upgrade video card on old machine...advise?

[Dom]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

I have an Athlon 700 Mhz machine with AGP 2x 32 MB card.
The machine has 256 MB of RAM, and I am running Windows XP - SP2.
The machine occassionally will have problems running a DVD and/or
editting photos (lack of available memory).
I dont play games (except some old ones I have from time to
time...which run fine).

I purchased a NVIDIA FX5200 128 MB/AGP 8x video card for $40 new.
I haven't received it yet.
I am thinking compared to what I have now, this should help elieviate
my problems until I decide to drop some serious money on a new PC
(sometime in 2006).

Based on my use for this card, and the minimal cost, am I correct in
believing that this should help with my problems?

(I dont have non-essential background pgms running...the machine is
pretty clean that way).

Thanks for any advise/comments!
DGC

 

[Dom]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

By the way - my existing video card is an NVIDIA TNT2 32mb 2x agp card.

Thanks for any advise/comments
Dom

 

[Dom]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

MCGrandpa,

My doc says the motherbd AGP slot is AGP66/133 mhz 3.3v device support.
Is the 3.3v the rating you refer to (1.5v signaling)?
If so - will it support it? I dont know if the number being higher is
a bad thing or good thing?

THX!
Dom

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

I'm not optimistic that an AGP 3.0 card like the 5200 will be
back-compatible with your system. Be sure to check the notches in the card
against the AGP slot to see whether it would fit physically. Don't force it.

This link may be confusing, but it may give you some idea of what you're
facing:

http://www.ertyu.org/~steven_nikkel/agpcompatibility.html

If you have an original AGP 1.0 slot (supports 1X and 2X), you may need a
card no newer than a Geforce 4. (I used a GF4 4200 in an AGP 1.0 mainboard,
successfully.) Unfortunately, they may be hard to find new.

It seems like a 32 MB TNT2 card ought to be adequate for viewing DVDs and
photo editing. (More video memory may be required for 3D gaming, which you
say you don't want.) For example: a 1600X1200 pixel image in 32 bit color
would require less than 8 MB of memory to display. 32 MB of video memory
ought to support several layers of buffering on that, which means that it
ought to be adequate for all 2D functions. (I know this is a naive way of
looking at it, but it ought to be basically correct.)

I didn't use it much for watching DVDs, but my old desktop machine at work
had a 32 MB TNT2 graphics card, and it played DVDs smoothly. (It was a 1 GHz
PIII machine, with 512 MB of RAM. It was a fairly nice machine when it was
new, in the fall of 2001.)

I suspect that you need more main RAM. 256 MB isn't a lot for XP. One
symptom of that would be excessive hard disk activity, indicating the use of
virtual memory. That would give jerky DVD playback, and delays in editing
still images.

HTH.

Address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

"Dom" <dgcam55@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1110849627.755764.158240@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> MCGrandpa,
>
> My doc says the motherbd AGP slot is AGP66/133 mhz 3.3v device support.
> Is the 3.3v the rating you refer to (1.5v signaling)?
> If so - will it support it? I dont know if the number being higher is
> a bad thing or good thing?
>
> THX!
> Dom
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

"Dom" <dgcam55@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1110813888.329155.213110@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com
> I have an Athlon 700 Mhz machine with AGP 2x 32 MB card.
> The machine has 256 MB of RAM, and I am running Windows XP - SP2.
> The machine occassionally will have problems running a DVD and/or
> editting photos (lack of available memory).
> I dont play games (except some old ones I have from time to
> time...which run fine).
>
> I purchased a NVIDIA FX5200 128 MB/AGP 8x video card for $40 new.
> I haven't received it yet.
> I am thinking compared to what I have now, this should help elieviate
> my problems until I decide to drop some serious money on a new PC
> (sometime in 2006).
>
> Based on my use for this card, and the minimal cost, am I correct in
> believing that this should help with my problems?
>
> (I dont have non-essential background pgms running...the machine is
> pretty clean that way).
>
> Thanks for any advise/comments!
> DGC

The only problem I see is that the FX5200 is a AGP 4x/8x card only.
Better check to see if your motherboard can do the 1.5v signalling. If
the card won't fit easily into the slot, don't try to force it. That
means it's not meant to work in that older slot.

