Gigabyte GeForce 8600GTS 256MB

Examination:

Compared to the 8600GT, NVIDIA's reference specifications for the 8600GTS call for a 675MHz core clock (a 135MHz increase over the GT), 1450MHz shader clock (260MHz increase), and 1000MHz memory clock (300MHz increase). Both the GeForce 8600GT and 8600GTS utilize 256MB of video memory and a 128-bit interface.

While the Silent-Pipe II found on the 8600GT was faintly similar to what we found on the Gigabyte 8500GT, the third incarnation of the Silent-Pipe had a radical makeover. Gigabyte's Silent-Pipe III is much larger and has turned to being a dual-slot solution. The Silent-Pipe III even has a series of fins that extend past the expansion slot to the rear of the computer. The cooler is made up of two parts, with the copper heatpipes connecting both areas. The cooler is quite heavy but is built very well.

The NVIDIA GeForce 8600GTS doesn't require any external PCI-E power connector, as all of the needed power is supplied by the PCI Express x16 slot. This graphics card is SLI compatible. At the rear of the graphics card are two dual-link DVI connectors as well as video out support using the included adapter.