We really understimate the Geforce 8500GT and Geforce 9400GT

[RockmasteR]

Hello all, today I got a Geforce 9400GT and I was really surprised of it's performance :)
It's a really great performance budget card for the gamers that don't want to be bankrupted just to play Video Games ;) U can get this card for less than 70$, this is the games that I already tested on my new Card :

- Need for Speed Carbon : 1024 x 768, All settings High :Playable at 35 fps

- Test Drive Unlimited : 1024 x 768, all High (HDR off) : playable at 37 fps

- Quake 4 : 1024 x768, all settings MAX : Playable at 50+ fps

- Guitar Hero III : 1024 x768, all settings Max : Playable at 60 fps

I'll keep this Thread updated as soon as I test more games :)

feel free to ask any question about the Vcard :)

[af3]

I am glad you took the time to post this information about the 9400GT's performance.

Would you say the budget cards in the 9000 series out perform the budget cards in the 8000 series? I currently use a 8600M GT in my laptop and am considering building a new low profile PC.

Also, I am not a moderator but I think this may be the wrong section for this discussion... but I'm not completely sure.

[RockmasteR]

Hey there :)
I'll be posting these games tests soon : NFS Undercover, Crysis, Bioshock, Spider-Man 3, Kane & Lynch
as for the Question, the 9 series Budget Cards are same or better than the 8 series budget, for example 9400GT has the same specs of the 8500GT but the Core Clock and Memory Clock of 9400GT is a bit better, as for the 9500GT it's even better than the 8600GT DDR2 version.

[RockmasteR]

UPDATE:

- NFS undercover : 1024 x 768 High and Medium, playable at 35 fps

- Crysis : 800 x 600 High and Medium, playable at 45 fps

- bioshock : 800 x 600 high and Medium, playable 50 fps

- Spider-Man 3 : 1024 X 768 Medium, or 800 x 600 High, playable at 30 fps

- Kane & Lynch : 1024 X 768 High settings (Medium shadows, no AA), playable at 35 fps

- Dead Space : 1024 x 768 High settings, Medium Shader no AA, playable at 30 fps

and let me just add that Dead space is an incredible game, and works like a charm
on a Geforce 9400GT :)

If you can think of a game that I can test I'll see if I have it and I'll test it...

[Mcninjaguy]

yea not everyone needs a high end video card (exclude me I have a GTX 260) some just want to be able to play the game!

I think its great that you didn't need to break the bank to be able to play the newest games RockmasterR

[RockmasteR]

yes, indeed :) and I don't regret it :)

two more games tested :

- Bionic Commando Rearmed : 1024 x 768 (Graphics are full at defaults and can't be changed), playable at 60 fps

- Medal of Honor Airborne: 800 x 600 All High, playable at 35 fps (WOW!!)

[af3]

What would be sufficient for someone who only plays Source Engine games such as Half-Life Deathmatch: Source, Garry's Mod, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch and so on? I occasionally play Quake 4 and want to be able to try Farcry & Farcry 2...

EDIT: I run games on 640x480 because I play computer games on a TV with a gamepad lol

[RockmasteR]

Far Cry 2 has an engine close to Crysis engine, so a 8500GT and 9400GT will run the game with no problem at all.

UPDATE:

2 more games tested :

- Sega Rally : 1024 x 768, High settings (AA off), playable at 35 fps (if AA turned on, playable at 30 fps)

- The Witcher: 1024 X 768, High Settings (AA off, shadows medium),
playable at 37 fps

[af3]

What about the 8400GT?

What is the difference between the GT GS and GTX GTS GOO?

[RockmasteR]

there is no 8400GT, only 8400GS,
the GS series is less powerful than the GT series
the 8400GS is not for games, cause it has a turbocache technology, it means the video memory in it is not dedicated, it's shared, so not good.
and its memory interface is 64 bit, waaay too slow.
so don't rely on a 8400GS

and this is the power order (from best to worst) :

Ultra
GTX
GX2
GTS
GT
GSO
GS

here is a comparison table for the Nvidia series :
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/132

Hope that Helped

[af3]

Great, thanks! That saves me hours of studying the comparison charts at nVidia's site. How about the ATI cards?

EDIT: I did find this link:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/131
but would still like your opinion...

I think this comparison chart would be more helpful with prices ranges included...

