8600 GTS AND 8600 GT REVIEW AND BENCHMARK
Posted:2007-04-17 By computer news Number of View:102540
8600 GTS AND 8600 GT REVIEW AND BENCHMARK By :computer news Posted:2007-04-17 xtreview is your : Video card - cpu - memory - Hard drive - power supply unit source NVIDIA released its first graphics chip with DirectX 10 support (GeForce 8800) in the beginning of November 2006, This high end range model does not have any true competition, since AMD until know have released not released the R600. Later, appeared the reduced version GeForce 8800 GTS (only 320 Mb video memory), witch became accessible price range solution. Good news, since NVIDIA launched today the GeForce 8600 , this new graphics chips series belong to the medium range. Based on architecture GeForce 8, GeForce 8600 aim at replacing their counterparts, GeForce 7600. NVIDIA proposes then the medium range, DirectX 10, ( the new 3D API included in Windows Vista ). We will check in this review the characteristics and performances of new GeForce 8600 GTS and 8600 GT. NVIDIA GeForce 8600: small update Why unification according to NVIDIA Unified but also uncoupled, the texture units being separated from stream processors . Without much surprise, the number of units was thus re-examined in the new medium range card. the GeForce 8800 GTX counts 128 stream processors , and GeForce 8600 GTS is satisfied with 32 processors and 8 texture units . The number of ROP are fixed here at 8 when GeForce 8800 account 24. The number of units is not the only update witch NVIDIA equips its GeForce 8600 . The chip in this case has only 128 bits memory system bus, when GeForce 8800 GTS has 384 bits. Naturally, this low memory band-width should result in low performance even if NVIDIA tries to compensate this weakness with high operation frequencies . NVIDA GeForce 8600: Beyond the passage from the fixed architecture to the unified architecture, the technological choices retained by NVIDIA for its family GeForce 8 result in the arrival of various new functions which are finds under Lumenex name. With the Lumenex engine, NVIDIA takes a great step in terms of image quality and particularly with filtering quality . As u remember GeForce 7 has various optimizations, sometimes very aggressive, which can be translated in certain cases by the textures swarming . GeForce 8 is the occasion for NVIDIA to set out again on healthy bases, and GeForce 8600 proposes a quality filtering superior to the one proposed by ATI ..! Anisotropic filtering 8x: the first GeForce 7600 GT, the second GeForce 8600 GTS Other update introduced by the Lumenex engine, the possibility of applying an anti-aliasing 8x, whereas GeForce 7 are limited to 4x, and coupling anti-aliasing and effects returned HDR, was technically impossible to realize with GeForce 7. NVIDIA also proposes a new technique of anti-aliasing CSAA and Sampling Anti-Aliasing. The goal is here to offer a better smoothing quality , equivalent to 16x mode , while maintaining a good performances level . For this purpose, NVIDIA calls a new algorithm which uses information . Concretely, the CSAA acts as an anti-aliasing of type multisampling (MSAA) whose mask of cover is programmable: only certain zones of image benefit from AA treatment . With this easy way NVIDIA can propose a smoothing quality bordering the 16x with a cost in term of performances equivalent to 4x anti-aliasing . We Already described during our tests the GeForce 8800, the GeForce 8 architecture is not new for us. U can check our previous review with geforce 8800gtx and GTS for additional info ( 8800gtx vs 8800gts test ) . With GeForce 8, and this is probably the most important, NVIDIA moved from the usual concept of pixel and vertex pipeline to adopt a completely unified architecture, a result of several years development, the architecture GeForce 8 comprises a whole