So with the latest bunch of game releases are you noticing that your system just isn't quite up to the task of playing these games? Is the new 8800 line of video cards just not in your budget, but yet you still need to upgrade to something better? There are budget cards out there that are very capable of running the latest games in DX9 and DX10, of course you're not going to max the video settings but the games still look great.

I've got two EVGA 8600GTS video cards for review today, not quite a budget card but they won't set you back too much either. They're quite capable of playing the latest games like Crysis, Gears of War and COD4: Modern Warfare very comfortably and I think most people would be very happy with them. Sure I'd like to own a couple 8800s but it's not in my budget, so I get what I can afford, cheap but not too cheap! I still like to be able to play games and have them look nice as well.

I went with these specific cards mainly because of the DDR3 that is on them, there are other cards at this price point but not many that have the DDR3 memory. I shopped around quite a bit and did a lot of research before buying them. Originally when I was upgrading my system with the EVGA motherboard I was sort of set on getting the EVGA video cards as well to make it sort of a matched set, but there were others of the same model that were cheaper and I was considering getting those, but in the end after my research I finally decided that the EVGA 8600GTS offered the best bang for the buck.

So continue to see the results of my testing with DX9 and DX10 games and to see if these cards are worth your money or not...

EVGA e-GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 256-P2-N761-AR Video Card Review

Author: Kristofer Brozio

Sponsor: DragonSteelMods

Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:

EVGA e-GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 256-P2-N761-AR Video Card

e-GeForce 8600GTS 256MB

Part Number: 256-P2-N761-AR

MSRP: $219.99 USD

Features:

Key Features:

NVIDIA SLI Technology

Dramatically scales performance by allowing two graphics cards to be run in parallel. Only available on select PCI-Express models.

Next-Generation Superscalar GPU Architecture

Delivers up to 2x the shading power of previous generation products, taking gaming performance to extreme levels.

Other Features:

nView Multi-Display Technology

The nView hardware and software technology combination delivers maximum flexibility for multi-display options, and provides unprecedented end-user control of the desktop experience. NVIDIA GPUs are enabled to support multi-displays, but graphics cards vary. Please verify multi-display support in the graphics card before purchasing.

High-Speed GDDR3 Memory Interface

Support for the world’s fastest GDDR3 memory delivers fluid frame rates for even the most advanced games and applications.

NVIDIA PureVideo Technology

The combination of high-definition video processors and software delivers unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for all video content to turn your PC into a high-end home theater.

OpenGL 2.0 Optimizations and Support

Ensures top-notch compatibility and performance for all OpenGL applications

NVIDIA UltraShadow II Technology

Enhances the performance of bleeding-edge games like id Software's DOOM 3, that feature complex scenes with multiple light sources and objects.

Dual Dual-Link TMDS Connector

For a dual link TMDS, which is in essence two TMDS links bonded together, can display at resolutions up to 2048 x 1536 - and is the connector of choice for users of extremely large digital flat panels.

-NVIDIA unified architecture with GigaThread technology

-Full Microsoft DirectX 10 Shader Model 4.0 support

-16x full-screen anti-aliasing

-True 128-bit floating point high dynamic-range (HDR)

-NVIDIA Quantum Effects physics processing technology

-Built for Microsoft Windows Vista

Performance:

NVIDIA GeForce 8600GTS

-675 MHz GPU

-32 Pixel Pipelines

-400 MHz RAMDAC

Memory:

-256 MB, 128 bit DDR3

-2000 MHz (effective)

-32 GB/s Memory Bandwidth

Interface:

-PCI-E 16x

-DVI-I, DVI-I, HDTV-7

-SLI Capable

Resolution & Refresh: 

-240Hz Max Refresh Rate

-2560x1600 Max Analog

-2560x1600 Max Digital

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Requirements:

-Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.

(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 22 Amp Amps.)

-Minimum 450 Watt for SLI mode system.

(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 24 Amp Amps.)

-An available 6 pin PCI-E power connector (hard drive power dongle to PCI-E 6 pin adapter included with card)