Legit Reviews

The 9600gso http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814121255 or
the 9800gt http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814127379

I would side with the 9600gso BUT typically you can't get a rebate on two cards, but one per house hold. Even then it still might be the best folding to the buck. Does someone have the definitive word here?

I would say the 9600gso for folding(if you don't intend to play games), but send the rebate to another household (parents, grandparents, brothers, etc)


I do like the glaciator fansink on that card too. Same one as my 8800gt has and it is whisper silent at full speed.

would be doing some gaming to.

Personally, (if funds permit) I would go with the 9800gt then.

no doubt about it- the 9800.

well if I get two then I would have three systems that could do some gaming at 1280x1024 OR would have the one that isn't a gaming system one that is a 1280x1024 system and one that can go 1680x1050.

I'd say the 9800GT. It outruns the 9600GSO in Folding without question (about 5-600ppd)... and it's gaming ability is pretty impressive as well. The way the card performed during the review in both Folding and the games I threw at it actually surprised me. After the fiasco that was Crysis, I never expected a $120 video card to run Crysis Warhead, but the MSI 9800GT played it very smoothly at 1280x1024.

As for fan speed and noise, I never saw the card get over 63 deg C with the fan set to auto (around 63% most of the time) and the noise level wasn't bad at all. Hard to be more specific about the sound, since the test system is in an Antec 900 with 5 120mm and 1 200mm fans of it's own.

Go with the 9800GT just like the others were saying. The performance over the 9800GS or the 9600GSO is noticeable in many circumstances. Plus if you get the 9800GT, you will not have to worry about having an outdated card as much as if you would get the other ones.