of stream processors which can work in an indifferent way on all elements types. In this manner, the chip can automatically place at the disposal of program more resources in order to maximize its performances. There is another specificity of architecture GeForce 8, the streaming processors operate at frequency different from the chip. In the case of GeForce 8600 GTS, the chip functions at 675 MHz, the streaming processors run at 1450 MHz according to information\'s communicated by NVIDIA. NVIDIA GeForce 8600: The new DirectX 10 card Impossible to speak about GeForce 8 and Lumenex engine without talking about the compatibility of GeForce 8600 and its DirectX 10 support. Without returning in detail about changes introduced by DirectX 10, we recall that this API is exclusively available under Windows Vista. With DirectX 10, Microsoft introduces the model Shaders 4.0 as well as a new type of shaders: as Geometry Shaders. To make it simple, the graphics chips become for the first time able to generate geometry and either only to deform it. Naturally, DirectX 10 is accompanied by new possibilities for developers with the unification language used: The same program is used for vertexes, pixels or geometry. And as with each DirectX version , the maximum number of instructions per program is re-examined . In short, in practice, the DirectX 10 should be more realistic inn game , this will be proven in game as Crysis or Unreal Tournament 2007. DirectX 10 NVIDIA demonstration   NVIDIA GeForce 8600: Pure engine The GeForce 8800 has the same integrated video engine as GeForce 7, the GeForce 8600 family benefits from the second generation of engine PureVideo HD. Equipped with video processing engine GeForce 8600 also integrates for the first time Bit-stream processing engine. Thanks to this additional unit, NVIDIA chips can deal with greater number of decoding stages , and in particular decoding CABAC and CAVLC. The use of the new PureVideo engine should result in a less processor time during watching Blu-ray film . New PureVideo engine Here we talked about the theory but in practice, the functionality is not testable, at least under Windows XP. The driver deal with the new PureVideo engine exclusively under Windows Vista whereas we needs an update of WinDVD or PowerDVD to benefit from the new functions, updates which are under development .... Only the first version WinDVD is currently able to support this new version PureVideo HD. NVIDIA GeForce 8600: the chips GTS and GT Made with 80nm in TSMC, the chip GeForce 8600, code name G84, has 289 million transistors. Declined in version GTS and GT, GeForce 8600 has in both cases the same number of units, 32 stream processors. From the other side the operation frequencies are different from one model to other. When GeForce 8600 GTS work at 675 MHz, the GT model is satisfied with 540 MHz. The shaders units frequency is set to 1450 MHz for GeForce 8600 GTS against 1180 MHz for GeForce 8600 GT. Side memory, the two card use GDDR3 and GeForce 8600 GTS has 1000 MHz while only 700 MHz for the GeForce 8600 GT. Chip NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT According to the information communicated by NVIDIA, GeForce 8600 GTS consume a maximum of 71 Watts against 43 Watts for GeForce 8600 GT. According to our tests, a complete system equipped with GeForce 8600 GT consumes more than similar system with GeForce 7600 GT. We also note that the consumption between GeForce 8600 GT and GeForce 8600 GTS system is very thin : Total system power consumption GeForce 7600 GT 186w GeForce 8600 GT 194w GeForce 8600 GTS 198w The chips GeForce 8600 has the specifications 1.1a standard interface , PCI-Express 16x . NVIDIA equips its GeForce 8600 with a double RAMDAC with 400 MHz whereas the chips support Dual-Link DVI . NVIDIA proposes for the first time HDCP in Dual-Link and this on GeForce 8600 GTS exclusively, the integration of HDCP being optional on GeForce 8600 GT. .   