Intel Modern IGP (X3000, X3100, X3500)

This is what someone I know who had an 8600GTS told me, which seemed to contradict benchmarks. He didn't keep the card for long before upgrading to an 8800GT which he still has now, rightfully so, for 1680x1050 res the card is still fast enough.
I'll be running those Crysis benches today btw, I haven't forgotten...

 

Cool, post it in the graphics card thread when you do

At least the 7600GT was considered good for its time. It was faster than all previous generation cards except maybe an X850XT. The 8600GTS is faster than a 7800GT and maybe as fast as a 7900GS, which isn't even very fast. And the X1950Pro/7900GT blow it away.

That's why the 9600GT is so impressive. It released at $180 and dropped right to $150 in a few weeks. It is faster than an 8800GTS 640MB and is about the same speed as the HD3870. It's a worthy step up from the $100 HD3850 512MB as well. This makes it a sweet value to budget gamers who need the most for their money.

 

There have been several landmark graphics cards, the 8800GTX is certainly one of them, and I'd consider the X1900XT, 8800GT, HD4850 and even the 8400GS to be in that list (mainly because it's so ludicrously cheap and not actually complete garbage). Others include the 7600GT, 9800 Pro and GeForce 4 Ti4200. They were all good for their time from either a performance, or value standpoint.
The 9600GT is good, but it came at a difficult time for graphics and realistically, I think the 8800GT takes the biscuit over it.

 

I think it hits a sweet spot though. It's still not quite as expensive as the 8800GT and usually offers ~90% of the performance. I have several friends who have picked a 9600GT over the 8800GT.

My list goes something like this:

GeForce Ti 4200
9800Pro 128MB
6600GT
7600GT
3850 512MB
3870
8800GT
8800GTX
4850
4870
9600GT

I'm sure there have been others as well. But those are the ones that stick out in my mind as a great value or just completely unchallenged for their time.

 

Ah yes, forgot the 6600GT.