Just before the introduction of the upcoming Geforce 9 series, MSI is sneaking out another update of the Geforce 8600 GT, namely the NX8600GT OC-Edition. This model features a powerful fan as well as an overclocked graphics processing unit (GPU), memory and shader unit. By default, a Geforce 8600 GT would run at the following speeds: 540 MHz / 700 MHz / 1180 MHz (GPU/mem/shader). Instead, MSI’s model is set to 580 MHz / 800 MHz / 1508 MHz (GPU/mem/shader). Overall, this gives the 8600 GT Shader OC-Edition an advantage of about 10 percent in overall performance compared to Sapphire’s HD 3650 OC Edition.

A closer look at the card’s gaming performance shows us where specifically MSI’s tweaks bear fruits. In BlackSite Area 51 (UT3 Engine), the Geforce 8600 GT OC is a little slower than the Radeon HD 3650. Like the other cards before it, the 8600 GT is unable to provide sufficient performance for DirectX 10 mode. Call of Duty 4 runs a little better on the 8600 GT than on the HD 3650, allowing FSAA up to a resolution of 1280 x 1024 with smooth frame rates. Crysis is playable in the Medium setting at lower resolutions. Higher resolutions only become an option if you are willing to reduce the graphics quality to Low. Overall, the game runs 2 to 5 fps faster on the 8600 GT OC than on the HD 3650 OC. Sporting only 256 MB, MSI’s card lacks the video memory for High Quality mode.

HalfLife 2 Episode 2 works better on the HD 3650 without FSAA enabled. Once edge smoothing is enabled, the Nvidia card pulls ahead of its competitor with enough performance for smooth gameplay on a 19” screen. MS Flight Simulator X runs almost twice as fast on the 8600 GT compared to the HD 3650 due to Nvidia’s better optimizations. At high resolutions coupled with FSAA, it is once more haunted by its limited video memory. Prey is a little smoother, with the Nvidia card clearly faster than its ATI rival with FSAA enabled. Despite being an overclocked model, the 8600 GT doesn’t really pack enough performance for World in Conflict, providing minimally lower frame rates than the HD 3650. Thus, the bottom line for the Geforce 8600 GT is also that at the end of the day, it too is too slow for DirectX 10 and high resolutions.

MSI’s Geforce 8600 GT Shader OC enjoys one clear advantage, though. It is about 10 percent faster while costing €20 less. If you’re building a gaming-capable HTPC for HD Videos and don’t mind using your sound card for 5.1 audio instead of an HDMI port, then the 8600 GT is the more frugal choice. If you want to transmit both video and audio information to the display using HDMI and won’t mind the minimal performance delta, then Sapphire’s HD 3650 is a good pick for you.