Did I make a bad choice buying an FX5600?

FataLFlaw

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I recently purchased an XFX GeForceFX5600 256mb ddr agp 8x. I was reading up and everyone seems to have nothing good to say about the lower end FX series cards. My current card is a GeForce4 mx420 and I needed something a tad better for playing Final FantasyXI at high res while still getting a good frame rate. Is this a decent card for the cash? Any suggestions for a better card that only costs around $150? Any help is much appreciated.
 

GeneticWeapon

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For $150 dollars you can buy a Radeon 9600Pro, both in store...and online.
Do it. The FX5600 256mb is really really bad.

<b>eVGA</b> <font color=red><b>FX5700 Ultra</font color=red></b> <b>3DMark03 Score =</b> <font color=red><b>4,054</font color=red></b>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=1660788" target="_new">http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=1660788</A>
 

folken

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If you don't mind the noise and are strapped for cash then it isn't that bad for the money. It is about equal to most of the other vid cards in the $150 price range and 256mb is good for high aa and aniso. The visual quality of other cards like the radeon 9600pro is better but you probably wouldn't see much of a difference in a fast paced game at low aa.
Don't let people nag on you that much for buying a 5600. If someone tells you to buy a better card just tell em sure, if you give me $400 :)
 

rain_king_uk

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Personally I think 256Mb on this card is total overkill.

Return it and get a Radeon 9600Pro - it beats the [-peep-] out of the 5600. And anyone who tells you that a 5600 is on par with a 9600 Pro - tell them to shut the [-peep-] up. :)
 

FataLFlaw

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It seemed to me that the card would be a great buy for the money. I wouldnt pay $500 to have the latest vid card, I would rather wait six months and buy that same card for half the price or less. Can someone give me a link to some benchmarks of each of these cards? I tried looking around the site here but I dont browse here often so I had no luck finding them.
 

lhgpoobaa

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<A HREF="http://www.hardocp.com" target="_new">http://www.hardocp.com</A>
<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com" target="_new">http://www.anandtech.com</A>
<A HREF="http://www.techreport.com" target="_new">http://www.techreport.com</A>
all have reviews of various graphics cards.
Hardocp in particular compares in detail the R9600/FX5600/FX5700 series.

<b>Lead me not into temptation.
I know the way myself. :evil:
Regards,
Mr no integrity coward.</b>
 

FataLFlaw

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Ive found a radeon 9600 for $159, but the lowest price ive found for the 9600pro is $179 and thats after a rebate. Where have you guys found a 9600pro for around $150?
 
Some reviews you say, huh? :evil:

<A HREF="http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/radeon/r9600-2.html" target="_new">http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/radeon/r9600-2.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/radeon/asus-ati.html" target="_new">http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/radeon/asus-ati.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gig-9600pro_2.html" target="_new">http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gig-9600pro_2.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NTMz" target="_new">http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NTMz</A>
<A HREF="http://www.digital-daily.com/video/fx5600ultra-vs-radeon9600pro/" target="_new">http://www.digital-daily.com/video/fx5600ultra-vs-radeon9600pro/</A>
<A HREF="http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=gw56ufc&page=1&cookie_test=1" target="_new">http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=gw56ufc&page=1&cookie_test=1</A>
<A HREF="http://www.overclockers.co.nz/ocnz/review.php?id=03vga00r9600progexcube0r9600pro0105" target="_new">http://www.overclockers.co.nz/ocnz/review.php?id=03vga00r9600progexcube0r9600pro0105</A>
<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1904" target="_new">http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1904</A>
<A HREF="http://www.hothardware.com/hh_files/S&V/radeon_9600xt.shtml" target="_new">http://www.hothardware.com/hh_files/S&V/radeon_9600xt.shtml</A>
<A HREF="http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_radeon_9600_xt/" target="_new">http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_radeon_9600_xt/</A>
<A HREF="http://www.techreport.com/reviews/2003q4/geforcefx-5700ultra/index.x?pg=1" target="_new">http://www.techreport.com/reviews/2003q4/geforcefx-5700ultra/index.x?pg=1</A>
and of course THG;
<A HREF="http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031015/index.html" target="_new">http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031015/index.html</A>

And there are sooo many more.

Some of them are R9600XT and FX5700U reviews, but that's because they cover all the bases.
Check the dates, some are old also. But it is an old card. Also some of the reviews only put the R9600Pro againt an FX5600Ultra, but rmemeber the FX5600Ultra is far superior to any non-ultra (with or without 256mb).

In newer games it makes a BIG difference. And yes 256mb on the FX5600 is pretty much useless. OOhh it'll be better for high AA/AF, except fot the fact that it can't run the resolutions/levels required to need the extra memory because the VPU/GPU doesn't have the power. 256mb of memory on an FX5600non-ultra (or even ultra for that matter) is useless. We just discussed that it was useless on an R9600XT, so it's DEFINITELY useless on a weak FX5600U.

R9600Pro would also be my recommendation.

- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK :evil:

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