need help to choose a PCI video card

[AstralGoa]

Hi everybody,


I am currently doing some shopping around for a PCI video card. Throughout different stores in my area or online stores, here are my choices (in no particular order):
1. eVGA GeForce FX5200 128MB DDR with TV-Out and DVI.
2. PNY GeForce FX5500 128MB DDR wth TV-Out but no DVI.
3. BFG 3DFuzion GeForce FX5500 256MB DDR with TV-Out but no DVI.
4. BFG 3DFuzion GeForce FX5500 OC 256MB DDR with TV-Out but no DVI.

It read about it and it seems that the GeForce FX5200 and FX5500 are very similar, except for the GPU core clock:
- 250 MHz for the FX5200 (item #1).
- 270 MHz for the FX5500 (items #2 and #3).
- 290 MHz for the FX5500 OC by BFG (item #4).

Only the item #1 (FX5200) has a DVI output, which will be useful when I switch to an LCD monitor.

So, I have a few questions:
1. Do the FX5200 and FX5500 differ in more than just the GPU core clock ?
2. How much more performance would I get by getting an FX5500 compared to an FX5200 ?
3. If I get an FX5500, how much more performance would I get by getting 256MB DDR instead of 128MB DDR ?
4. Is this performance gain worth passing on the DVI output ?
5. If I get the FX5200, can I still overclock it to run as fast as an FX5500 ?


Thanks in advance.


Chris

 

[HardWareBoss]

What's your price range?

 

[AstralGoa]

I can afford all 4 items I listed in my post. These are the only 4 decent video cards I found on PCI slot in my area. Others I found were GeForce MX440 or Radeon 7000: they are quite a bit lower models compared to the GeForce FX5200 and FX5500. More specifically, more and more games use Pixel Shader today. The GeForce FX5200 and FX5500 are the only 2 PCI video card types I found that support Pixel Shader.

With AGP8x and PCI-Express being very popular, it's obviously harder to find a decent PCI video card nowadays.

I just need to know what the best choice is:
- get an FX5500 to gain performance over an FX5200 but lose the DVI.
- get an FX5200 and get the DVI.

 

[magneezo]

I would surely Hope there are better choices than the 5200....5500? Not Sure.
I bought a 5200 when it was introduced, and returned it the next day-of course I was expecting more from all of the FX hype at the time.
The Card is two years old at least.
The BFG Fuzion FX5500 OC is probably a good choice unless you NEED dvi
Good Luck.

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[cleeve]

A 5500 is nothing more than an overclocked 5200.

Do you plan to do any gaming? If not, just get the cheapest DVI card you can find. If you plan to game, read on...

You didn't mention what the memory is clocked at however... chances are these models have different memory clocks. And what's more important, do all these models have a 128-bit memory interface? Because if any have a 64-bit memory interaface, don't bother with them.

Assuming memory is clocked the same, and they all have a 128-bit memory interface, get the 5200 with DVI and overclock it yourself.
A 40 mhz overclock should be no problem, hell you can probably make it past 300mhz easy.

Having said all this, if you're interested in gaming on a budget, a used 9700 PRO on ebay will provide 2x the gaming performance of the 5200 or 5500 for probably less money, and will have DVI to boot.

If you need new, the Radeon 9550 will also destroy the 5200 and 5500 series cards (not nearly as good as the 9700 PRO would tho), once again, for probably the same price.

Avoid the Radeon 7000 and Geforce MX cards AT ALL COSTS if you plan to do any gaming.

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