Cheap video card comparison.

[Silversierra]

So how do those cards compare? Which is best?

 

[CyberZenn]

If you can get the 5700le with 128bit memory, it is the fastest. It also has the most modern feature set.

 

[TheOasis]

i think the 5600 is faster, but i also think they are discontinued. the 5700le has the exact same clock freq's as the 5200, but i have no idea on the 5500.

like most people will say, you are better off not getting any GF FX card and get something like a 9700 pro off ebay, or even a 9600 pro is better then those cards. should be about $130, and $110 respectivly.

 

[Silversierra]

With the 5700le being a le (limited(speed) edition), I was thinking that the 5600 would be better.

 

[Silversierra]

Well, those cards you mention are better, but they aren't 2x agp compatible. I think someone told me all fx gpu's are.

 

[TheOasis]

i dunno about 2x compatablity, i was under the impression that almost all AGP cards are backwards compatable, but just limited in speed depending on what your motherboard supports. if i am wrong then i doubt the FX series or even the GF4 series is 2x compatable.

sorry i couldnt help

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Originally posted by: Silversierra
Well, those cards you mention are better, but they aren't 2x agp compatible. I think someone told me all fx gpu's are.

The jump from the first to second AGP brought with it a drop in slot voltage, so the oldest variety slot is potentially problematic for the newest of video adapters. But none of the four (well, OK, five) named directly are that new, really. The Radeon 9600 is slower than a "regular" 5700nu, but not much, and the 9600 would be somewhat faster than the 5700LE. There is "supposed to be" a gap between the various FX levels big enough for some LE's downward, and GT's/XT's upward. Compared to this year's Series six GeForce gpu's and the latest ATI stuff, they are all "slow".

The FX's were NOT totally able to deliver when it came to DirectX9, however, so in that regard, the ATI's from that same video card cycle had them beaten. The FX's were also initially rather overpriced compared to the various Ti 4200/4400/ 4600/4800 boards that they displaced, and generally ran slower than! Now, when most of them other than the 5700LE's, and many generic 5200's, are out of production, the FX pricing dropped to more realistic levels.

 

[Mattd46612]

picked up a chaintech fx5500 256mb for 79 shipped, overclocked it to 351/451. It destroys my crappy 9200se, and gets me 12k scores on aquamark3 in my system with A64 3000+ and 512 ram. for $79 i cant complain.

 

[Silversierra]

Well, the card isn't for me. (friend) I have a 6600gt which I like. It gets 50,250 in aquamark3 with my 3000+ and 512mb ram.

 

[Silversierra]

The fx series has 2 notches in the agp connector which makes it physically fit in the 2x slot. The older radeons only have one notch, thereby making it impossible to insert into older slot. Is this right, or does the physical aspect have nothing to do with actually working?

 

[imported_JamesDax]

My 5700LE smokes any 5600. Check my sig.

 

[Mattd46612]

Question for everyone, which would you take. A chaintech fx5500 256mb overclocked to 351/451 for $79 or a stock BFG fx5500 256mb that cost $30 more? My friend has the bfg which has the lifetime warrenty but the card will be useless after 2 years easy. Id rather pay less overclock it 5x more than his is and worry about it later.

 

[Pete]

Ignoring the fact that $100 for a 5500-class video card is an absolute rip-off, why would pay more for a similar card that you're not even sure can OC to your 5500's levels?

Anyway, used 9600Ps should be close to $80 and will smoke any 5500.

To the OP, CyberZenn is right. What's your price range, though? Yeah, 9600s are out of the cards for you b/c they require an AGP 4x/8x slot, but can you find a used 9500P for about as much as a new 5700LE? If so, grab it, as it'll be about as fast as a 9600XT. I don't think the 9500P requires a 300W PSU, but you'll probably want at least a *quality* 235W one.