The GeForce 9600 GT Green Edition is NVIDIA's newest SKU that is based on an energy-efficient variant of the GeForce 9600 GT graphics processor. The SKU maintains the G94 GPU design, except for that it is built on the newer 55 nm silicon process (model: G94-350-B1), that is expected to add to its energy efficiency, also that the GPU makes do with a lower core voltage of around 1.0V from its original 1.1V figure on the 65 nm variant. At its default voltage setting the GPU uses reference clock speeds of 625/1625/900 MHz (core/shader/memory).

Galaxy designed its first accelerator based on the new GPU, to which it added its own set of innovations. The card uses a jumper to allow users to manually set the GPU voltage. At its default state (pins 1-2 short), the GPU operates at 1.0V, but when pins 2-3 are short, the GPU voltage enters a "pressurized state" (increases). When the jumper is removed (neither pins short), the GPU voltage plummets to 0.8V. The Galaxy accelerator needs the 6-pin PCI-E power connector for operation. The GPU is cooled by a classic Zalman VF703 Al cooler, while the memory is passively cooled under its air-flow.

Pictures of the one of the first indigenously designed PCB for the GeForce GTX 260 by Galaxy has been pictured by Chinese website PCPop.com, that show a distinct blue PCB and cooling system. Galaxy chooses to call this accelerator the GTX 260+, perhaps to indicate that it is the newest version (55nm, 216 SP), which the marking on the GPU validates. The accelerator seems to be exclusive for the Asian market. The PCB uses a five phase power circuit. All the memory chips are on the anterior end of the PCB.

The cooling system of the card consists of heatsinks over key components of the PCB: the NVIO2 processor, the VRM area and the memory chips. The GPU is cooled by a massive cooler that can trick you for a CPU cooler. It seems to span across at least three slots. It consists of a contact block from which four heat pipes emerge, that convey heat to large aluminum fin array that is cooled by what looks like a 120mm LED-lit fan. The accelerator is backed by Galaxy's Magic Panel software that monitors the various parameters of the card and controls them. In the first screen-shot below, the core seems to be set at 750 MHz (core), 1575 MHz (shader) and 1300/2600 DDR MHz (memory), with a certain temperature reading (most likely the core) showing a temperature of 43 °C. The card secured a 3DMark Vantage score of P14480 on a Core i7-based test bench. The card also dealt with an ongoing FurMark session where at the same speeds, it was running at 67 °C, showing the cooling efficiency of this card.

Expreview has got its hands on the NVIDIA Forceware Beta Driver 180.32 and used it to setup and enable SLI with two Galaxy GTX260-216, on an Asus P6T Deluxe motherboard. The cards scored a 3DMark Vantage score of P21623, compared against a single card score of P10920 gives an approximate 98% increase. Currently it is only possible to enable SLI officially on NVIDIA based chipsets, only AMD's equivalent Crossfire system works on Intel chipsets. It is evident that the 180 series of Forceware drivers from NVIDIA (dubbed Big Bang II) not only brings multi-monitor SLI support, but also paves the way to enabling SLI on the Intel X58 Chipset. In another article, Expreview have also mentioned that the beta driver 180.42, will be officially released from NVIDIA later on today, with the final version set for November 17th this year, coinciding with the launch of Intel's Core i7 and X58.

Picture this: DDR2 and DDR3 memory, Integrated GeForce 9400 GT graphics, and SLI, all rolled into one. Galaxy has announced such a motherboard, that utilises a special variant of the NVIDIA MCP7A core logic, the MCP7A-D SLI. Galaxy is ready with its fleet of MCP7A-series motherboards. It has released three models based on this chipset, two of which, offer integrated graphics and SLI. When in SLI mode, 16 PCI-Express lanes are split into dual x8 lanes for both the graphics cards.

There is an upscale version that sports 100% sold capacitor design, and 8-channel audio and DVI + D-Sub output, while a lite version sports solid capacitors on the VRM area, and 6-channel audio. Both motherboards sport active cooling for the chipset, with a fan blowing air on the horizontal plane of the cooler. Both motherboards provide an HDMI port, support DDR2 and DDR3 memory, support Hybrid SLI and GeForce Boost technologies, and provides as many as eight SATA II ports on board. There is a third m-ATX board, that is an entry-level offering. It uses the MCP7A-S core, nForce 730i chipset and embeds a GeForce 9300-class IGP. It supports DDR2 memory, and provides six SATA II ports on board. Galaxy is yet to announce pricing and release dates.