GeForce 8600 GT GeForce 8600 GTS GeForce 8800 GTS GeForce 8800 GTX Interface PCI-express 16x PCI-express 16x PCI-express 16x PCI-express 16x Thec Process 0,08µ 0,08µ 0,09µ 0,09µ Transistors 289 Million 289 Million 681 Million 681 Million RAMDAC 2 X.400 MHz 2 X.400 MHz 2 X.400 MHz 2 X.400 MHz T&L DirectX 10 DirectX 10 DirectX 10 DirectX 10 Stream Processors 32 32 96 128 ROP Units 8 8 20 24 Installed Memory 256 MB 256 MB 320 MB or 640 MB 768 MB Memory Interface 128 Bits 128 Bits 320 Bits 384 Bits Band-width 22,4 Gb/S 32 Gb/S 64 Gb/S 86 Gb/S GPU Frequency 540 MHz 675 MHz 500 MHz 575 MHz Stream Processors Frequency 1190 MHz 1450 MHz 1200 MHz 1350 MHz Memory Frequency 700 MHz 1000 MHz 800 MHz 900 MHz Gigabyte NX86T256D Gigabyte forward to us one of the first graphics card based on new GeForce 8600 GT. This card was presented on last CeBIT , adopts a new passive cooling system , Silent-Pipe II. With format PCI-Express 16x, the last card from Gigabyte is provided with a blue PCB . Contrary to GeForce 8600 GTS, GeForce 8600 GT do not require secondary power supply, the PCI-Express bus is sufficient for the needs of this chip. Gigabyte GeForce 8600 GT With 256 MB memory GDDR3, the card uses chips memories Hynix certified at 1,4ns. Side frequency, Gigabyte respects NVIDIA recommendations for the memory with 700 MHz . But here the graphic chip operates at 600 MHz instead of 540 MHz announced by NVIDIA. This card is Equipped with SLI connector , the card offers two ports DVI and a connector mini-DIN for video . The manufacturer proposes game in complete version : Chris Taylor, Supreme To order. On addition we finds in the box : Driver CD , handbook, adapter DVI/VGA . PNY GeForce 8600 GTS Without surprise the pny card is based on reference design NVIDIA, the card is slightly longer than Gigabyte GeForce 8600 GT . PNY GeForce 8600 GTS has a green PCB , a connector PCI-Express 16x With additional connector PCI-Express and SLI connector . the card also come with nvidia reference cooler . PNY GeForce 8600 GTS With 256 MB Memory GDDR3, the card uses Samsung chips . We finds the same connector as on Gigabyte Geforce 8600 GT with two DVI and connector mini-DIN for video. MSI GeForce NX8600GTS–T 2d256E MSI, one of the most important NVIDIA graphics card manufacturers . The card here is based on NVIDIA reference design with PCI-Express 16x and a green PCB. Provided with a additional power supply connector , the card has 256 MB memory GDDR3, as PNY card from Samsung. The cooling system is also the reference NVIDIA with coppers radiator and fan.. MSI GeForce 8600 GTS : NX8600GTS-T 2d256E If MSI takes the reference NVIDIA design for its first GeForce 8600 GTS, the manufacturer allows some small final improvements in particular the frequencies level, higher than those recommended by NVIDIA. The graphics chip work at 690 MHz (against 675 MHz normally) whereas the memory is working at 1050 MHz (against 1000 MHz default). Finally the card has a SLI connector, two DVI and video out. Nvidia 8600 GTS - GT Performance Test To test the performances of new GeForce 8600, we use the following platform: Motherboard Asus P5W-DH Deluxe - BIOS 1901, INTEL Core 2 Extreme X6800 (2,93 GHz), 2x1 GB Corsair Twin2X PC6400C3, Hard disk Western DIGITAL Raptor 150 GB Serial-ATA 150 In the first time we used Windows Vista as operating system for all the 3D tests. We used here the driver ForceWare 158.14 for GeForce 8600 , 101.41 driver for GeForce 7 and 101.70 driver for GeForce 8800 GTS. On this platform, we could test the following card: GeForce 7600 GT, GeForce 7900 GS, GeForce 7900 GT, GeForce 7950 GT, GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB, Radeon X1950 Pro and Radeon X1950 XTX. For ATI card we used the last driver CATALYST 7.3. 