Upgrading my 8600GTS to 9600GT?

[youpla]

First question is it worth the upgrade? knowing that my budget won't allow me to get a high end card like 9800 or 8800GTX etc...

Second important thing at the moment is that the card need to have a small PCB to fit in my actual PC. Although i could change my case, i would rather not at the moment. Thus the only card that i have seen with a similar length to my 8600GTS are some 9600GT from gigabyte, a little bit longer but should fit in. So far i haven't found a 8800GT with small PCB unfortunatly.

Third what would you consider the best? An overclocked version of the 9600GT with 512Mo RAM, the 9600GSO with 384Mo, or a 9600GT with 1Go?

I am indeed pretty much intereted in the 1Go version from Gigabyte:

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/VGA/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2804

what do you think is more important, faster clock or more RAM? knowing that i could probably overclock the card myself. Also the price of the 1Go card is in the range of a 8800GT 512Mo here...

 

[kataras]

as far as i am aware there is no length difference between 9600GT and 8800GT, they are exact same length. Also, tbh the difference between 512MB and gig, is so minimal that you wont even notice it. Its pretty pointless for manufacturers to put any more than 512Meg of ram on 8800GT or 9600GT. So id recommend to stretch your budget and get 8800GT instead, you will notice quite some difference in speed

 

[youpla]

thanks, i really thought the 9600GT from gigabyte was smaller than the 8800, well that ws the feeling i had in the shop when i saw the card. If the sizes are similar then i may have a problem...

although i read somewhere that gigabyte has a non standard blue PCB for some of his card. I really have to find out!

anyway another thing to consider is the heat and noise, i read that the 8800 are pretty hot and that the stock cooler is not that quiet. Is the 9600 cooler?