 

[Dom]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Funny - I went to the XFX website and there is no specific information
on this.
I did a google on v1 (2x) and v2 (4x) and learned that only "universal"
cards will be backward compatible.
I learned that most RADEONs are universal type cards.

I didn't see anywhere about the FX cards being backwards compatible.
If this information is actually available somewhere online, I would
like to see it.

Any ideas/comments?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

"Dom" <dgcam55@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1110849627.755764.158240@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com
> MCGrandpa,
>
> My doc says the motherbd AGP slot is AGP66/133 mhz 3.3v device
> support. Is the 3.3v the rating you refer to (1.5v signaling)?
> If so - will it support it? I dont know if the number being higher is
> a bad thing or good thing?
>
> THX!
> Dom

No, the FX5900 I have is 1.5v only, and if you were able to put it in
the 3.3v slot and turn the power on, you'd burn the card or/and mobo.
There is usually a little warning note about this right on top of
everything when you open the cards box. I recall reading however, that
SOME manufacturers built some of the lower end cards to support both
3.3v and 1.5v. But this is something you really have to be careful of.
So far, what you *know* is that the motherboards AGP slot is 3.3v only.
McG.

 

[Dom]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

thats great news.
Thanks again for all your help and suggestions.
It looks like I am on the right track with this upgrade afterall.

Dom

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

McGrandpa wrote:

> The only problem I see is that the FX5200 is a AGP 4x/8x card only.
> Better check to see if your motherboard can do the 1.5v signalling. If
> the card won't fit easily into the slot, don't try to force it. That means
> it's not meant to work in that older slot.

All GeforceFX cards do both 3.3V and 1.5V...

Benjamin

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Bob Knowlden wrote:

> I'm not optimistic that an AGP 3.0 card like the 5200 will be
> back-compatible with your system.

That's no problem (I have an FX5200 in an old computer w. AGP1x slot for
myself, and I know of several FX5600, FX5700 and two FX5900 running in AGP2x
boards with 3.3V). All Nvidia GeforceFX GPUs do both 3.3V and 1.5V
signalling. Not always the card manufacturers also list AGP1x/2x or 3.3V,
and some (very few!) cards also don't have the AGP1x/2x coding on the AGP
connector, but they definitely do support 3.3V...

The problem is _not_ putting a new card in an old mobo, the real problem
indeed is that some older cards (pre-Radeon/pre-Geforce aera and some Matrox
G400's) are coded for AGP4x but don't support the 1.5V signalling level of
modern mainboards...

Benjamin

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Dom wrote:

> Funny - I went to the XFX website and there is no specific information
> on this.

As I said, some manufacturer simply don't mention it. They only mention that
the card does AGP8x because that attracts customers. Most manufacturers
simply don't care about people with old hardware...

> I did a google on v1 (2x) and v2 (4x) and learned that only
> "universal" cards will be backward compatible.

AGP 2.0 means 3.3V/1.5V capable. The GeforceFX series is AGP 2.0...

> I learned that most RADEONs are universal type cards.
>
> I didn't see anywhere about the FX cards being backwards compatible.
> If this information is actually available somewhere online, I would
> like to see it.
>
> Any ideas/comments?

Well, for example Asus mentions it:

From the little Asus FX5200...
http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=269&l1=2&l2=7&l3=9
.... to the FX5900Ultra:
http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=259&l1=2&l2=7&l3=5

And as I already wrote I myself run a FX5200 (ABit Siluro FX5200DT 128MB) in
an old HP Kayak Dual PII with i440LX chipset and AGP1x, and I have several
friends/relatives with different FX cards in AGP2x computers...

