When NVIDIA released the G80 core in late 2006 the enthusiast world rejoiced. New levels of image quality were in reach with a single card that used to require two or more. The mainstream market anxiously awaited its share of the G80 love only to be disappointed by the lackluster GeForce 8600 series. Fastforward to last year when the world was given the G92 core. Even more peformance was to be had by enthusiasts willing to shell out the $250 or more it would take to enjoy the pleasure of gaming on a GeForce 8800 GT or GTS edition. Finally, we were given the card that all of us could afford and not be ashamed to put in our signature. The GeForce 9600 GT from NVIDIA was just that card. - Bjorn3D

XFX GeForce 9600 GT XXX Board SLI Version Review

Offering levels of performance usually enjoyed by the bigger boys at a price we all can swallow placed this card into unknown territory. As if that wasn't enough XFX got their hands on a few and cranked the heck out of the clocks even further. So we present to you the GeForce 9600 GT XXX Alpha Dog from XFX. What could be better then having one of these cards, how about having two? One place that XFX excels is their packaging. While it is meaningless in the grand scheme of things, it is nice to see a box that is both functional as well as pleasing to the eye. The usual marketing hype can be found covering the rear of the box.

At this point there isn't much left to say that the charts haven't already covered. We have exceptional performance coupled with moderate power levels. The SLI performance increases are much better that in previous generations of cards, World in Conflict withstanding. It would seem the mid-range market of video cards has finally come into its own. After the let down that was the GeForce 8600 GT and/or GTS, it is refreshing to see this level of performance that can be had for well under $200. Absolute performance, which places this card in the middle of the pack under the GeForce 8800 GT and above the Radeon HD 3870.

XFX has done a lot to make this card as desirable as possible and they have done well to that end. The only problem we have is with the factory overclock. For anyone who calls themselves an enthusiast it is simply a matter of economics. Buy the vanilla card and overclock it yourself to the same or greater levels and save the extra greenbacks. XFX will still honor the warranty which is a great deal but you lose out on the free game.