[RockmasteR]

I never had an ATI card, and I think that Nvidia is way better with handling games than ATI. but that's my opinion (Check the Memory interface for the High End Cards in Nvidia like the 8800GTX it's 384 bit, and the latest card by Nvidia the GTX 280 it has 512 bit!!!!!!!
but ATI has a maximum interface of 256 bit) so maybe ATI cards could be cheaper, but for games I always go with Nvidia

[af3]

Well, I had an ATI x1600 PRO once and it had some bugs to do with transparency and desktop overlays causing major FPS drops.

When it comes to my 8600M GT, the TV Out support was dreadful when using the drivers supplied by Dell, but the latest forceware package from nVidia's site and me forcing an installation/selection of the 8600GT chip, the problem was resolved.

Symptoms included an oversized output with a "zoomed in" appearance, and the resize control was not responding to my clicks. That's Dell for you, I guess. So at this point, either brand does not seem to matter to me. I like more speed and stability for my dollar, as should anyone else…

Sorry that this has turned into a shoot-the-breeze post.

[RockmasteR]

I know what u mean :)
for 63 to 70$ u can get a Geforce 9500GT, it's like the Geforce 8600GT DDR2 version, it's cheap and it's more powerful than the 9400GT

check it here : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814261031

or for 50 to 60 $ u can get a Geforce 9400GT

Check it here : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127388


UPDATE:
New Games Tested:

- Jericho : 800 x 600 High Settings, (AA off), playable 32 fps

- Tomb Raider Legend : 1024 x 768, high settings ( next gen off), playable
at 40 fps (if AA off
playable at 60 fps)

- Tomb Raider Aniversary : 1024 x 768, high settings, playable at 40 fps

- World in Conflict : 1024 x 768, high and Medium, playable at 32 fps (game Benchmark)

[Mcninjaguy]

I'd have to definitely say that you have that chart for the quality of cards but its more tlike this

GX2 (2 video processors)
Ultra
GTX
GTS
GT
GSO
GS

[af3]

Interesting results RockmasteR. I would be interested to see how Half-Life 2 or Counter-Strike Source runs.

[RockmasteR]

Half-Life 2 has an old engine, but the game looks great, so on a Geforce 9400GT or 8500GT the game will run on 1024 x 768 and all high settings at more than 60 fps, even the 8400GS will run the game at max settings

:)

New games Tests coming soon (on a Geforce 9400GT of course )

[Mcninjaguy]

yea I've started playing half life 2 again since I just became a Game Tech

with full everything including AA at 16x I get around 46fps at 1280 x 1024

[RockmasteR]

UPDATE:

- NFS ProStreet : 1024 x 768, high settings (World FX and Shadows,
Medium), playable at 40 fps

- Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars : 1024 x 768, Full settings (AA off),
playable at 30 fps

- Red Alert 3 : 1024 x 768, high and Medium, playable at 30 fps

- Gears of War : 1024 x 768, High and Medium Settings, playable at 35
fps

- The Club : 1024 x 768, Medium settings, playable at 35 fps, or 800 x
600, high settings, playable at 40 fps

- Half-Life 2 Episode One : 1024 x 768, full settings, playable at 35 fps
(if AA off, playable at 50 to 60 fps)

- Half-Life 2 Edpisode Two : 1024 x 768, Full settings (AA off), playable
at 40 fps

- Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 : 1024 x 768, High Settings, playable at 60 fps

[Aus_Karlos]

Originally Posted by RockmasteR

UPDATE:

- NFS undercover : 1024 x 768 High and Medium, playable at 35 fps

- Crysis : 800 x 600 High and Medium, playable at 45 fps

- bioshock : 800 x 600 high and Medium, playable 50 fps

- Spider-Man 3 : 1024 X 768 Medium, or 800 x 600 High, playable at 30 fps

- Kane & Lynch : 1024 X 768 High settings (Medium shadows, no AA), playable at 35 fps

- Dead Space : 1024 x 768 High settings, Medium Shader no AA, playable at 30 fps

and let me just add that Dead space is an incredible game, and works like a charm
on a Geforce 9400GT :)

If you can think of a game that I can test I'll see if I have it and I'll test it...

Dont forget most users will have monitors with a display settings of 1440x900 , 1280x1024 and 1680x1050.
These cards will really struggle at high resolutions. Try testing it out on 1280x1024 which is the most common resolution for a 19" monitor (Or is it 1440x900).