XFX 9600GSO

By tanka12345
14:50 Feb 23, 2009

Performs exceptionally well
Factory overclocked out of the box
Bundle includes many goodies
Suitably priced

The fan is a tad on the noisy side
Is forever hungry for power

XFX are well known for their XXX special edition cards, but is a 3 digit overclock going a bit too far?

The XFX 9600GSO XXX Edition is based on the G92 core used in many well known nVidia video cards. In the 9600GSO, the core is 'watered down' equalling a lower cost, but inevitably lower performance.

The XXX edition brings us a HUGE...wait for it...
130 MHz increase on the core clock! This brings the core speed up to an impressive 680 MHz, up from the 550 MHz factory default. The 384MB DDR3 memory is also clocked at a healthy 950 Mhz. This card also runs through a 192-bit memory bus, allowing it to always keep the memory and core busy with vital game data.

XFX have always been known for producing digital pieces of art, and the 9600 GSO is no different. It boasts a custom black PCB, which looks rather attractive. This is partnered with a ‘9 series’ copper cooler produced by Evercool which utilises an unusually small fan to cool the card when hard at work.
This is topped off by Eye-catching green Dual-DVI connectors. Who said a graphics card couldn’t look good? Let’s see if its performance is as good as the aesthetics.

This card stacks up very well to other cards of its price bracket. It annihilates the ATI 4670 which is its closest competitor in all games. Yes I do mean ALL.
To game at an adequate level, you will obviously have to run this card at lower resolutions. This card shined at 1280x800 and below, but to play the forever hungry Crysis you will have to turn off some of the eye candy. In Call of Duty 4 the 9600 GSO was the star of the show, always breaking the critical 30 frames per second at 1280x800. When the card is stressed, the fan can be very noisy, but I guess performance does come at a price. The only trump card the 4670 has against the GSO, is the fact that the 4670 does not require a PCI-Express Power connector. The 9600 GSO needs its juice from a six-pin connector, and you will need a power supply ofat least 500 watts.

The XFX 9600 GSO XXX Edition actually comes with a very nice bundle compared with many other cards at the same price point. The package includes a six pin PCI-Express connector, two DVI-VGA Converters, a component breakout box,a one metre S-video cable, and an XFX Trademark:The XFX Doorhanger. The CDs included are a standard driver installation disk, and a full version Company of Heroes game. It’s great to have a full version game straight out of the box, and what’s more, Company of Heroes supports both DirectX 9 and 10 allowing you to try out your new toy in XP or Vista. All in all, everything you need to setup is provided in the box.

This card is for a low-end gaming rig, or a basic LAN Box. If you require enough power to play most games well, and you don’t care about saving the earth, this card more than meets your needs. The 130 Mhz overclock was impressive, but did not go far enough. It left me hungry for more! The XFX 9600 GSO XXX Edition is a 4670 killer and nVidia will sleep well knowing their latest creation eats the 4670 for breakfast.

The XFX 9600 GSO XXX Edition Retails for approximately NZ$160

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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.

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