May I introduce the NVidia 8600 GTS GPU and Samsung memory module.  The GPU is clocked at 705MHz while the Samsung memory chips are set to 2100MHz (1050MHz x2).

The card is a bit smaller than most modern cards coming in a 7.25 inches long but even so it remains wide and as such a dual slot product, covering the expansion slot just below the PCI-E slot it resides in.  With the card installed, you also get another flash of the iChill logo.  Check it.

Performance

As we mentioned in the introduction, we want to offer our review of the Inno3D GeForce 8600 GTS with a twist.  Aside from looking at the card in a traditional review we want to look at the $200 performance it offers against its DirectX X9 competitors.  I say DirectX 9 competitors because lots of folks have not made the Vista jump yet, myself included.  The Inno3D 8600 GTS offers Direct X10 compliance making the card far more future proof right out of the box.  To help us with our $200 DX9 challenge, we have an Inno3D GeForce 7900 GS loaded up in our test bed.

Testing will be done by real world gameplay with frame rates recorded by the FRAPS program.  Results are graphed in three minute segments from within S.TA.L.K.E.R., Battlefield 2142 and Need For Speed: Most Wanted.  Inside each of these games, we have saved spots where we can record gameplay from a set location making the course of action easier to duplicate between test products.  Screen resolution will be 1600 x 1200 pixels in each run with all other settings set to max with the exception of FSAA.  Full screen anti aliasing will be set to 0x in our testing.  Other setting changes will be noted during each benchmark.