14 DAY TRIAL // As you might have learned by now, NVIDIA is expected to add a couple of new graphics cards to its GeForce lineup, some of which are designed for mainstream and entry-level users. Since the launch date is getting noticeably closer (the GeForce 9800GT is set to arrive next week, on July 29), various versions of the card can be spotted all over the Internet. This is also the case with two ASUS cards that are based on the GeForce 9500GT GPU.
ASUS is one of the leading manufacturers of consumer hardware products, so the offering of overclocked NVIDIA-based cards comes as no surprise. Even more, according to the Fudzilla website, the Taiwanese manufacturer is ready to release two new versions of the 9500GT graphics processor, namely a TOP and an OC model. Unfortunately, technical details are not yet available, but the OC model is expected to be clocked higher than the TOP version.
The guys at Fudzilla were able to get their hands only on pictures of the cards, so we can't tell you with anything about the clock rates. However, what we can tell is that they will be dubbed EN9500GT TOP/DI/512M and EN9500GT OC/DI/512M, and that both cards will sport the same custom cooler ASUS has previously used on some of its other graphics boards. The differences between the two are rather small, with both of them featuring an HDMI, DVI and D-Sub connector. There's also an SLI connector, so users will be able to improve the performance of their systems with two or three of these cards coupled together.
As mentioned above, since details are scarce, no one can say what the suggested retail price will be, but we will probably know more about that come next week. It is then that the 9800GT is due to arrive, as ongoing rumors indicate, which means that NVIDIA could also drop the 9500GT.