GeForce G310 Fermi - Nvidia news! 2010

Conclusion - Final

From all the cards tested, the eVGA 8600GTS Superclocked was the one that always scored better values, and together with the 10-year warranty offered by the manufacturer, it definitely becomes the best card on this range.

As for price/performance, the Gainward Bliss 8600GT showed to be the best one, while the cheapest card on the group is definitely the Galaxy 8600GE, and its performances can be placed between the 8600GT and GTS.

Conclusion - Part 2

In a performance level, any user that intends to buy a GeForce 8600 cannot expect to be able to play all the modern games in the highest resolutions and with all active filters, since it’s a medium-range card, but at medium resolutions the playability is guaranteed in any game.

So this card would be recommended to any of those users that don’t feel the need of playing at the maximum quality, but still want to be able to experience the latest games that have been offering DirectX 10 support.

Conclusions - Part 1

After having tested the performances on the 8600 series cards, the first thing we’ve noticed is the huge gap between a 8600 GTS and a 8800GTS, something unusual for two similar cards. But in any case, the 8600 series deserve a positive note for the work done by nVIDIA, making the DX10 market available to most with this medium-entry card that supports all the high-entry features such as Shader Model 4.0, Anti-Aliasing 16x and VP.

Still on the performance level, it’s worth mentioning that nVIDIA has given much freedom to the different brands to customize their cards as they wish, which brings a bigger array of choices to the customers when it comes to price and performance.

Company of Heroes - DX10 patch

The Patch 1.7 of Company of Heroes gives the possibility of full DX10 support, hence we’ll see how the card behaves with the rather complex graphics of this game.

ASUS EN8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 21.2
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 26.8
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 32.1
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 37.1

Asus EN8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 25.9
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 32.8
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 37.2
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 40.5

eVGA 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 29
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 35.5
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 38.9
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 42.9

Foxconn 8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 24.1
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 27.9
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 33.6
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 38.1

Gainward Bliss 8600GT GS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 25.7
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 32.4
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 36.1
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 41.8

Gainward Bliss 8600GTS GS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 28.8
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 35.3
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 38.7
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 42.8

Galaxy 8600GE

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 25.4
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 32
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 35.8
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 41.1

Galaxy 8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 24.9
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 29.4
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 34
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 38.4

Galaxy 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 27
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 30.9
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 38
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 41.6

MSI NX8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 21.5
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 26.9
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 32
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 36.8

MSI NX8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 27.2
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 33.7
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 38
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 42.1

Call of Juarez DX10

Call of Juarez now features a full DX10 support demo, in order to test the newest card performances with the new API.

ASUS EN8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 3.9
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 8.3
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 7.1
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 9.2

Asus EN8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 4.3
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 10.6
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 5.2
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 12.6

eVGA 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 5.6
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 11.7
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 9.2
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 14.3

Foxconn 8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 5
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 9.4
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 8.7
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 11.1

Gainward Bliss 8600GT GS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 5.3
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 9.7
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 8.6
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 12.9

Gainward Bliss 8600GTS GS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 5.4
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 10.5
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 9.8
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 13.1

Galaxy 8600GE

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 5.1
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 9.2
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 10
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 12.9

Galaxy 8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 3.9
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 9.1
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 8
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 12

Galaxy 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 5.3
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 9.9
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 9.2
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 12.6

MSI NX8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 5
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 9.1
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 7.1
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 10.9

MSI NX8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 5.4
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 10.7
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 8.1
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 12.8

DirectX 10 tests

After having done the DirectX 9 tests, now it’s time for a battery of tests using Vista’s new DirectX 10, first with the benchmark tests, and then with some of the games that are available for DX10, such as Call of Juarez and Company of Heroes.

