XFX GeForce 8600 GT Fatal1ty

Name: XFX GeForce 8600 GT Fatal1ty
Brand: XFX

by Shane Unrein — Wednesday, September 26, 2007, 10:00 AM EDT

Introduction, Features and Specs

If silence is golden, then silence plus overclocking is platinum. Hardware enthusiasts have loved squeezing every last drop of performance out of their hardware for quite some time. Noise levels are not a concern for many of these enthusiasts, but over the last several years, more and more of them have become not only performance enthusiasts but also silence enthusiasts. So, finding a silent, overclocked product is like winning a mini lottery.

For this article, we have such a product: the XFX GeForce 8600 GT Fatal1ty. Not only is the XFX GeForce 8600 GT Fatal1ty silently cooled, but it is also overclocked. While a reference NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT has a 540 MHz core clock and a 700 MHz (1.4 GHz effective) memory clock, the XFX GeForce 8600 GT Fatal1ty sports a 620 MHz core clock and an 850 MHz (1.7 GHz effective) memory clock.

In addition to being silent and overclocked, the 8600 GT Fatal1ty features 256MB of DDR3 and a 128-bit memory interface. Looking at its specifications, the 8600 GT Fatal1ty looks great, but we'll have to run it through some tests to see if it is both silent and deadly.

XFX GeForce 8600 GT Fatal1ty

Specifications and Features

Memory: 256 MB DDR3

Video Output Function:
- TV-out + HDTV Support
- Two Dual-link DVI Connectors
- SLI Bridge

128-Bit Memory Interface

Clocks:
- GPU: 620 MHz
- Memory: 1.7 GHz (effective)

Performance:
- Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec): 22.4
- Fill Rate (Billion pixels/sec): 8.6

NVIDIA unified architecture:
Fully unified shader core dynamically allocates processing power to geometry, vertex, physics, or pixel shading operations, delivering up to 2x the gaming performance of prior generation GPUs.

GigaThread Technology:
Massively multi-threaded architecture supports thousands of independent, simultaneous threads, providing extreme processing efficiency in advanced, next generation shader programs.

Full Microsoft DirectX 10 Support:
World's first DirectX 10 GPU with full Shader Model 4.0 support delivers unparalleled levels of graphics realism and film-quality effects.

NVIDIA SLI Technology:
Delivers up to 2x the performance of a single graphics card configuration for unequaled gaming experiences by allowing two cards to run in parallel. The must-have feature for performance PCI Express graphics, SLI dramatically scales performance on today's hottest games.

NVIDIA Lumenex Engine:
Delivers stunning image quality and floating point accuracy at ultra-fast frame rates.
16x Anti-aliasing: Lightning fast, high-quality anti-aliasing at up to 16x sample rates obliterates jagged edges.

128-bit floating point High Dynamic-Range (HDR):
Twice the precision of prior generations for incredibly realistic lighting effects - now with support for anti-aliasing.

NVIDIA Quantum Effects Technology:
Advanced shader processors architected for physics computation enable a new level of physics effects to be simulated and rendered on the GPU - all while freeing the CPU to run the game engine and AI.

NVIDIA ForceWare Unified Driver Architecture (UDA):
Delivers a proven record of compatibility, reliability, and stability with the widest range of games and applications. ForceWare provides the best out-of-box experience and delivers continuous performance and feature updates over the life of NVIDIA GeForce GPUs.

OpenGL 2.0 Optimizations and Support:
Ensures top-notch compatibility and performance for OpenGL applications.

NVIDIA nView Multi-Display Technology:
Advanced technology provides the ultimate in viewing flexibility and control for multiple monitors.

PCI Express Support:
Designed to run perfectly with the PCI Express bus architecture, which doubles the bandwidth of AGP 8X to deliver over 4 GB/sec. in both upstream and downstream data transfers.

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs:
Blazing-fast RAMDACs support dual QXGA displays with ultra-high, ergonomic refresh rates - up to 2048x1536@85Hz.

Dual Dual-link DVI Support:
Able to drive the industry's largest and highest resolution flat-panel displays up to 2560x1600.

Built for Microsoft Windows Vista:
NVIDIA's fourth-generation GPU architecture built for Windows Vista gives users the best possible experience with the Windows Aero 3D graphical user interface.

NVIDIA PureVideo HD Technology:
The combination of high-definition video decode acceleration and post-processing that delivers unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for movies and video.

Discrete, Programmable Video Processor:
NVIDIA PureVideo HD is a discrete programmable processing core in NVIDIA GPUs that provides superb picture quality and ultra-smooth movies with low CPU utilization and power.

Hardware Decode Acceleration:
Provides ultra-smooth playback of H.264, VC-1, WMV and MPEG-2 HD and SD movies.

HDCP Capable:
Designed to meet the output protection management (HDCP) and security specifications of the Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats, allowing the playback of encrypted movie content on PCs when connected to HDCP-compliant displays.

Spatial-Temporal De-Interlacing:
Sharpens HD and standard definition interlaced content on progressive displays, delivering a crisp, clear picture that rivals high-end home-theater systems.

High-Quality Scaling:
Enlarges lower resolution movies and videos to HDTV resolutions, up to 1080i, while maintaining a clear, clean image. Also provides downscaling of videos, including high-definition, while preserving image detail.

Inverse Telecine (3:2 & 2:2 Pulldown Correction):
Recovers original film images from films-converted-to-video (DVDs, 1080i HD content), providing more accurate movie playback and superior picture quality.

Bad Edit Correction:
When videos are edited after they have been converted from 24 to 25 or 30 frames, the edits can disrupt the normal 3:2 or 2:2 pulldown cadences. PureVideo HD uses advanced processing techniques to detect poor edits, recover the original content, and display perfect picture detail frame after frame for smooth, natural looking video.

Video Color Correction:
NVIDIA's Color Correction Controls, such as Brightness, Contrast and Gamma Correction let you compensate for the different color characteristics of various RGB monitors and TVs ensuring movies are not too dark, overly bright, or washed out regardless of the video format.

Integrated SD and HD TV Output:
Provides world-class TV-out functionality via Composite, S-Video, Component, or DVI connections. Supports resolutions up to 1080p.

Noise Reduction:
Improves movie image quality by removing unwanted artifacts.

Edge Enhancement:
Sharpens movie images by providing higher contrast around lines and objects.

Not surprisingly, the 8600 GT Fatal1ty box features the typical black and red Fatal1ty theme, and it also features the visage of Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel, who we are sure you all know is the most well known professional gamer in the world. The back of the box features a window that lets you take a peek at what the box holds inside.

When we opened the box, we were happy to see that the card was protected by Styrofoam and an anti-static bag. Underneath the card, we found the bundle, including a quick install guide, a connector guide, a VGA-to-DVI adapter, an S-video cable, a driver CD, and the full version of the highly-rated game Company of Heroes. Although the game is around a year old, we stil consider it a great inclusion in this bundle.