Benjamin

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Benjamin Gawert wrote:
> Dom wrote:
>
>
>>Funny - I went to the XFX website and there is no specific information
>>on this.
>
>
> As I said, some manufacturer simply don't mention it. They only mention that
> the card does AGP8x because that attracts customers. Most manufacturers
> simply don't care about people with old hardware...
>
>
>>I did a google on v1 (2x) and v2 (4x) and learned that only
>>"universal" cards will be backward compatible.
>
>
> AGP 2.0 means 3.3V/1.5V capable. The GeforceFX series is AGP 2.0...
>
>
>>I learned that most RADEONs are universal type cards.
>>
>>I didn't see anywhere about the FX cards being backwards compatible.
>>If this information is actually available somewhere online, I would
>>like to see it.
>>
>>Any ideas/comments?
>
>
> Well, for example Asus mentions it:
>
> From the little Asus FX5200...
> http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=269&l1=2&l2=7&l3=9
> ... to the FX5900Ultra:
> http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=259&l1=2&l2=7&l3=5
>
> And as I already wrote I myself run a FX5200 (ABit Siluro FX5200DT 128MB) in
> an old HP Kayak Dual PII with i440LX chipset and AGP1x, and I have several
> friends/relatives with different FX cards in AGP2x computers...
>
> Benjamin
>
>

I've got a GFX5600 running in a 440LX board also (my ftp server). It's
only a AGP 1.0 spec motherboard, but the FX functions perfectly fine.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

"Benjamin Gawert" <bgawert@gmx.de> wrote in message
news:39ob5fF6319q5U1@individual.net
> Bob Knowlden wrote:
>
>> I'm not optimistic that an AGP 3.0 card like the 5200 will be
>> back-compatible with your system.
>
> That's no problem (I have an FX5200 in an old computer w. AGP1x slot
> for myself, and I know of several FX5600, FX5700 and two FX5900
> running in AGP2x boards with 3.3V). All Nvidia GeforceFX GPUs do both
> 3.3V and 1.5V signalling. Not always the card manufacturers also list
> AGP1x/2x or 3.3V, and some (very few!) cards also don't have the
> AGP1x/2x coding on the AGP connector, but they definitely do support
> 3.3V...
> The problem is _not_ putting a new card in an old mobo, the real
> problem indeed is that some older cards (pre-Radeon/pre-Geforce aera
> and some Matrox G400's) are coded for AGP4x but don't support the
> 1.5V signalling level of modern mainboards...
>
> Benjamin

That's good to know. SO...even a 6800 would work in an ABit BE6-II 1.2
(BX440) mobo? Cool. That means when I put the new fan on this old
FX5900-128 it will have a good home waiting for it
McG.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Impressive. Thanks for the correction.

I still doubt that the original poster's life will improve with the addition
of an FX5200 card, even if it runs perfectly. However, even if there's some
disappointment, $40 (US) can't be too much of a waste, even if the card has
a 64 bit memory interface.

"Benjamin Gawert" <bgawert@gmx.de> wrote in message
news:39ob5fF6319q5U1@individual.net...
> Bob Knowlden wrote:
>
>> I'm not optimistic that an AGP 3.0 card like the 5200 will be
>> back-compatible with your system.
>
> That's no problem (I have an FX5200 in an old computer w. AGP1x slot for
> myself, and I know of several FX5600, FX5700 and two FX5900 running in
> AGP2x boards with 3.3V). All Nvidia GeforceFX GPUs do both 3.3V and 1.5V
> signalling. Not always the card manufacturers also list AGP1x/2x or 3.3V,
> and some (very few!) cards also don't have the AGP1x/2x coding on the AGP
> connector, but they definitely do support 3.3V...
>
> The problem is _not_ putting a new card in an old mobo, the real problem
> indeed is that some older cards (pre-Radeon/pre-Geforce aera and some
> Matrox G400's) are coded for AGP4x but don't support the 1.5V signalling
> level of modern mainboards...
>
> Benjamin
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

