The link I posted
 http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/benchmarks,30.html
will give specific frame rates for each board for the following games:

Assassins Creed v1.02

Call of Duty 4 v1.6

Enemy Territory: Quake Wars v1.4

Half Life 2 Episode 2

Mass Effect

Microsoft Flight Simulator X SP2

World in Conflict v1.05

Sum of FPS Benchmarks[if your favorite game isn't listed]

At the following resolution and quality settings:

 (1280x1024, 0xAA, Trilinear, max. Quality)

 (1680x1050, 0xAA, Trilinear, max. Quality)

 (1920x1200, 0xAA, Trilinear, max. Quality)

 (1280x1024, 4xAA, Game AF, max. Quality)

 (1680x1050, 4xAA, Game AF, max. Quality)

 (1920x1200, 4xAA, Game AF, max. Quality)

This should give you a pretty good idea.

How much for a simple 9800GT/HD 4830 512mb card? If they are roughly the same price I would suggest you get one of those instead as that extra ram is wasted on that card.

geez that's expensive for a 9600gt! nonethless, good luck with whatever you purchase.

Allrigth, I was loking and I found a HD4870 for USD $300.

Do you tink its a better invesment than the 9600gt?

Much better.

You'll practically double your frame rates.