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So, we have run the benchmarks for you to see the results. The new VPU from ATI Technologies is feeling confident in most currently available games. I can’t say the same about the new GPU from NVIDIA. However, the NV36 has its chance in OpenGL games as well as in games with poor textures but complex geometry. Besides that, this GPU shows good speed when no full-screen anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering are used, as well as in high resolutions. However, this largely depends on the specific application.
The matter of price can be waved aside – both cards cost about the same amount of money. As for pure usability, the ATI RADEON 9600 XT looks advantageous, too. It takes less space in the system case, produces less heat and noise and requires no additional power. The GeForce FX 5700 Ultra may be interesting to people who are not much into gaming as well as for those who want to have a graphics card with two DVI-I outputs. And of course, all hardcore fanatics of NVIDIA may find the GeForce FX 5700 Ultra an interesting solution for $200. Although our card had only one digital output, there will surely be a model with two of them in the market. The owners of a GeForce FX 5600 Ultra may find themselves behind the times – this GPU may not be able to run the upcoming DirectX 9.0 games properly.
For those of you who are looking forward to the release of such games as Half-Life 2 or S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Oblivion Lost, but who can’t afford a high-end card, the RADEON 9600 XT may suit just fine. The owners of the RADEON 9600 PRO may not bother much about the new VPU. Instead, they can try to overclock the graphics core, because the main difference between the RADEON 9600 XT and the RADEON 9600 PRO is the operational frequency.
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It’s not too often that we see add-in board makers truly break the mold away from the reference design of the GPU maker, however, HIS (Hightech Information System) has really stretched out with its new Radon 9600XT Turbo. Leaving the standard memory clock speed behind, this card runs at a default of 500MHz core frequency and a boosted 650MHz memory clock. It’s the latter that’s more important to the overall performance of this card.
Forget what you think about the 9600XT, this care is truly ahead of every other 9600XT we’ve tested to date. HIS has done something that ATI should’ve done to begin with by increasing this card’s default speed. Those of us who follow GPU releases have known for quite awhile now that the 9600XT GPU should’ve been a lot more capable of delivering excellent 3D performance than when it was initially released.
Further, HIS includes a LED cooling fan - that should appeal to case-modders - memory heatsinks – just an overall bad-ass looking card. In fact, it’s far and away the coolest looking card of its kind in our opinion.
There’s really nothing too special about the included bundle – inside, you have the obligatory free copy of Half Life 2, a couple of crappy software pieces, DVI to Analog converter, and a S-Video cable. They include the latest build of Catalyst drivers (changes depending on when you buy the card and what drivers are available to HIS at the time they make the card), however, we always encourage our readers to check ATI’s website for the latest versions.
Pluses
+Excellent Performance
+"Free copy" of Half Life 2
+Good memory clock
+LED Light looks cool
Minuses
-None
Final Rating: 5 Drips.