McGrandpa wrote:
> "Dom" <dgcam55@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1110849627.755764.158240@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com
>
>>MCGrandpa,
>>
>>My doc says the motherbd AGP slot is AGP66/133 mhz 3.3v device
>>support. Is the 3.3v the rating you refer to (1.5v signaling)?
>>If so - will it support it? I dont know if the number being higher is
>>a bad thing or good thing?
>>
>>THX!
>>Dom
>
>
> No, the FX5900 I have is 1.5v only, and if you were able to put it in
> the 3.3v slot and turn the power on, you'd burn the card or/and mobo.
> There is usually a little warning note about this right on top of
> everything when you open the cards box. I recall reading however, that
> SOME manufacturers built some of the lower end cards to support both
> 3.3v and 1.5v. But this is something you really have to be careful of.
> So far, what you *know* is that the motherboards AGP slot is 3.3v only.
> McG.
>
>

As far as I know, most NVIDIA AGP cards are dual 3.3V/1.5V compatible.
According to the AGP spec, such cards are supposed to have two notches
in the contact area of the card edge, while cards that support only one
voltage will have a notch in one position or the other. The idea is that
the AGP slot on the motherboard can have protrusions in it which will
block incompatible AGP cards from being physically inserted into the
slot. The pictures I've seen of FX5900 cards seem to have both notches
on them. Some 6600GT cards appear to have only the 1.5V notch, however.

Apparently some old 3.3V-only cards were made which had the wrong
notches on them, and which can be inserted into a motherboard which
supports only 1.5V. This apparently can destroy the chipset on the
motherboard. I've not heard of any cards that supported only 1.5V and
which weren't notched properly, however.

--
Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada
To email, remove "nospam" from hancockr@nospamshaw.ca
Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

"Robert Hancock" <hancockr@nospamshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:F6NZd.688633$Xk.437492@pd7tw3no
> McGrandpa wrote:
>> "Dom" <dgcam55@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1110849627.755764.158240@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com
>>
>>> MCGrandpa,
>>>
>>> My doc says the motherbd AGP slot is AGP66/133 mhz 3.3v device
>>> support. Is the 3.3v the rating you refer to (1.5v signaling)?
>>> If so - will it support it? I dont know if the number being higher
>>> is a bad thing or good thing?
>>>
>>> THX!
>>> Dom
>>
>>
>> No, the FX5900 I have is 1.5v only, and if you were able to put it in
>> the 3.3v slot and turn the power on, you'd burn the card or/and mobo.
>> There is usually a little warning note about this right on top of
>> everything when you open the cards box. I recall reading however,
>> that SOME manufacturers built some of the lower end cards to support
>> both 3.3v and 1.5v. But this is something you really have to be
>> careful
>> of. So far, what you *know* is that the motherboards AGP slot is
>> 3.3v only. McG.
>>
>>
>
> As far as I know, most NVIDIA AGP cards are dual 3.3V/1.5V compatible.
> According to the AGP spec, such cards are supposed to have two notches
> in the contact area of the card edge, while cards that support only
> one voltage will have a notch in one position or the other. The idea
> is that the AGP slot on the motherboard can have protrusions in it
> which will block incompatible AGP cards from being physically
> inserted into the slot. The pictures I've seen of FX5900 cards seem
> to have both notches on them. Some 6600GT cards appear to have only
> the 1.5V notch, however.
> Apparently some old 3.3V-only cards were made which had the wrong
> notches on them, and which can be inserted into a motherboard which
> supports only 1.5V. This apparently can destroy the chipset on the
> motherboard. I've not heard of any cards that supported only 1.5V and
> which weren't notched properly, however.

I'll keep that in mind then. Come to think of it, I haven't seen any of
those warning slips about voltage in the CARDS boxes in a while, just in
every mobo's box that's got a 1.5v only AGP slot. I've got a few of
those.
That the FX's are 'backward compatible' is nice. After getting the
6800GT I was starting to get a sad face that the ol $400 FX5900 wouldn't
get any use, and it's a perfectly good card. I've got several old ABit
440BX Slot1 mobos that could use a good vid card. Quake classic
anyone? )
It'd sure be easier if the card makers would make that spec easier to
find.
McG.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

McGrandpa wrote:

> That's good to know. SO...even a 6800 would work in an ABit BE6-II
> 1.2 (BX440) mobo?

