A 9600SE is DirectX9 hardware, a 9200 is DirectX8
However, the 9600SE is a slugged version of a 9600, so lets wander through Tom's tests
http://www20.graphics.tomshardware.c...229/index.html
UT2003 - neither set the world alight, 9200 wins slightly, but the DX& hardware GF4 MX440 is also keeping up with this trailing pack.
BF1942 - a clear win for 9600SE, and on a level with a Geforce FX5200 - another entry level DX9 card
COD - clear win for 9200 - the 9600SE takes a dive - this test seems to value DX8 performance, and the 9200 has more of that than than the 9600SE
Q3TA - 9200 wins again
WC3 - another win for the 9200 (this is getting tedious!)
C&C Gen - a small win for the 9600SE
Halo - a whitewash to the 9600SE - it competes (low) in the DX9 event, while the 9200 has to settle for the runners up DX8 match
Nascar - 9200 wins
X2 - a small win to the 9600SE
Aquamark 3 - a win to the 9600SE
The 9600SE can do DX9 - Pixel shader 2.0 etc., but it's a slow card.
The 9200 (so long as there isn't an SE in that as well) is a faster card, but only has DX8 support - eg. Pixel shader 1.4
I guess you take your choice - the performance of the 9200 or the DX9 features (that MAY become more important) of the 9600SE - though anything that leans heavily on DX9 features, is going to be a strain