3DMark 06 - v1.1.0 We starts with 3DMark 06 where GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB has the first place in front of Radeon X1950 XTX. In third position GeForce 7950 GT appears whereas first GeForce 8600 GTS finishes fourth. GeForce 8600 GT succeeds in posting better performances that GeForce 7600 GT and GeForce 7900 GS. Comparatively, GeForce 8600 GTS is, according to 3DMark 06, 19% faster than the 8600 GT. Doom 3 - v1.3 This OpenGL game , classifies the GeForce 8800 GTS and GeForce 7950 GT as fastest card in all resolution. Here GeForce 8600 GTS do a little better than Radeon X1950 Pro but finish behind the 7900 GS/GT. Vs GeForce 7600 GT, GeForce 8600 GTS is 15% faster . If GeForce 8600 GT from Gigabyte does better than GeForce 7600 GT in 1280x1024 and 1600x1200, the situation is reversed in 1920x1200. Here deference between GeForce 8600 GTS and GeForce 8600 GT reaches 20%. Far Cry v1.4 We do not use the HDR effects , the public patch 1.4 do not support HDR under Vista. At the first place, we find GeForce 8800 GTS followed by Radeon X1950 XTX. GeForce 8600 GTS here are largely preceded by various GeForce 79xx. GeForce 8600 GTS shows 21% better performance than GeForce 8600 GT, this last being slightly slower than GeForce 7600 GT. In 1600x1200, GeForce 8600 GTS is 20% faster than GeForce 7600 GT. F.E.A.R. - v1.08 IF FarCry indicates that GeForce 79xx are faster than GeForce 8600 GTS, F.E.A.R. is has contrary opinion. In 1280x1024, GeForce 8600 GTS is 60% faster than GeForce 7600 GT what enables it to precede the GeForce 7900 GS and GT. however with more resolution increases in variation tend to be reduced. Splinter Cell Chaos Theory v1.05 The agent Sam Fisher places the new GeForce 8600 behind GeForce 7900 but here the GeForce 7950 GT finishes third once again, in withdrawal with Radeon X1950 XTX. Compared with GeForce 7600 GT, GeForce 8600 GTS is 37% faster . The overclocking made by MSI has only little effect, the scores from our two GeForce 8600 GTS is very close. As for difference between GeForce 8600 GTS and 8600 GT it is set here to 22%. Half-Life 2 Lost Coast We continues with Half-Life 2 whose scores tend to confirm our preceding observations. GeForce 8600 GTS is faster than GeForce 7600 GT but slower than GeForce 7900 GT and GeForce 7950 GT which one has similar price, and even lower than the new card. Here the Radeon X1950 Pro is with equality with the last NVIDIA chip . Call Of Duty 2 - v1.3 Call Of Duty 2 does not change our impression about the GeForce 8600 GTS, the GeForce 7900 and 7950 GT are in most case faster. we note that in 1920x1200, GeForce 7900 GT is slightly slower than the 8600 GTS whereas it is faster in lower resolutions. In 1600x1200, GeForce 8600 GTS is 33% faster than GeForce 7600 GT. For Call Off Duty 2, Radeon X1950 Pro remains the choice graphics chip , the ATI card are 1920x1200 49% faster than GeForce 8600 GTS .     Supreme Commander Recent, Supreme Commander gives its preference to Radeon X1950 Pro which here is better than GeForce 8600 GTS. If GeForce 7950 GT preserves an unquestionable advantage over the GeForce 8600 GTS, this last is with equality with GeForce 7900 GT. Usually the difference between 8600 GTS and 8600 GT were 20% but fall to 12% in 1920x1200. And vs GeForce 7600 GT, the 8600 GTS is 28% superior. Company Of Heroes - v1.05 In Company Of Heroes NVIDIA driver has some problems under Windows Vista . the Radeon X1950 Pro preserves a Net favors over GeForce 8600 GTS, about 43%. Here the 8600 GTS do better than GeForce 7900 GS . Vs GeForce 7600 GT, GeForce 8600 GTS is faster up to 78% in 1920x1200, an impressive variation. Except that if one compares GeForce 8600 GTS with GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB, one realizes that its score is almost three times inferior! STALKER Here the Radeon X1950 Pro falls