Radeon HD 2600 XT vs GeForce 9600 GS
Radeon HD 2600 XT
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GeForce 9600 GS
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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. The Radeon HD 2600 XT is positioned at rank #677 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 2600 XT
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 2600 XT is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.4% higher G3D Mark score. However, the GeForce 9600 GS offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce 9600 GS |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.4%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.4%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / G9x (2007−2010)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+50%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the Radeon HD 2600 XT remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.
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 Radeon HD 2600 XT and GeForce 9600 GS
Radeon HD 2600 XT
The Radeon HD 2600 XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 7 2013. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 725 MHz. It has 480 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 25W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 283 points.
GeForce 9600 GS
The GeForce 9600 GS 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: 282 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 2600 XT scores 283 and the GeForce 9600 GS reaches 282 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 2600 XT is built on TeraScale 2 while the GeForce 9600 GS uses G9x, both on 40 nm vs 65 nm. Shader units: 480 (Radeon HD 2600 XT) vs 224 (GeForce 9600 GS).
| Feature | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce 9600 GS |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 283 | 282 |
| Architecture | TeraScale 2 | G9x |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 65 nm |
| Shading Units | 480+114% | 224 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce 9600 GS |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon HD 2600 XT comes with 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce 9600 GS has 768 MB. The GeForce 9600 GS offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce 9600 GS |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.5 GB | 0.75 GB+50% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit+100% | 64-bit |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 2600 XT draws 25W versus the GeForce 9600 GS's 150W — a 142.9% difference. The Radeon HD 2600 XT is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 2600 XT) vs 350W (GeForce 9600 GS). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Legacy.
| Feature | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce 9600 GS |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 25W-83% | 150W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | Legacy |
| Length | — | 229mm |
| Height | — | 111mm |
| Slots | — | 1 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 90 |
| Perf/Watt | 11.3+495% | 1.9 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 2600 XT launched at $199 MSRP and currently averages $40, while the GeForce 9600 GS launched at $0 and now averages $0. The GeForce 9600 GS costs 100+% less ($40 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 7.1 (Radeon HD 2600 XT) vs Infinity (GeForce 9600 GS) — the GeForce 9600 GS offers Infinity% better value. The Radeon HD 2600 XT is the newer GPU (2013 vs 2008).
| Feature | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce 9600 GS |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199 | $0-100% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40 | $0-100% |
| Performance per Dollar | 7.1 | Infinity |
| Codename | Thames | NB9E-GTX |
| Release | January 7 2013 | July 15 2008 |
| Ranking | #883 | #825 |
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