256mb graphics card for $150? From Best Buy?
 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....5&type=product

Why is this card so cheap? Without looking at the AGP v. PCI, any opinions on this card?

I can't use an AGP, end of discussion. Its not an option, so don't say "get an AGP, its better." I already know. Its not an option...

It's not cheap. The FX5200 cards don't cost that much - we sell them for 70 Euros or higher, depending on the type. The PCI versions are slightly more expensive, at 90 to 100 euros.

The 256 MB memory is pretty useless, by the way - you'll probably never be able to run games at the resolutions that'd need the memory...

Is the 5200 series a relatively decent card? I prefer ATI, but in this case, I need a PCI card quickly and the local electronics shop offers that model. What's your opinion on their capabilities?

The 5200 is Nvidia's bottom of the line Direct X9 card. The 256 megs of ram won't make much of a difference because the 5200 chipset performs so poorly to begin with, this is why the card only costs $150. It will run games, but not as well as some of the other cards out there in the same price range with 128 megs of RAM.

its PCI, its has a slow memory speed, tis good for graphics programs like 3dsmax, Maya. not for gamming.

what everyone has said so far :) It's cheap because it's not that good of a card. They probably sell a lot just because of the 256 MB gimmic

The FX 5200 is the bottom of the barrel. Some GeForce 2 TI cards do better than the FX 5200. A GeForce 3 TI will blow it away, seriously. They're worthless. There might be better PCI cards out there...I'd look into it. Don't buy that FX 5200 though...it's horrid.

-Lasereth

Roger that. How's the 5700 perform?

5700 is much, much better than the 5200. The AGP version is a "force to be reckoned with," especially the Ultra. Is there a 5700 Ultra PCI, or just 5700? The Ultra would be a good buy for PCI people. If you can find a regular 5700 PCI, that'd be the card to get unless you can find a better one. I can't even find a PCI better than FX 5200, so the 5700 is probably the best.

-Lasereth

this same card was (maybe stil is) being sold at Walmart for $99.

I paid $189 for my FX5600 256mb card when it first came out.

Quite nice but waiting for Doom3 and HL2 to see how good it really is.

No complaints so far.

How would this one shake out?

http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...463&pfp=BROWSE

ATI 9200SE 64mb PCI

I just want something to play BF1942 on. I can't use AGP -- older Dell, PIII, no AGP slots...

I need the most bang for my dollar (less than $150US) that can run on PCI.

My brother in law picked up a 5200, and it didn't score any better on 3DMark03 than my GF3 Ti-200. The ATi 9200 would be a better card, I think. I don't know a whole lot about that card, either, though. The thing that would bother me about that particular ATi is that it's an SE model, those are sort of like the MX series of GeForce cards.

Yeah, I hear ya on the SE v. MX stuff. I just need a "good enough" card to play a few games on. Not looking to make this system last long enough to play the Doom3-engine offspring on.

The 9200 is much worse than the FX 5200, and that's saying A LOT. On top of that, it's the 9200SE, which makes it even worse. I would avoid that card any way possible. If you had to choose between the FX 5200 and the 9200 SE, then the FX is the way you need to go. I'd still try to find a better card for under $150, though. The FX 5200 is a terribly weak card, and the PCI issue is gonna make it worse.

-Lasereth

That's what I'm *asking*, man. I need suggestions. What other options are there beyond the 9200 and fx5200 for PCI graphics cards?

I'm noticing a problem with the way you're shopping. You're basically saying "I want a great card but I don't want to have what it takes to run that card." It's somewhat like someone coming up to me and saying "I want a ferarri, but spending more than $50 is not an option, so tell me how to do it without telling me it can't be done." ;)



Your best option is to find a relatively inexpensive motherboard that will run a PIII and that also has an AGP slot. You can get one dirt cheap. Assuming the Dell case is a crappy one that isn't ATX compliant and therefore the new motherboard won't fit in it, another $30 would buy you a case.

My point is, if you want to have good graphics, you will require a good video card. That's just hard to come by in PCI because no one that wants good graphics is interested in buying a PCI card. You'd be much better off getting AGP capability, and THEN getting a card.

I know what you're asking, I'm saying that I don't know of any more! NewEgg has the FX 5200 as their best PCI card. I don't shop at many other places online, and I have no experience with PCI availability. All I can suggest is the FX 5200 over the 9200, and if you find any more PCI cards you're interested in, then I'll be happy to comment on how they perform like their AGP brothers.

-Lasereth

If you're already spending $200 or so on a new video card, why don't you just get a completely new pc? You can get a decent box for around $500 that is way better than what it sounds like you have.

I would have suggested that by now, but he seems to be 100% against getting AGP.

-Lasereth

A new MoBo with AGP 8x can be bought for very little these days. You'll have to do it sooner or later. Besides, I was looking around and I saw this...
5700 AGP
And it's the same price as the PCI shit-grade version.

Ya'll don't understand. Dell Optiplex's don't come with AGP slots and they use some kind of weird proprietary motherboard that fits their special cases. If I get a new AGP card, then I must get a new motherboard. If I get a new motherboard, then I must get a new case... at which point, I might as well have gotten a new PC. That's why its not an option.

It isn't that I'm *against* AGP; its just not realistic to replace my entire computer right now.

If you've found a PCI 5700, by all means share! That's exactly what Tritium is looking for. If ANYONE finds a PCI videocard better than the GeForce FX 5200, then please share. :) I can't find one for my life.

-Lasereth

http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dthred/SM1_05.gif

This is why I'm having so much trouble. You can't see the mobo from this picture, but you can see the allignment of the slots. This is a non-standard case and a non-standard mobo. The motherboard is bent in the middle. I'm looking for a retailer online that sells (used) expansion slot boards for Dell Optiplex' that have AGP slots on them. Its not working because I don't know what to call that little extra sliver of mobo. :lol:

Dell is eeeeeeeeeeeeevil. :)

your trouble is that you have no options under your current system. You cannot get what you want because what you want is not made ;)

My advice is to go over to newegg.com and get the cheapest Raidmax case you can find. Won't cost you more than $30. If your dell's power supply is a standard ATX, then you can get the case even cheaper by dropping the PSU from it.

Then go get a motherboard on pricewatch.com. Cheapest PIII board you can find that has AGP 4x or better slots. That also shouldn't cost more than $30. That's $60 to go from no options to being able to choose any video card you want.

Damn Dell they are always doing crap like that to try and make you not be able to do anything on their systems. I have the PSU right on top of my mobo so I can't even see the whole thing.

Well sure. Otherwise you'd just upgrade your computer instead of buying a new one from Dell. That's why it's so much better to build your own system. You will rarely screw yourself over ;)

I screw myself over all the time... different subject though...

I highly reccomend just saving up your money and considering the benefits of a new PC or at least salvaging parts from your current PC and building a new one. Eventually you're processor will be too slow, your hard drive will begin to corrupt or lose bits and what are you left with? A video card that won't work on the new PC you now are forced to buy...

I think you might be talking to the wrong crowd here tritium. A new computer is like crack to most of us here. Even when it's someone elses it's still fun to help get one made.