GF 5200 --> 6200 (Worth it?)

[H77]

OK, the performance of my GeForce 5200 FX is terrible. It was in 2003, and it is even more so now. I've finally given in and decided to get a new card until I overhaul my PC sometime not far off. I shopped around a bit, and found a Geforce 6200 AGP 128 MB 64-bit for $40 shipped (!).
I've read that many 6200s can be "unlocked" into 6600s or 6600gts. Even with the severely crippled bus, a pseudo-6600 for $40 seems like a great deal. But would the performance of my PC reflect the upgrade? Since i'm saving up for the overhaul, i'm really trying to stick below $65 tops. I'm also looking at the Radeon 9xxx/x300 series.
My specs:

2.4 GHz P4
512M RAM
GF 5200 FX 128 MB (128-bit? I don't know...Dell OEM)

Thank you!

BTW, it's 2:30AM where i am, so i probably wont be back until 8:30 (Sleep).

 

[3Ball]

Personally I would go with a 9600 Pro video card! I have one of these in my old machine: AMD Athlon XP 2800+, 1gb of 333mhz DDR ram, and the 9600 pro and it is able to run BF2! It doesnt do this well, but it is able to do it about 25 - 35 fps on low - medium settings and so I would say go for that and dont worry about unlocking the nVidia card!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102410

Best,

3Ball

 

[dccool879]

do ebay!! i saw a 9800se that was previously (and thus proven) to softmod to a 9800pro for 18 dollars! old technology is so cheap now, get a 9500 even, thatll softmod to a 9700 if it's the right one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/POWERCOLOR-ATI-RADEON-9800PRO-9800SE-9800-SE-PRO-128MB_W0QQitemZ120020065850QQihZ002QQcategoryZ80184QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

9800pro owns the 6200

 

[dougie_boy]

I've read that many 6200s can be "unlocked" into 6600s or 6600gts.

not too sure about that one. just spend the money ona 9800 if ur buget is tight. good card that.

 

[CptDrake]

I was running an old AMD 450+ K-3 with 384MB RAM & a GeForce 3 (Original) AGP Card. I was happy, the most advanced game I played at the time was Quake3. No biggie. Didn't need much more. I finially set some $$$ aside, bought the only system in my price range... (I know I'm about to hear groaning) an eMachines T3104. Added Parts I had around the house, an extra 160GB HDD, switched to 1 GB (512MBx2) PC3200 RAM, But couldn't play any new games well. & My roomie wanted to try WoW. I couldn't use the Old GF 3 card, System wouldn't boot with it in. Shelled out my last few bucks, got a GeForce 6200 128MB. It plays everything I Throw at it. (I, however, wouldn't call myself a "Gamer" I don't need/care for/want 90% of the games out there. I have the ones That'll keep me happy).

If I try to throw certain benchmark programs at it, in my LCD's native 1280x1024 res, I get really choppy results. I have Pixel Shader 3.0, Don't need any fancy AA Modes, don't need much to stay happy. The 6200 keeps me happy. Heck, my roomie is impressed by the openGL screensavers I throw on, & how WoW looks when she plays. Civ4, Neverwinter Nights Platinum, Galatic Civilations 2, MGS2 (With the nVidia patch), & SW:KotOR Are what I play. Don't need a 6200 to get those playable at 1280x1024, but It's nice. Nothing OC'd, Settings at stock except games. I keep all game Video settings as maxed as I can.

Are you gonna be playing newer games? Save up. I got my 6200 sometime back & It's a later version of the GPU That physically lacks the locked pipelines in earlier models that could be unlocked. It's not much more for a stock 6600 & if you shop around, It'll make a world of diffrence in say, Battlefield 2, or whatever you friends play. MPEG2 Decoding on the Geforce series cards always look better to my eyes than an ATIs (My Opinion, not stated fact. We're all diffrent) & works when I let my daughter watch her DVDs in the living room, or is asleep at night, I can still be satified with movies on my PC.

Be careful when shopping for a 6200, try ebay if you really want one that's from the first revision period with extra pipelines. Good luck.

 

[macer1]

stay away from the 6200

ebay is good for older tech.


9700's

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Sapphire-9700-128MB_W0QQitemZ150022168789QQihZ005QQcategoryZ80190QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ATI-Radeon-9700-Pro-AGP-128M-w-Arctic-Cooling-Rev-3_W0QQitemZ140018624907QQihZ004QQcategoryZ40158QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ATI-9700-PRO-128mb-Excellent-Condition_W0QQitemZ290019146672QQihZ019QQcategoryZ40158QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

9800's

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ATI-RADEON-9800-PRO-256MB-AGP-VIDEO-CARD-10640_W0QQitemZ200019172087QQihZ010QQcategoryZ40158QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


x700 agp

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ATI-Radeon-X700-Pro-AGP-256MB-DVI-DDR3-VIVO-100437404_W0QQitemZ230019014215QQihZ013QQcategoryZ40158QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



look around there are deals too be had

 

[leorick]

dude stay away from 64bit. It will choke your graphics performance down to like a GF4. Try to get a 128bit or 256bit card as much as possible.

 

[melarcky]

Personally I would go with a 9600 Pro video card! I have one of these in my old machine: AMD Athlon XP 2800+, 1gb of 333mhz DDR ram, and the 9600 pro and it is able to run BF2! It doesnt do this well, but it is able to do it about 25 - 35 fps on low - medium settings and so I would say go for that and dont worry about unlocking the nVidia card!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102410

Best,

3Ball

yes go to for the 9600pro or better the 9600pro is an amazing card. my friend played hitan bloodmoney on high with it. nfs most wanted max, battlefield to low medium, and FSW ten Hammers on high.. and its just keeps going.. and yes stay away from 64bit... its so old.. even my old GF 4 Mx 440 had 128bit.

 

[H77]

Thanks everyone for the info! I'll probably get a 9600 XT and see how o/c'd I can get it .

 

[dccool879]

i recently got my bro a 9600xt for 25 on ebay, but i wasn't too pleased with the card. It performs almost like the 9600pro and gets blown away by the 9800 and the 9700. try these too, or better yet softmod a 9500->9700