels of performance, but it should perform decently. Or so you’d think.

Dipped an extremely old-school green colour for the PCB, with a light blue cooler in the center and a relatively large fan, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this card is quiet. In reality, the fan reminds us of the Delta fans of the nineties, remaining at an extremely loud 72dBA at both load and idle. The temps don’t get high at all, with 47 load and 35 idle, but this amount of noise is excessive and obtrusive, and could definitely be turned down in future BIOS revisions.

Game performance is lackluster, with both Crysis and CoH unplayable. 3DMark returned results that were reminiscent of the program’s release, with the QX6850 pulling the 06 score up.

No game is included, and for the asking price this is a very large oversight. Even an aging copy of a game would do much to increase the appeal of the card, or even more useful – a pair of earplugs.

With poor performance, incredible noise and a barebones bundle, we’d stay away from this card unless it becomes significantly cheaper.

Product Info

Specs:

575MHz core; 500MHz memory (1000MHz effective); 1400MHz shader; G96 core; 32 stream processors; 512MB GDDR3; 128-bit memory interface; single slot PCB with active cooling

Supplier:

Leadtek

Price when reviewed:

AUD$100

price check*

$5.40	Leadtek Low Profile Bracket - Single Slot, DVI/HDMI, To Suit 9400GT/9500GTP... TechBuy (NSW)

$61.99	Leadtek PCIe 9500GT 512MB DDR2 LP Digitan Technology (NSW)

$70.90	Leadtek PCIe 9500GT 1024MB DDR2 LP Digitan Technology (NSW)

$74.85	Leadtek PCIe 9500GT 512MB DDR2 Digitan Technology (NSW)

$152.41	Bulk Leadtek PCIe 9500GT 512MB SM59 Digitan Technology (NSW)

See more results for Leadtek 9500GT on staticice.com.au

*Products and prices sourced from staticICE and are in no way associated with Atomic MPC

This article appeared in the October, 2008 issue of Atomic.

Behind the scenes with Mass Effect 3! GTX 560 VGA round-up! Essential Skyrim tweaks to improve your game! Plus reviews, news, hardware, more games, and easy to following modding guides for PC builders. ON SALE NOW!

Ads by Google

9 Comments

fliptopia Oct 24, 2008 8:30 PM	Do you sometimes get around to reviewing a 9500gt and just wonder why you are even bothering?
ash_nug Oct 25, 2008 7:12 PM	Atomic often reviews things that get a much lower rating, often resulting in an ammusing review. I wonder if its possible for something to get, say, 2%?
TrueFlag Oct 26, 2008 11:24 PM	the galaxy release of the 9500gt looks to have the best and quietest fan and heatsink. itd be nice to know what the best brands to choose for stock cards are, without having to spend money myself to find out. i have an msi 9500gt and 100% fan is somewhat loud, but apparently not as extreme as the leadtek.
fliptopia Oct 27, 2008 10:43 PM	I just don't get where the market is for this card, but you bought one so I guess it's there somewhere.
p_francis_bennett Oct 28, 2008 10:27 PM	All i can say is, HUH?!!!
p_francis_bennett Oct 28, 2008 10:28 PM	I thought you only looked at the best of the best?
c2006 Oct 30, 2008 8:02 PM	Not everyone needs the hardest hitting graphics card. There are situations where a lower end card is useful - particularly in HTPCs, where any graphics card produced since PCIe came into the mainstream will often suffice.
Sabmac May 26, 2009 5:48 AM	I bought an Inno3D 9500GT to replace the old card on my secondary rig. I bought this card because it is cheap and modern. The market is there.
Sabmac May 26, 2009 5:50 AM	Oh, and I should point out that it plays Fallout 3 and CoD4 well enough. Can't handle Mass Effect, but that's what the primary rig is for.

Comments have been disabled on this article.

Latest Competitions

Thermaltake kicks off your gaming year with a BANG
Thermaltake has started off the new year with a bang by giving away a Tt eSport Theron Laser mouse to not one or two, but TWENTY lucky Atomicans!

Atomic Magazine

Issue: 133 | February, 2012

Atomic is a magazine aimed squarely at computer enthusiasts, gamers, and serious PC upgraders.

Every month we bring you the latest reviews of new technology and PC components, in depth features on everything from overclocking to console hacking, and gaming previews and interviews.

What's in this issue?