under the GeForce 7900 GS level . GeForce 8600 GTS have good performance here , preceding their elder family GeForce 7 and equalizing GeForce 7950 GT. we note the strange behavior of GeForce 8800 GTS 320 mb here . but this should be fixed in next nvidia driver update.. Doom 3 - v1.3 - AA 4x Without surprise, the activation of anti-aliasing penalizes our GeForce 8600 GTS which is find here behind GeForce 7900 GS and GT. when GeForce 8800 GTS fly with 150 FPS in 1920x1200, the GeForce 8600 GTS must be satisfied with only 66 FPS ! Vs GeForce 7600 GT, GeForce 8600 GTS is here hardly faster by 15%. As for GeForce 8600 GT, if it does better than the 7600 GT in 1280x1024 and 1600x1200, but it moves back in 1920x1200. Call Of Duty 2 - v1.3 - AA 4x & AF The combined anti-aliasing and filtering activation under Call Off Duty 2 give benefits to the Radeon card which are found on first places, Radeon X1950 XTX exceed even the GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB. Our two GeForce 8600 GTS are here with equality with the 7600 GT and 7900 GS, they cannot do anything to the faster GeForce 7950 GT. we note that Gigabyte GeForce 8600 GT is faster here than GeForce 7600 GT, a good point! F.E.A.R. v1.08 - AA 4x - AF16x F.E.A.R, tested here with the functions filtering and anti-aliasing without soft shadow . All GeForce 7900 finish in front of the last card from NVIDIA . In 1920x1200, GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB is practically twice faster than GeForce 8600 GTS! Only reason for satisfaction, that the GeForce 8600 GT is just better than GeForce 7600 GT with higher performances about 22%. Half Life 2 Lost Coast - AA4x - AF16x We close this tests series with Half Life 2 tested here with functions filtering and anti-aliasing. At the first place we find our couple GeForce 8800 GTS and Radeon X1950 XTX. Unfortunately for NVIDIA, Radeon X1950 is superior compared to GeForce 8600 GTS, the ATI chip being as fast as GeForce 7950 GT. GeForce 8600 GTS just manage to do better than GeForce 7900 GS . Conclusion Arrived at the end of this article. the first version graphics chip medium range DirectX 10 arrive on the market. Side performances, GeForce 8600 GTS has good services, even if they are not exceptional. Definitely faster than GeForce 7600 GT and preceding the 7900 GS, GeForce 8600 GTS is not able to fight with GeForce 7950 GT or Radeon X1950 XTX from ATI. From the other side, vs Radeon X1950 Pro, the last NVIDIA dx10 card has some advantage in a few game (as Supreme commander or Company Of Heroes). Technically, GeForce 8600 has the effective architecture introduced in GeForce 8800 but the too much reduced units number and low memory interface reduced its performance by large level even the high clock frequency did not help much. As for comparing the GeForce 8600 GT with GeForce 8600 GTS, the performances between the two card proves to be too weak in order to justify the over cost of practically 70 $. The cost announced by NVIDIA for these new card are rather high! 220 $ for GeForce 8600 GTS and 150 $ for GeForce 8600 GT. Problem, with 220 $, that GeForce 8600 GTS are more expensive than GeForce 7950 GT witch can be finds starting from 190 $ and which however offer higher performances, but without DirectX 10 compatibility or PureVideo . I From the three tested card here, the Gigabyte GeForce 8600 GT attract our attention due to to its quietest but also original cooler. xtreview is your : Video card - cpu - memory - Hard drive - power supply unit source we would be happy to answer for your question . if you have suggestion or comment regarding this review our support would be glad to help just join our forum and ask u will get the best answer to discuss check our forum section :-) RATE THIS REVIEW 1 2 3 4 5    / 5   View Stat

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