Like Asus, MSI is rolling out five different graphics cards based on the GeForce 8600. Instead of just sending us a base model, MSI provided its higher-clocked NX8600GTS and NX8600GT versions of the GeForce 8600 GTS and GT. To provide some additional perspective on how mid-range cards compare with more budget models, they also threw in a juiced up NX8500GT version of the GeForce 8500 GT.

MSI has traditionally been one of the more conservative add-in board makers, so it's nice to see the company eager to offer higher-than-stock clock speeds, especially on budget cards like the NX8500GT. In fact, the NX8500GT enjoys the most aggressive core clock boost, from a stock 400MHz all the way up to 460MHz.

The NX8500GT is otherwise simple fare. This sub-$100 card may have a higher frequency graphics core, but its memory runs at the 8500 GT's default 400MHz. You only get one DVI output, as well, although it's still of the dual-link variety. Cooling is provided by a simple, single-slot fan similar to designs we've seen on slews of budget graphics cards.

Things get a little more interesting when we upgrade to the NX8600GT, which features 580MHz core and 800MHz memory clocks that outpace the 8600 GT's stock 540MHz core and 700MHz memory speeds. The nearly 15% boost in memory clock speed should be particularly handy given the 8600 GT's relatively narrow 128-bit memory bus.

Nvidia's reference design for the 8600 GT doesn't include an auxiliary power connector, and apparently, running the card at faster-than-stock speeds doesn't significantly change its power requirements, because MSI didn't add one. This card does sport an SLI bridge connector along with a pair of dual-link DVI outputs, though. Its cooler is also much beefier than what we saw on the 8500 GT—still a single-slot design, but with much more surface area and a shroud to direct airflow over the heatsink's radiator fins.

Further up MSI's NX8600 line, we find the GTS. This card has a 700MHz core clock and 1050MHz memory, only slightly faster than the GTS's default 675MHz core and 1000MHz memory clocks. That won't make it much faster than a stock-clocked 8600 GT, but the massive double-wide cooler could keep GPU temperatures lower and aid with additional overclocking.

The NX8600GTS' dual-slot cooler features an array of cooling fins above the graphics chip and an elevated blower that's a little louder than we expected. We'll reveal the results of our noise level tests in a moment, but for now, note that the card's expansion slot cover features extensive venting to allow warm air to be more easily expelled from the system. This arrangement won't necessarily keep the graphics card cooler, but it should help to lower overall system temperatures.

As is customary for a GeForce 8600 GTS, the NX comes with auxiliary six-pin PCIe power connector tucked under the elevated blower. The board layout and components appear to directly follow Nvidia's reference design, as well.

MSI doesn't provide much in the way of software or flashy games with these cards, but they do pack in a generous collection of hardware. The NX8600GTS, for example, comes with a pair of DVI-to-VGA adapters, a six-pin PCIe power adapter, an output dongle that can handle S-Video and component output, and an S-Video cable. There are fewer extras included with the other cards, but only because they don't need some of the accessories. The NX8600GT, for example, doesn't come with a six-pin PCIe power connector because it doesn't have an auxiliary power connector onboard. You lose one of the DVI-to-VGA adapters with the NX8500GT, as well, but that's fine because the card only has a single DVI output.

All three cards are covered under a three years parts, two years labor warranty. That falls a little short of the three years of total coverage offered by Asus and Gigabyte, but it does guarantee the cards at their factory "overclocked" speeds.