ASUS EN8600GTS and Foxconn 8600GT-256

Final thoughts, HEXUS certification, HEXUS.where2buy, HEXUS.right2reply, further reading

So what we have here is a pair of cards that - at least in outright performance terms - offer questionable value for money.

Each has a quiet cooler and NVIDIA's PureVideo HD technology built in but only the ASUS EN8600GTS has the HDCP-enabled outputs needed for playing back high-definition content such as movies on Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD.

Given that AMD has made this standard across the entire Radeon HD range, it's a shame that NVIDIA hasn't done the same.

It's also sad that Foxconn didn't take up the HDCP option on its 8600GT-256. Without it, PureVideo HD on the Foxconn seems like wasted silicon.

But what about the compatibility with DirectX 10 that's offered by both new cards?

Support for DX 10 is all well and good but, given that these cards lack the power to truly shine with DirectX 9 titles, what are the odds that they'll be able to step up a gear and offer playable performance when DirectX 10 code becomes more available and developers want to crank the prettiness-dial up high?

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the real problem with both cards is the same one that applies across the entire 8600 range. Compared with previous-generation cards, the performance on offer doesn't justify the price.

NVIDIA's decision to move the G71 GPU down to the mid-market with the 7900GS is proving a thorn in its own side.

The 7900GS became popular because it brought a previously unaffordable level of performance to a wider market. Now, would prefer the 8600 to muscle in and take over but, according to our benchmark suite, it isn't up to the job.

Our price prediction places the ASUS EN8600GTS as one of the lowest-pitched 8600GTS cards on the market, and given the near-stock clock speeds, this is as you'd hope.

If you need HDCP output, support for DirectX 10 and a decent level of 3D performance, then the ASUS EN8600GTS gets our nod - at least until AMD sorts out its drivers for the HD 2600 XT.

The Foxconn, priced at around £93, may well be worth a punt if DX10 gaming is what you crave, but it's also difficult to recommend - especially given the fact that a 7600GT can outpace it in some of our older benchmarks.

The bonus of getting HDCP support is gone, so all you're left with is a mediocre-performing part at a price-point that's a few notches above what its 3D performance should let it aspire to. If you really want an 8600GT, then shop around - you can get one for considerably less.

Would we recommend either of these cards? If you need a quiet card for hi-def content playback - and only want to play a game every now and then, the ASUS EN8600GTS could be worth a look but don't expect lightning-fast performance.

As for the Foxconn, we wouldn't bother. What it offers is available from others for less money.

HEXUS.certification

The idea of HEXUS.certification is to confirm that a product tested does what it's supposed to do.

It's not an award, merely a confirmation that both cards successfully completed testing in the HEXUS labs.

ASUS EN8600GTS
Foxconn 8600GT-256

HEXUS Where2Buy

The ASUS EN8600GTS is availabe for around £124
The Foxconn 8600GT-256 is availabe for around £93

HEXUS Right2Reply

At HEXUS.net, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If representatives from ASUS or Foxconn choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.