GeForce 9600 GT vs Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2
GeForce 9600 GT
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Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The GeForce 9600 GT is positioned at rank 578 and the Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 is on rank 689, so the GeForce 9600 GT offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 9600 GT
Performance Per Dollar Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.1% higher G3D Mark score. However, the GeForce 9600 GT offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | GeForce 9600 GT | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.1%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.1%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / G9x (2007−2010)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / TeraScale (2005−2013)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+49900%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce 9600 GT offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce 9600 GT holds the technical lead. Priced at $20 (vs $50), it costs 60% less, resulting in a 147.4% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce 9600 GT | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+147.4%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($20) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($50) |
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of GeForce 9600 GT and Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2
GeForce 9600 GT
The GeForce 9600 GT is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 15 2008. It features the G9x architecture. The core clock speed is 500 MHz. It has 224 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 473 points.
Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2
The Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 1 2008. It features the TeraScale architecture. The core clock speed is 660 MHz. It has 320 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 110W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 478 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce 9600 GT scores 473 and the Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 reaches 478 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce 9600 GT is built on G9x while the Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 uses TeraScale, both on 65 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 224 (GeForce 9600 GT) vs 320 (Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2).
| Feature | GeForce 9600 GT | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 473 | 478+1% |
| Architecture | G9x | TeraScale |
| Process Node | 65 nm | 55 nm |
| Shading Units | 224 | 320 ×2+43% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce 9600 GT | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce 9600 GT comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 has 2 MB. The GeForce 9600 GT offers 49900% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | GeForce 9600 GT | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB+49900% | 0.002 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 64-bit |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce 9600 GT) vs 10.1 (Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2). Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 0.
| Feature | GeForce 9600 GT | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.1 (10_0)+10% | 10.1 |
| Max Displays | 2 | 0 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: PureVideo HD (GeForce 9600 GT) vs UVD (Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2). Decoder: PureVideo HD vs UVD.
| Feature | GeForce 9600 GT | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | PureVideo HD | UVD |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD | UVD |
| Codecs | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 | — |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce 9600 GT draws 150W versus the Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2's 110W — a 30.8% difference. The Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 9600 GT) vs 350W (Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2). Power connectors: Legacy vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 229mm vs 1mm, occupying 1 vs 0 slots.
| Feature | GeForce 9600 GT | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 150W | 110W-27% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Legacy | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 229mm | 1mm |
| Height | 111mm | — |
| Slots | 1 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 80 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 3.2 | 4.3+34% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce 9600 GT launched at $149 MSRP and currently averages $20, while the Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 launched at $449 and now averages $50. The GeForce 9600 GT costs 60% less ($30 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 23.6 (GeForce 9600 GT) vs 9.6 (Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2) — the GeForce 9600 GT offers 145.8% better value.
| Feature | GeForce 9600 GT | Mobility Radeon HD 3870 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $149-67% | $449 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-60% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 23.6+146% | 9.6 |
| Codename | NB9E-GTX | M88 |
| Release | July 15 2008 | September 1 2008 |
| Ranking | #825 | #919 |
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