8600GT DDR3 or 9500GT DDR2?

[hantor]

9500GT 512MB DDR2 stock (65nm)
Core Clock: 550MHz
Shader Clock: 1400MHz
Memory Clock: 1000MHz

8600GT 256MB DDR3 (80nm)
Core Clock: 540MHz
Shader Clock: 1188MHz
Memory Clock: 1400MHz


I was going to pick the 8600gt looking at the clocks, but i'm not so sure anymore. I've seen lots of complains about 8600gt overheating. Opinions? I'm getting it for free and thought about building a HTPC with it later, not sure, it's just a stand in for now. Basically, i don't know why i'm here asking, just wanted some feedback.

Thanks in advance.

 

[toyota]

if these are the only two cards to choose from then go ahead and get the 9500gt. it is slightly slower memory but its not like the 8600gt has very fast gddr3 anyway. really they will perform nearly identical and are really too slow to push modern games with decent settings anyway. maybe I am wrong but I believe the 9500gt might be a better HTPC card too.

btw I have never heard of an overheating issues with the 8600gt desktop cards. I still have mine, bought on the week they were released, and ran it overclocked for years without issues and temps were just fine.

 

[MentalIlness]

Except for the process, the cards look identical.....

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=574&card2=513

Review....

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_9500_gt_performance/page4.asp

 

[TurtleCrusher]

9500gt.

They are equals, but the 9500 has the newer process. A die shrink will do wonders to efficiency. The 512mb wont do much more than the 256mb, but more is better if it comes to no cost.

However, that review does NOT show it. Weird. A die shrink with the same GPU should ABSOLUTELY use less power.

 

[hantor]

I think it consumes less at the same clocks. In that review they got a 9500GT OC GDDR3 (600/1500/2000MHz) and underclocked it to regular GDDR3 settings (550/1400/1600MHz), but for the power consumption test they used the OC version.