NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT Mainstream GPU

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NVIDIA Accelerates the Search For a Cure

As you can see, the new GeForce 9500 GT is a single-slot solution.  The reference model we received for evaluation and testing was built on a plain-Jane, green PCB, with a cooler featuring a portion of the NVIDIA logo.  We suspect partners like XFX and EVGA, however, may spruce up their designs, as was the case when the GeForce 8600 series launched last year...



   

  



Under the card's relatively small cooler, resides a GPU clocked at 600MHz (dispatch, texture units, ROPs) with 32 stream processors clocked at 1.4GHz. As we've mentioned already, cards will likely feature 512MB or 256MB frame buffers (this card has 256MB), clocked at 1000MHz (2000MHz DDR), which will offer up 32GB/s of memory bandwidth over a 128-bit interface. Please note, these clock speeds are higher than the reference specifications listed on the previous page. The GeForce 9500 GT also features 8 ROPs with 16 texture units, and the GPU has a native PCI Express 2.0 interface.

On the output side, much like most other current graphics cards, the GeForce 9500 GT is equipped with a pair of dual-link DVI outputs and a TV/HD component output. Using a dongle, the 9500 GT also supports HDMI output with audio, but the audio must be fed into the card though an S/PDIF input located near its single SLI connector.

Maximum board power is rated at only 50W, which is well below the 75W a PCI Express x16 slot can deliver, so the GeForce 9500 GT does not need supplemental power. And overall board size is a svelte 6.9".

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 I'm having a hard time figuring out why they would even offer this product.  The 9600GSO is only a few pennies more and has the same (sometimes better) performance.  I'm all about consumer choice, but the $80~$100 range is getting a bit over-crowded.

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1nteljunki3:

 I'm having a hard time figuring out why they would even offer this product.  The 9600GSO is only a few pennies more and has the same (sometimes better) performance.  I'm all about consumer choice, but the $80~$100 range is getting a bit over-crowded.

Crowded indeed. I am assuming that's because this segment is where thay are making most of their money. A GTX 280 creates a lot of hype and sells cards but I'm willing to bet that for each 280 sold they sell a great deal more lower end cards. It's all about the numbers. I guess they are shooting for the consumer who is looking for the lowest price no matter what.

 

Edit: I'll have to look at the reviews for the GSO. I can't see how it could be faster. It has less memory (Usually), smaller pipes and slower clocks. All things considered the GSO should be slower. The GSO is also less than the GT, not more.

 

 

 

 

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Great article by the way. Not everyone can afford the latest and greatest and having reviews like this help a lot of people with their buying decisions. Not to mention helps the guys like me who get questions about this stuff.

Well written. I was glad to see you mentioned power and noise. I get a lot of questions about noise these days and it's good to be able to tell the customers something.

 

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mainstream..?
i thought mainstream was either integrated e.g. 9500m
or cheap gamer gpus e.g. 9600gt

i really don't see a point for another cheaper card when you can find 9600gt for around $100 now...

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Because there are people who can't aford the $110 (Newegg's curresnt cheapest price) for a 9600GT. The 9500GT is for the sub $80 market.

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