which is the better card?

d[-_-]b · #1 07-17-2003, 12:00 AM

which card should i get, the GeForce FX 5200 Ultra or the GeForce FX 5600 (non-ultra)?

LooseChippings · #2 07-17-2003, 02:11 AM

Give us a clue, what parameters / reasons are you looking at ...

Cost
Speed
Overclocking
3D gaming ability
2D office apps
etc.
etc.

curtybob · #3 07-19-2003, 03:54 PM

I second that motion. This will depend on what you want to do. There are actually 3 cards that will fit into those 2 categories. The 5200 ultra (128MB), the 5600 (128MB), and the 5600 (256MB). As you can imagine, there is not much of a speed increase in between any of the 3. But, I think if you plan on playing Doom III, the extra memory will do you some good. If you don't wanna play doom 3, then try out the 5200 ultra, and if it doesn't live up to expectations, take it back and go with the 128 MB 5600.

But, a word of advice, if you like overclocking check out all the cards you see. Some will come with factory installed heatsinks on the memory (believe me, it's worth it's weight in gold) and pretty good fans. Most of the time, with a fan/heatsink, if it looks cool it is probably a good one. PNY makes a decent card, with all the goodies.

shanyao · #4 07-24-2003, 04:34 PM

I still prefer Radeon. As I know, there is Radeon 9600 Pro Ultra with Tomb Raider game for free. This one is as good as 5600 and offer the better price.
Please go to newegg.com you can find the total price of $195

curtybob · #5 07-26-2003, 06:54 PM

Not to start a Radeon/GeForce debate, but there are a few things that I never liked about ATI's.

1. just like Apple, only ATI makes 'em. No room for other companies to find flaws, or make the cards a little better.

2. Drivers. They have always been a little little buggy, And they are not laid out so that any user can install drivers only, and get rid of their rediculous applications and toolbars. Not that they don't have a good use, but they could be more out of the way like nVidia has done.

3. Just like Apple, the prices are a little steeper for all cards. If you get 2 similar cards, the ATI will usually be higher. But, that could very well be another instance of "you get what you pay for."

IneRtia dRaft · #6 08-02-2003, 11:16 AM

Radeon is a goood chip brand.. but i will have to say FX 5600 either get it with 128MB or a pricey 256MB.. i'm running with MSI Geforce 4 Ti 4200 128MB 8xAGP... and it works GREAT for me...and i had to for good price of $110 at computer swap meet..

ils_fl · #7 08-08-2003, 09:49 AM

to finish it all up

all i have to say is that i have been using Nvidia cards and they were working better than any for me, i do a lot of computer animation and drivers that are available for the card make up for any disadvantage. i used ATI 9800 VIVO for recording and post-production - very convinient.

well in the end it all depends what you want to do with it.

snowmonkey · #8 08-08-2003, 12:33 PM

************************

well in the end it all depends what you want to do with it

*******************************

Well, Huhhhhhhhhhh, that's what "LooseChippings" asked in the first place.

skatergod · #9 09-05-2003, 12:27 AM

Sometimes I feel like I could just reach out and smack somebody. I mean damn. Anyway, I say go with Nvidia, I've heard their overclocks are higher and more stable. I have a geforce4 mx420 and it sucks playing CS. I really really need a new graphics card.

ils_fl · #10 09-05-2003, 09:13 AM

here is a link you might enjoy

link

but if you have money to burn just go with 3d labs Wildcat 990 VP pro.

Reeper47 · #11 09-14-2003, 10:22 AM

I say go with nvidia they are a much better brand and i second everything you listed about the Ati curtybob. And as the link ils_fl provided shows on the last page how the Radeon can't handle high resolutions very well at all compared to the Geforce Fx, shows how much stronger a card the Geforce Fx 5900 ultra is.

Flyfsh · #12 09-17-2003, 06:54 AM

In my humble opinion I would try to find a Ti4600. there stock core speed is 300 MHz & memory 650 MHz. I am using a Ti4200 overclocked to a Ti4400 specs ( 275/550) with after market heat sink, I have no trouble gaming.

lewis · #13 09-17-2003, 12:01 PM

Sorry, couldn't let this one go by without a response.

Quote:

1. just like Apple, only ATI makes 'em. No room for other companies to find flaws, or make the cards a little better.

Uh, has anyone heard of Sapphire, Gigabyte, Gigacube, HIS, PowerColor, Crucial?

But anyways, I suggest to get the newest, fastest card you can afford. Whether its Ati or Nvidia is up to you.

skatergod · #14 09-17-2003, 02:00 PM

Well, recently i have heard nothing bad about the Ti series. Only good. I've heard bad things about the new 5600 ultra and 5900, not sure how true they are but people say the cards run very hot and are very loud, which I personally don't want anywhere near my PC. A Ti4200 or more would be much better for me because my goal is to run as cool and as quiet as possible, still getting good performance. I really don't hear much about ATi lately but that doesn't mean they aren't in the running. I read a review that stated if your looking for performance then go with the 5900 Ultra, the Radeon 9800 Pro has basically the same performance but with much less noise and heat.

curtybob · #15 09-17-2003, 11:27 PM

I am not sure what you would call hot or loud, but I think the 5600 ultra is neither. Can't hear it over my 8 case fans, and just because the paint was cooked off the side of my Antec case doesn't mean it was the video card. No, really. I like the 5600 ultra alot. Good card, plenty of speed even with the pretties on.