In the following series of tests the GeForce 9600 GT goes head-to-head with the exceedingly popular GeForce 8800 GT. Results for the resolution of 1680x1050 are provided on this page, while the results for the 1920x1200 and 2560x1600 resolutions appear on the next two pages.
Specs Comparison
Far Cry's Regulator level continues to be a useful benchmark as it allows a variety of graphics card features to be tested such as 4x and 8x antialiasing, High Dynamic Range (HDR), and multisampling (MSTAA) and supersampling (SSTAA) transparency antialiasing.
In Far Cry, the GeForce 9600 GT performed exceptionally well when compared to the GeForce 8800 GT as the average frame rate fell behind the GeForce 8800 GT by an average of only 9%. The lead increased slightly for the GeForce 8800 GT when HDR rendering or image quality enhancements like transparency antialiasing were enabled.
Performance at 1680x1050
The next two charts provide benchmark results for the remaining games that were tested. As with Far Cry, it was uncanny that the average frame rate of the GeForce 9600 GT again came within 9% of the GeForce 8800 GT. However, greater variances occurred in shader intensive operations that were present in F.E.A.R. (with soft shadows) and Crysis (with medium settings), both of which were 20% faster on the GeForce 8800 GT.
Performance at 1680x1050
Performance at 1680x1050
At 1680x1050, the minimum frame rate dipped below 30 fps on the GeForce 9600 GT in the following tests:
Avg: 42 Min: 29 fps - Oblivion - 4x AA - MSTAA - HDR
Avg: 42 Min: 23 fps - Oblivion - 4x AA - SSTAA - HDR
Avg: 45 Min: 21 fps - Far Cry - 8x AA - SSTAA
Avg: 26 Min: 19 fps - Crysis - No AA - High Quality
