The nVIDIA GeForce 9600GT
(code named 'G94') is a mainstream graphics
chip manufactured by TSMC on the 65nm process. Each chip contains 505 million
transistors on a rather small die patch
- just 240mm2. The core is marked "G94-300-A1", as you can see in the
picture here.
The default clock speeds are 650MHz GPU, 1800MHz memory and 1625MHz
shader.
Since the
nVidia G94 GPU is based on familiar technologies, we'll just mention that it's
DirectX10, Shader Model 4.0 and HDCP compliant. Additionally,
the core accomodates OpenGL 2.1, 128-bit HDR, nVidia Quantum Effects physics processing,
and Microsoft Windows Vista. It also supports Purevideo HD 2/VP2 to accelerate
High Definition content and reduce CPU load.
The
Geforce 9600GT videocard consumes about 95W
power, and has a 6-pin auxiliary power connector. This is a sight
we're not accustomed to with mainstream-class videocards.
The card is compatible with the PCI Express 2.0 bus interface, and fits in
a standard PCI Express x16 videocard slot. Nvidia SLI is supported by a single
card edge connector, so two identical videocards can be teamed up.
Nvidia have given the Geforce 9600GT 64 unified shaders, whereas the Geforce
8800GTX has 128, and the 8800GTS 640/320MB 96. Clock for clock this means the
Geforce 9600GT is close to, but not as fast as the GeForce 8800GTS. More stream
processors allow the videocard to do more work per clock cycle, so clock for
clock the 8800GTX only needs to run at half the speed of the Geforce 9600GT to
do the same amount of work.
The reference clock speed for nVidia Geforce 9600GT videocards is 650 MHz
core, 1800MHz (900MHz x2) memory, shader clock speed 1625 MHz. Several companies have released Geforce 9600GT videocards
which are pre-overclocked, but you can just as easily overclock it yourself and save
a few dollars in the process.
The reference GeForce 9600GT's 512MB of GDDR3 memory is
clocked at 1800 MHz, and to ensure that the G94 stays in its place, the
card has just a 256-bit wide data bus. The GeForce 8800GTX uses a
384 bit bus and the 8800GTS 320/640MB a 320 bit data bus.
Now, let's find out how far the Biostar V903GT52-NV1AN
Geforce 9600GT will overclock.