3DMark 06


Asus EN8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 2411
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 3529
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 3003
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 4276

Asus EN8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 2909
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 4533
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 3817
- 1280×1024 (without filters) -5510

eVGA 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 3175
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 4924
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 4311
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 5968

Foxconn 8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 2624
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 4924
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 4311
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 4911

Gainward Bliss 8600GT GS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 3118
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 4864
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 3821
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 5423

Gainward Bliss 8600GTS GS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 3118
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 4864
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 4243
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 5907

Galaxy 8600GE

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 2809
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 4255
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 3699
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 5323

Galaxy 8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 2683
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 4135
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 3601
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 5026

Galaxy 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 2851
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 4514
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 3923
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 5505

MSI NX8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 2681
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 4621
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 4048
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 5635

Call of Duty II

Call of Duty II is generally used to test the performance of graphic cards due to its high hardware requirements. The test was done in two resolutions: 1280×1024 and 1600×1200 without filters and with AA4x and AF16x.

Asus EN8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 13
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 19
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 19
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 26

Asus EN8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 15
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 22
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 20
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 30

eVGA 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 17
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 24
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 23
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 32

Foxconn 8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 15
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 20
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 20
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 28

Gainward Bliss 8600GT GS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 15
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 22
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 20
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 29

Gainward Bliss 8600GTS GS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 15
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 23
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 21
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 31

Galaxy 8600GE

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 16
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 21
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 20
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 29

Galaxy 8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 14
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 21
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 20
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 28

Galaxy 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 15
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 21
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 20
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 29

MSI NX8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 14
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 20
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 19
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 27

MSI NX8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 15
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 22
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 21
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 29

F.E.A.R - AA4x/AF16x and Soft Shadows

Asus EN8600GT

- 1600×1200 - 22
- 1280×1024 - 33

Asus EN8600GTS

- 1600×1200 - 27
- 1280×1024 - 38

eVGA 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 - 31
- 1280×1024 - 43

Foxconn 8600GT

- 1600×1200 - 26
- 1280×1024 - 35

Gainward Bliss 8600GT GS

- 1600×1200 - 26
- 1280×1024 - 38

Gainward Bliss 8600GTS GS

- 1600×1200 - 29
- 1280×1024 - 42

Galaxy 8600GE

- 1600×1200 - 25
- 1280×1024 - 38

Galaxy 8600GT

- 1600×1200 - 29
- 1280×1024 - 35

Galaxy 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 - 27
- 1280×1024 - 39

MSI NX8600GT

- 1600×1200 - 24
- 1280×1024 - 34

MSI NX8600GTS

- 1600×1200 - 28
- 1280×1024 - 39

F.E.A.R - Minimum Frames with AA4x / AF16x

Asus EN8600GT

- 1600×1200 - 12
- 1280×1024 - 20

Asus EN8600GTS

- 1600×1200 - 12
- 1280×1024 - 23

Evga 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 - 17
- 1280×1024 - 23

Foxconn 8600GT

- 1600×1200 - 15
- 1280×1024 - 20

GainWard Bliss 8600GT GS

- 1600×1200 - 12
- 1280×1024 - 23

Gainward Bliss 8600GTS GS

- 1600×1200 - 13
- 1280×1024 - 24

Galaxy 8600GE

- 1600×1200 - 14
- 1280×1024 - 21

Galaxy 8600GT

- 1600×1200 - 16
- 1280×1024 - 22

Galaxy 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 - 18
- 1280×1024 - 27

MSI NX8600GT

- 1600×1200 - 16
- 1280×1024 - 22

MSI NX8600GTS

- 1600×1200 - 12
- 1280×1024 - 24

F.E.A.R - Part 2

Galaxy 8600GE

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 26
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 56
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 38
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 78

Galaxy 8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 47
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 71
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 59
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 86

Galaxy 8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 50
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 70
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 69
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 95

MSI NX8600GT

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 40
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 58
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 58
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 80

MSI NX8600GTS

- 1600×1200 (with filters) - 45
- 1600×1200 (without filters) - 69
- 1280×1024 (with filters) - 66
- 1280×1024 (without filters) - 98