GeoForce FX 5200 64 is it worth it?

[stanlin810]

I am currently using a Radeon 7000. I can get a FX 5200 64 meg for $60
bucks. I only run my computer at 800x600. I do play some 3d games and use
the TV Out to play DVD movies etc.

Is this a worthwhile upgrade? How is the TV Out on the FX5200? Is the
DirectX 9 for real on this card?

 

[Rob Fisher]

Just get a Radeon 9200

 

[Bish]

I recently purchased an FX 5200 Ultra and it did produce a noticeable
improvement over my old card, a GeForce2 GTS, but that was the 128 bit/128
MB model. The card you are referring to is definitely NOT the card you want
for DX9 games because of its lower clock speed and 64-bit architecture. By
some accounts you should "stay away" from these cards. By the time DX9 games
appear later this year, your 5200 will be basically useless. However if you
using the card for watching movies, it's probably fine and NVIDIA provides
DVD playback software in the box. For DX9 gaming, i would go for a mid-level
card such as the FX 5600 line or a 9600 series Radeon.

 

[Chimera]

Is this a worthwhile upgrade? How is the TV Out on the FX5200? Is the
DirectX 9 for real on this card?

TV out is not bad, but I prefer my Radeon cards.

 

[Larry Roberts]

I am currently using a Radeon 7000. I can get a FX 5200 64 meg for $60
bucks. I only run my computer at 800x600. I do play some 3d games and use
the TV Out to play DVD movies etc.

Is this a worthwhile upgrade? How is the TV Out on the FX5200? Is the
DirectX 9 for real on this card?

If you go for an FX5200, do not get a 64MB board as they are
all 64bit memory bus, and half the memory bandwidth of a 128bit card.
You'd be better off getting a 128MB FX5200 with a 128bit memory bus.
You have to make sure what your getting as many vendors are passing
the 64bit versions at cheap prices.

 

[Gary Young]

Just food for thought. Same system with an ATI 8500 produced 3dMark 2001
score of 9,300; with a 128 mb FX5200 with 64 bit memory, the score was
5,555. OUCH! The DX 9 capability of the card is a joke because it is so
slow in games. I didn't keep the card long enough to test its other
capabilities.

 

[Dragon]

Cheap prices which aren't all that cheap. There's only one store that
I know of in Toronto that carries a 64bit 128MB board (which I didn't
buy) but the price difference between that board and the 128bit/128MB
boards at the same store and at competitors is about $5Canadian. Take
the lead of most of the stores in Toronto, and don't even bother with
the 64bit version.

Gary,just bought a FX5200 128mb and the bus speed is shown as 256 bit.It
was $124.Cad (below $75 US?) as an OEM board with no
extras(remote,games,cables not included). Take your card back and go for
the latest 128mg. It is a value board at that price but it does the job
now and should hold its own for a while. Was a long time ATI fan until
they stopped supporting my 64mg Rage Fury Maxx which was a truly smokin'
board.These FX5200 boards are cheap and the 256 bit seems to handle
everything I can throw at it.And it appears to be real on the DX9 end of
things.Course this is just my experience of the last week and may be due
to the "new shiny stuff" syndrome,but most benchmarks I've seen show the
5200 128mg holds its own in that price range.Top of the line boards are
ATI but you spend top of the line money.I wanted cheap and easy but not
a grandpa board in three months.As MCheu said "don't even bother with
the 64bit version."