MSI Overclocked GeForce 8600 GT Review

Hardware Secrets Golden Award F.E.A.R. is a heavy game and we used its internal benchmarking module. We upgraded it to version 1.08 and since we are comparing mid-range cards, we decided to run this program in two resolutions, 1024x768 (simulating a low resolution) and 1600x1200 (simulating a high resolution). We set �computer settings� to �maximum� and then ran each resolution in two scenarios, first with �graphics card� set at �low� and then with this item set at �maximum�. Let�s take a look on the results, given in frames per second. All video cards listed below were running with the default clock rates defined by the chip manufacturer except the cards marked with �OC�, which are cards that are factory-overclocked.

GeForce 8 Mid-Range

F.E.A.R. 1.08 - 1024x768 - Low Quality Score Difference

Radeon X1650 XT 256 MB (HIS) 268 24.07%

GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB (MSI) OC 256 18.52%

GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB (MSI) 247 14.35%

GeForce 8600 GT 256 MB (MSI) OC 216

GeForce 8600 GT 256 MB (MSI) 193 11.92%

GeForce 7600 GT 256 MB (XFX) 186 16.13%

Radeon X1650 Pro 256 MB (HIS) 167 29.34%

Radeon X1300 XT 256 MB GDDR3 (HIS) 139 55.40%

GeForce 7600 GS 256 MB (XFX) 121 78.51%

GeForce 6600 GT 128 MB (nVidia) 114 89.47%

GeForce 8500 GT 256 MB (MSI) 94 129.79%

GeForce 7300 GT 256 MB (Zogis) 83 160.24%

GeForce 6600 128 MB (Albatron) 66 227.27%

GeForce 6200 128-bit 128 MB (Leadtek) 38 468.42%

GeForce 8 Mid-Range

F.E.A.R. 1.08 - 1600x1200 - Low Quality Score Difference

Radeon X1650 XT 256 MB (HIS) 123 24.24%

GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB (MSI) OC 120 21.21%

GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB (MSI) 115 16.16%

GeForce 8600 GT 256 MB (MSI) OC 99

GeForce 8600 GT 256 MB (MSI) 89 11.24%

GeForce 7600 GT 256 MB (XFX) 89 11.24%

Radeon X1650 Pro 256 MB (HIS) 75 32.00%

Radeon X1300 XT 256 MB GDDR3 (HIS) 62 59.68%

GeForce 7600 GS 256 MB (XFX) 58 70.69%

GeForce 6600 GT 128 MB (nVidia) 54 83.33%

GeForce 8500 GT 256 MB (MSI) 42 135.71%

GeForce 7300 GT 256 MB (Zogis) 38 160.53%

GeForce 6600 128 MB (Albatron) 31 219.35%

GeForce 6200 128-bit 128 MB (Leadtek) 17 482.35%

GeForce 8 Mid-Range

F.E.A.R. 1.08 - 1024x768 - Maximum Quality Score Difference

GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB (MSI) OC 65 16.07%

GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB (MSI) 62 10.71%

GeForce 8600 GT 256 MB (MSI) OC 56

GeForce 8600 GT 256 MB (MSI) 51 9.80%

Radeon X1650 XT 256 MB (HIS) 50 12.00%

GeForce 7600 GT 256 MB (XFX) 46 21.74%

Radeon X1650 Pro 256 MB (HIS) 40 40.00%

Radeon X1300 XT 256 MB GDDR3 (HIS) 33 69.70%

GeForce 8500 GT 256 MB (MSI) 29 93.10%

GeForce 7600 GS 256 MB (XFX) 27 107.41%

GeForce 6600 128 MB (Albatron) 27 107.41%

GeForce 6600 GT 128 MB (nVidia) 26 115.38%

GeForce 7300 GT 256 MB (Zogis) 26 115.38%

GeForce 6200 128-bit 128 MB (Leadtek) 10 460.00%

GeForce 8 Mid-Range

F.E.A.R. 1.08 - 1600x1200 - Maximum Quality Score Difference

GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB (MSI) OC 27 12.50%

GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB (MSI) 26 8.33%

GeForce 8600 GT 256 MB (MSI) OC 24

Radeon X1650 XT 256 MB (HIS) 24 0.00%

GeForce 7600 GT 256 MB (XFX) 23 4.35%

GeForce 8600 GT 256 MB (MSI) 22 9.09%

Radeon X1650 Pro 256 MB (HIS) 17 41.18%

Radeon X1300 XT 256 MB GDDR3 (HIS) 14 71.43%

GeForce 6600 128 MB (Albatron) 13 84.62%

GeForce 7600 GS 256 MB (XFX) 12 100.00%

GeForce 7300 GT 256 MB (Zogis) 12 100.00%

GeForce 8500 GT 256 MB (MSI) 11 118.18%

GeForce 6600 GT 128 MB (nVidia) 11 118.18%

GeForce 6200 128-bit 128 MB (Leadtek) 4 500.00%