Over the years, market trends show entry-level discrete graphics on the decline. People would rather choose a motherboard with onboard graphics. Industry heavy-weights such as AMD and NVIDIA sought to cash in on that trend by introducing desktop chipsets with nearly the same amounts of graphics processing power as those of discrete graphics at the grass-root level. For companies like Galaxy, a partner of NVIDIA, it meant moving from selling high-end nForce 680i motherboards to some inexpensive ones while continuing to sell graphics cards. Earlier, they had come up with an Intel Atom embedded ATX motherboard. This time around its their micro-ATX motherboard called iG31MX, based on the Intel G31 desktop chipset that's making news for an impressive performance with its overclocking capabilities.

Using a Wolfdale E5200 CPU that has a stock speed of 2.50 GHz, this board allowed overlocking up to 3.25 GHz at reference vCore value of 1.2 V. With the voltage stepped up to 1.36 V, the board took that limit further up to 3.68 GHz. An impressive feat given the market position of this motherboard and a price tag of US $43. The board powers the CPU using a 3 phase circuit, provides two memory slots and integrated Intel GMA 3100 graphics. Galaxy made sure this board was fat-free so it could be delivered at a low price-point. It features the older ICH7 southbridge, only one PCI slot apart from a PCI-Express x16, 6-channel audio and 10/100 ethernet interface. The PCB is cut to size with just enough area to seat all the components. The essentials are taken care of sans the bells and whistles.

Following several companies coming up with nettop embedded platform boards based on the Intel Atom processor, Galaxy seems to have taken the initiative to build a ATX size board. This board features an Atom 230 processor aided by the i945GC + ICH7 chipset. It features a PCI-Express x16 slot along with five PCI slots. The i945GC provides integrated Graphics Media Accerator 950 to handle display, while the ICH7 provides four SATA ports. The board provides two DDR2 slots for 533 MHz or 667 MHz modules. The provision of a fan connector near the CPU suggests active cooling for the CPU.

The board provides only a D-Sub connector for display output though, several smaller form-factor boards even include DVI connectors, something that's lacking here. There's 8-channel audio provided, and the PCI-Express x16 provides the option of upgrading the graphics sub-system though don't expect to build a gaming machine out of this, it uses only an Atom 230 that isn't top of the line for Atom series either. Besides, Galaxy seems to building this for the OEMs, indications are this won't hit the retail market.

Low-profile add-on cards are a boon for builders of PCs with slim form-factor, the kind which takes form of home-theater PC (HTPC) and slim business PCs. Targeting the HTPC consumer segment, Galaxy prepares a low-profile graphics card featuring the 55nm G94 graphics processor (GPU), the new GeForce 9600 GT.

From the picture it can be seen that the card comes with two connectors, the S-Video/composite and HDMI. There could be a HDMI-DVI dongle included for standard output, a digital audio input offers audio pass over HDMI for a single connection to the display making the card HDCP compliant. The GPU uses 650MHz/1625MHz/900MHz(Core/Shader/Memory) parameters. It features 512 MB memory, and a surprising 8-layer PCB to minimise electronic noise in dense environments such as compact HTPC chassis. It features an all solid-state capacitor design.

Galaxy Technology has prepared one of the first non-reference products based on the G92 chipset. Several major modifications were made in order to push this card to the limits and be more overclock friendly. The PCB has been changed to dissipate the heat in a split second while the graphics processing unit's power management has been redone to obtain three phase power supply. Also equipped is a better cooling device with two heatpipes to keep the card running cool and stable.

Galaxy Technology is proud to announce that it enters the motherboard business. Galaxy decided to develop the most powerful motherboard based on the newest nForce 680i chipset. The GALAXY nForce 680i board follows NVIDIA's reference design as seen by the specifications and PCB layout. To obtain further information, please click here.