NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GSO 512

The NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GSO 512 is a Tesla-architecture graphics card from NVIDIA, fabricated by TSMC on a 65 nm process with 505 million transistors in a 240 mm² die. Released on 2008-10-22 as part of the GeForce 9 generation, it combines 48 shading units, 24 texture units, and 16 ROPs with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory on a 256-bit bus, producing 57.60 GB/s of bandwidth. Its throughput figures are 156.0 GFLOPS FP32, 10.40 GPixel/s pixel fill, and 15.60 GTexel/s texture fill. The database ranks it at the 50th percentile of all GPUs.

Benchmark Performance

The 9600 GSO 512 has no recorded benchmark entries and an average benchmark score of zero, so the assessment rests on its 50th percentile placement and its architectural figures. The 50th percentile is the defining statistic: half of all GPUs in the database are slower, half are faster. This is a mid-pack card in the truest sense — not a low-end part, not a performance leader.

The compute figures align with that position. 156.0 GFLOPS of FP32 throughput comes from 48 shading units — enough for the DirectX 10-class workloads this card targets, but not for anything heavier. The pixel rate of 10.40 GPixel/s and texture rate of 15.60 GTexel/s are balanced; neither the ROP stage nor the TMU stage is an obvious bottleneck relative to the shader array. Memory bandwidth of 57.60 GB/s over a 256-bit bus is the standout specification — a wide interface feeding a modest compute core, which helps in bandwidth-bound scenarios.

The memory runs at 900 MHz with an effective data rate of 1800 Mbps. The 256-bit bus is the key detail: it gives the card 57.60 GB/s of bandwidth, a figure that matters in games that stream large textures, though the 512 MB capacity limits how many textures can be stored at once.

The nearestRivals list is empty, so no percentage deltas against specific competitors are available. The data that does exist — the 50th percentile, the 156.0 GFLOPS, the 57.60 GB/s — describes a card built for consistent mid-range performance rather than peaks. Its transistor density of 2.1M / mm², derived from 505 million transistors across 240 mm², reflects the 65 nm process of its era. The 16 ROPs produce the 10.40 GPixel/s fill rate, and the 24 texture units produce the 15.60 GTexel/s texture rate; these are proportional figures for a card of this class.

Who Should Consider It

This card is for the builder creating a period-correct system or a secondary machine for legacy games. The 512 MB frame buffer is the hard limit: games that fit within 512 MB of video memory will run, and those that do not will thrash. The 57.60 GB/s bandwidth cannot compensate for capacity shortfalls, so the memory size is the primary constraint.

The 50th percentile placement means it handles the median workload in a benchmark suite. For gaming titles contemporary with its 2008-10-22 release, the 10.40 GPixel/s pixel rate and 15.60 GTexel/s texture rate are adequate for moderate detail settings. The 16 ROPs pair sensibly with the 256-bit bus; there is no mismatch between memory width and render output capacity. The DirectX 11.1 (10_0) feature level means the card runs DirectX 10-class games natively, and the 11.1 API exposure allows some newer applications to launch, but the 10_0 feature level caps what they can do.

The physical design broadens its appeal. A single-slot card at 229 mm (9 inches) long fits in most cases, and the 90 W TDP means cooling is not a challenge. Users with a 250 W power supply can run it without upgrades. This is not a card for modern, demanding titles — its 50th percentile standing and 512 MB memory make that clear — but for the right workload, it is a coherent and sufficient part.

The 2x DVI and 1x S-Video outputs mean users with modern monitors will need adapters. The PCIe 2.0 x16 interface is the bus connection.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

There is no ray tracing hardware here. The specification lists no RT cores and no tensor cores — both fields are null. This is a Tesla-architecture part from 2008.

The API support is limited by the era. DirectX 11.1 is exposed, but only at the 10_0 feature level, meaning the hardware implements DirectX 10 functionality with the 11.1 API layer on top. OpenGL 3.3 is supported. No Vulkan support is listed.

Display outputs are 2x DVI and 1x S-Video. The bus interface is PCIe 2.0 x16. There are no modern display connectors, so users need adapters for HDMI or DisplayPort monitors. The feature set is appropriate for legacy software from the GeForce 8/9 era, but it lacks modern API support — no Vulkan, no hardware ray tracing, no tensor acceleration.

Power and Cooling

The 9600 GSO 512 has a 90 W TDP. The recommended power supply is 250 W, and the card draws power through a single 6-pin PCIe connector. These are modest requirements — a 90 W card with a 250 W PSU recommendation leaves headroom for the rest of a typical system.

The cooler is single-slot, and the card measures 229 mm (9 inches) in length. The 65 nm process and 505 million transistors produce a heat load that a single-slot cooler can manage at 90 W. Builders should verify that their power supply includes a 6-pin connector and that their case can fit a 229 mm card. The single-slot profile leaves adjacent expansion slots available, which is an advantage over thicker cards.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals list is empty, so there are no direct competitor scores or percentage deltas to cite. The comparison must come from the database's contextual data and the card's generational position.

vs. GeForce 8 (predecessor): The 9600 GSO 512 is a GeForce 9 part that succeeds the GeForce 8 line. Its 50th percentile placement indicates it improved on the mainstream position of its predecessor, but the database does not provide specific scores for the GeForce 8 to quantify the gap. The 65 nm process and 505 million transistors represent the manufacturing technology shared across this transition.

vs. GeForce 200 (successor): The GeForce 200 series followed this card. The 9600 GSO 512's 50th percentile standing would place it below the newer parts, but no rival data exists to confirm the margin. The 2008-10-22 release date puts it late in the GeForce 9 product cycle.

vs. the overall GPU population: At exactly the 50th percentile, this card is the statistical midpoint of every GPU in the database. Its 156.0 GFLOPS of FP32 compute, 57.60 GB/s of memory bandwidth, and 10.40 GPixel/s pixel rate are the specifications that define that middle position. It is the database's median card — a useful reference point for comparing other GPUs.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory configuration of the 9600 GSO 512?

A: It has 512 MB of GDDR3 on a 256-bit bus, with 57.60 GB/s of bandwidth and an effective memory speed of 1800 Mbps (900 MHz).

Q: Does this card support ray tracing?

A: No. The specification lists no ray tracing cores and no tensor cores; it is a Tesla-architecture card from 2008.

Q: What power supply does it need?

A: The suggested PSU is 250 W, and the card requires a single 6-pin PCIe connector. Its TDP is 90 W.

Q: What APIs does it support?

A: DirectX 11.1 at the 10_0 feature level and OpenGL 3.3. No Vulkan support is listed.

Q: How long is the card?

A: It is 229 mm (9 inches) long and uses a single-slot design.

Q: What display outputs are available?

A: It has 2x DVI and 1x S-Video outputs.