If I remember right the 6800 supports AGP2x/3.3V (but most cards don't have
the AGP coding anyways so they won't fit in the AGP slot), but the AGP->PCIe
brigde chip used on the 6600(GT) models doesn't...

Benjamin

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Bob Knowlden wrote:

> Impressive. Thanks for the correction.
>
> I still doubt that the original poster's life will improve with the
> addition of an FX5200 card, even if it runs perfectly. However, even
> if there's some disappointment, $40 (US) can't be too much of a
> waste, even if the card has a 64 bit memory interface.

Well, the OP didn't mention what card he has in his old Athlon but the
FX5200 is really slow. The 128bit versions are barely faster than a GF4MX440
which should be obtainable for half the price or even less...

I'd never invest 40USD in an old Athlon 700 any more...

Benjamin

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

"Benjamin Gawert" <bgawert@gmx.de> wrote in message
news:39q2j6F648ab2U1@individual.net
> McGrandpa wrote:
>
>> That's good to know. SO...even a 6800 would work in an ABit BE6-II
>> 1.2 (BX440) mobo?
>
> If I remember right the 6800 supports AGP2x/3.3V (but most cards
> don't have the AGP coding anyways so they won't fit in the AGP slot),
> but the AGP->PCIe brigde chip used on the 6600(GT) models doesn't...
>
> Benjamin

Right, hey it's a total waste of card to even think of a 6800 in an old
crate like the BF6 or BE6-II or BH6. The BE6-II has the Ti4600 in it,
under Linux, and it's doing great. I was concerned that the FX5900
wouldn't work because of that voltage thing.
McG.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

McGrandpa wrote:

> That the FX's are 'backward compatible' is nice. After getting the
> 6800GT I was starting to get a sad face that the ol $400 FX5900
> wouldn't get any use, and it's a perfectly good card. I've got
> several old ABit 440BX Slot1 mobos that could use a good vid card. Quake
> classic anyone? )

Well, if I were You I'd think twice about putting a FX5900 in an old i440BX
system. Not because of the AGP voltage, but simply because the FX5900 is a
waste in such a system, and You should still get some good money for the
card on ebay. If I were You I'd sell the card and get something like a GF2
or Radeon 7500 for the BX machine...

Benjamin

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Dom wrote:

> thats great news.
> Thanks again for all your help and suggestions.
> It looks like I am on the right track with this upgrade afterall.

But I'd think twice! The FX5200 works in Your old system but after all still
is a ultraslow card. If I were You I'd go for something like an ATI Radeon
8500/9000/9200 which should be available in the same price range and offers
a much better performance...

The only reason on which I'd prefer an FX5200 over one of these ATI cards is
if I would plan to run Linux...

Benjamin

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

"Benjamin Gawert" <bgawert@gmx.de> wrote in message
news:39r3psF66bdi6U1@individual.net
> McGrandpa wrote:
>
>> That the FX's are 'backward compatible' is nice. After getting the
>> 6800GT I was starting to get a sad face that the ol $400 FX5900
>> wouldn't get any use, and it's a perfectly good card. I've got
>> several old ABit 440BX Slot1 mobos that could use a good vid card.
>> Quake classic anyone? )
>
> Well, if I were You I'd think twice about putting a FX5900 in an old
> i440BX system. Not because of the AGP voltage, but simply because the
> FX5900 is a waste in such a system, and You should still get some
> good money for the card on ebay. If I were You I'd sell the card and
> get something like a GF2 or Radeon 7500 for the BX machine...
>
> Benjamin

Right. Or perhaps a newer mobo for one of my daughters. I realize it'd
be a waste in one of the old Slot1's.
McG.

