Nvidia geforce GT 240 1 GB or Nvidia geforce 9600 GT 1 GB

They are similar in performance with the edge maybe going to 9600gt http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5570,2552... but the GT240 is newer tech.

An HD5670 is better than either and DX11 compatible.

the gt 240 is basicly a renamed 9600gt but takes less power, the 96gt may be a frame or so faster...id personally get the gt 240 with gddr5 and for cooler temps

No, it really isn't.

Not at all! 9600gt has 64 stream processors on a 65nm fabrication technology, is dx10 compliant and uses a gddr3 memory bus. GT240 is based on a 40nm fabrication, has 96 stream processors, is DX10.1 compliant and uses GDDR5 (at least it should...gddr3 models are poo). The gt240 is clocked lower and may have lower theoretical specs but with the gddr5 outperforms the 9600gt when running a higher resolution. I'd take it over a 9600gt any day. My friend has a 240 and has no problem OCing it to 750mhz core where it's an absolute monster for such a budget card. Makes about 4800ppd running Folding@Home too if that matters to you.

Well there are the 9600gso's which were semi disabled g92 cores (96sp) at first and then they turned into semi disabled g94s (48sp) but the 9600gt has always been a g94 with 64 stream processors. The the low power one is just clocked 50mhz lower.

If I remember properly the low power 9600GTs have reference clocks. It is the low power 9800GTs that are lowered by 50 mhz.