It’s been a long time coming, but it looks like the GPU industry finally figured out the fact that most consumers don’t want to blow a couple grand on an SLI setup, they just want to play Crysis debt-free. The new GeForce 9600 GT from NVIDIA is an answer to those prayers, offering solid performance ratings nearly in line with last-gen’s 8800 GT, at a completely lovable $199-and-under pricepoint. For now the top of the performance charts is still the 8800 Ultra – as NVIDIA will readily admit – but the 9600 GT is just the first of NVIDIA’s GeForce 9 series, and while it’s sure to be followed by bigger, badder and more expensive versions, it’s refreshing to see the 9600 hitting the market first.

Nvidia’s GeForce 9600 GT 512MB is a great performer, as long as it hits the right price point. If it doesn’t, there’s even more of a reason to buy the GeForce 8800 GT than there ever was before – it just goes to show how great that product really was for gamers. Thankfully, there are a few partners and retailers out there willing to charge what the card should ship at instead of what they’d like it to be in order to cash in on the sales rush at launch.

Simply put, don’t pay any more than $199 for a GeForce 9600 GT – regardless of whether it’s a standard card or one with a factory overclock.