 

[Dom]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

I have a nvidia Riva TNT2 32mb used with Win XP & 256 mb ram (the gfx
card originally came with the machine back in 2000).
I ordered the AGP version of the FX5200 (not the PCI), and people are
stating that this card will work fine in my athlon 700. I hope this
is the case (Benjamin & McGrandpa make notes to this).
If not, I would like to understand why.

Others are stating that the FX5200 may be slow - I dont play any of the
new games on this old pc. I only play old games and use office apps -
which shouldn't be too much of a problem for the new card - being that
my existing card is so old.
I do use photo editing software, and watch some video - and that is
where I am really running into memory problems - and - the reason why I
am seeking to upgrade the card hoping that the bump in
memory and alittle speed (compared to what I have now) will work.

Personally, I dont think spending $40 is all that bad if I can squeak
out another year or two on the pc.
To me, if this addressed the problem, I think its quite a value
considering what I use the pc for.

I don't want to dump money for a new machine until
later in 2006. The big change to 64 bit is slated for that time...and
when buying new, will want to get the most I can afford for my $.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

On 17 Mar 2005 03:47:26 -0800, "Dom" <dgcam55@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I have a nvidia Riva TNT2 32mb used with Win XP & 256 mb ram (the gfx
>card originally came with the machine back in 2000).
>I ordered the AGP version of the FX5200 (not the PCI), and people are
>stating that this card will work fine in my athlon 700. I hope this
>is the case (Benjamin & McGrandpa make notes to this).
>If not, I would like to understand why.
>
>Others are stating that the FX5200 may be slow - I dont play any of the
>new games on this old pc. I only play old games and use office apps -
>which shouldn't be too much of a problem for the new card - being that
>my existing card is so old.
>I do use photo editing software, and watch some video - and that is
>where I am really running into memory problems - and - the reason why I
>am seeking to upgrade the card hoping that the bump in
>memory and alittle speed (compared to what I have now) will work.
>
>Personally, I dont think spending $40 is all that bad if I can squeak
>out another year or two on the pc.
>To me, if this addressed the problem, I think its quite a value
>considering what I use the pc for.
>
>I don't want to dump money for a new machine until
>later in 2006. The big change to 64 bit is slated for that time...and
>when buying new, will want to get the most I can afford for my $.


Make sure your getting the 128bit memory bus version. The
64bit version may be faster than an old TnT2, but not buy much. The
128bit version will get you near GF3 Ti200 performance, but being your
still using an old Athlon 700, you may not get the best the card could
push.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia (More info?)

Dom wrote:

> I have a nvidia Riva TNT2 32mb used with Win XP & 256 mb ram (the gfx
> card originally came with the machine back in 2000).
> I ordered the AGP version of the FX5200 (not the PCI), and people are
> stating that this card will work fine in my athlon 700. I hope this
> is the case (Benjamin & McGrandpa make notes to this).
> If not, I would like to understand why.
>
> Others are stating that the FX5200 may be slow - I dont play any of the
> new games on this old pc. I only play old games and use office apps -
> which shouldn't be too much of a problem for the new card - being that
> my existing card is so old.
> I do use photo editing software, and watch some video - and that is
> where I am really running into memory problems - and - the reason why I
> am seeking to upgrade the card hoping that the bump in
> memory and alittle speed (compared to what I have now) will work.
>
> Personally, I dont think spending $40 is all that bad if I can squeak
> out another year or two on the pc.
> To me, if this addressed the problem, I think its quite a value
> considering what I use the pc for.

The only things you're going to get out of the 5200 for what you're
describing would be DXVA (DirectX video acceleration) and possibly the
ability to run at higher resolutions and refresh rates and for that it's
probably worthwhile. If you're running out of memory, that's more likely
your 256 meg in the machine than the video memory.

> I don't want to dump money for a new machine until
> later in 2006. The big change to 64 bit is slated for that time...

????? The "big change to 64 bit" happened over a year ago. Are you talking
about the release of Microsoft's 64-bit OS? That has been out for many
years for the Itanic, and the AMD64 version has been available as a free
beta for quite some time.

> and
> when buying new, will want to get the most I can afford for my $.

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)