Which is faster? 9100 or fx5200?

[ivwshane]

I need a good budget card and both these cards have about a $20 difference.

I haven't been able to find any benchmarks directly comparing the two so if you have a link please post it.

Here is the specs for the 9100:

VPU: RADEON 9100 VPU
Memory: 64MB DDR
Core Clock: 250 MHz
Memory Clock: MHz (500MHz DDR)
RAMDAC: 400 MHz
Bus Type: AGP 2X/4X
OS Support: Windows ME, 2000, XP
Maximum 3D Resolution: 2048 x 1536 @ 75Hz
Ports: VGA, DVI-D(This port only supports monitors with digital inputs)

Here is the specs of the 5200:

Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Memory: 128 DDR 128-bit 4ns
Bus: 8X AGP
RAMDAC: 400MHz
Max Resolution: 2048x1536 @ 85/75/60Hz
Max DVI Res: 1600x1200
Max TV-Out Res: 1024x768
Support VGA, DVI, TV-Out


DirectX 9 support and 8x agp are unimportant to me.

 

[modedepe]

I think the 9100 should be a little faster. If you're going to be gaming you might want to find a 128mb version though.

 

[ivwshane]

I've seen benchmarks between the 128MB 9100 and a 64MB 9100 and they were pretty much even with the 64MB version even beating it out a little.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

The 9100 is essentially an 8500LE (IIRC), so it should easily tromp the FX5200.

- M4H

 

[ivwshane]

Thanks, keep the answers coming.






Just a little side question. How would a geforce 3 (the original) compare to these two cards?

 

[capodeloscapos]

The FX 5200 is faster with actual drivers. HERE you have a review..
You can try this, This, This or this
Keep in mind that without effort, you can OC an FX 5200 to 310 core and 570 memory....

 

[ivwshane]

The only thing the 5200 seemed to kill the 9100 in was DX9 games.

Thanks for the links but I'm still undecided.

 

[Corporate Thug]

9100 is slightly faster

 

[xSauronx]

gf3 ti 200 is somewhat equal to a radeon 8500le (now a 9100) note: some 9100s are probably even slower than the 8500le speed of 250/250 so make sure if you get it that its definitely still a 250/250 or the gf3 is a better bet

gf3 ti 500 should be equal to or just beat out a retail 8500 (which you wont find anywhere except perhaps as used)

the 5200 is stronger in dx9 games, because it supports dx9 whereas the gf3/8500(le)/9100 do not. but i dont think that if you want a card just for dx9 support this is the way to go as it wont run them as well as youd like; get a 9600 pro for around $150 if you want a decent dx9 card.

id take the 9100 128mb in this case, not trusting that you can dfinitely oc a 5200 (though, if you can, i suppose it might be better...)

im waiting for xmas, see if some prices fall and grab a 9600pro i thinks...maybe a 9700

 

[ivwshane]

Well this card is going to be for my nephews for a system I am building them for christmas. While I know prices for graphics card will be going down for the holidays, when I see a good deal I will jump on it to keep the overall budget down.

Right now I can get a 64MB 9100 for $30 as apposed to a 5200 for $78 and I just want to be sure that the performance difference will be worth it.

 

[ponyo]

I would definitely get 9100 for $30. Better IQ and faster performance to boot. I have one on my wife's computer and it's great card.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Naustica
I would definitely get 9100 for $30. Better IQ and faster performance to boot. I have one on my wife's computer and it's great card.

nice for $30 ....from a friend? i paid $20 for a gf2, gah!

 

[JammingJay]

Definitely the 9100. I have both cards and the Radeon is approx 10-15% faster in most tests including 3DMark2001 SE.

 

[BFG10K]

The 9100 will rip the 5200 a new one especially when you crank up the image quality.

As for DirectX 9, the 5200 is far too slow to use any of the functions. Heck even the 5900 Ultra has severe problems running PS 2.0 code.

 

[ivwshane]

I think that settles it then, I'll go for the ati card. I just hope I don't have any driver issues.

 

If you dont want any driver issues, then ati is the wrong choice.

 

[First]

I highly suggest you read HardOCP's review. 5200 is a much better buy if you're turning on any kind of AA or AF, and high resolutions too depending on the game.

And I've found the same to be true during my own tests btw.

 

[ivwshane]

The problem with that review is that it compared a 9200 not a 9100 and the 9100 is definitely faster.

With regards to higher frame rates with AA I think you are right however my nephews wont be using it since they don't know what it is.

 

[blazer78]

lol, take advice from a 9100 owner... the 9100 will beat the 5200 NON-ultra but the ULTRA version of 5200 is capable of holding out against the 9100... its really up to u, but i'd say.. if ur not getting ultra than 9100 is ur best bet... i got sapphire 9100 128mb and runs every dx8 gen game perfect at 1024x768 no AA or AF... lol, i got a duron if ne of those r turned on i get a severe performance hit.

 

[McArra]

9100 will be faster and there is no driver problems in most of the cases. Every NVidia fanboy says that when nowadays NVidia is having quite a few problems with drivers in games. My case is 5 years using ATI, NVidia one year and 3dFX for two years. Never had problems with them, specially because my first ATIs where with voodoos. Nowadays I'm using 9700Pro and haven't had a single problem in ten months with drivers.

 

[Pete]

9100, no contest.

And Evan, throw us 3D card followers a frickin' bone, eh?

 

[beserkfury15]

well, i had an 8500 and an mx440, and i guess the 5200 compares to 440 so the 8500 would own it. infact, i see very little difference when i upgraded to a 5600(needed vivo) so the 9100 is a better choice.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: gorillaman
If you dont want any driver issues, then ati is the wrong choice.

Just as any company would be a wrong choice because never is there a case where all users never have any issues. And no problems and great performance could be considered an "issue", and that's all I've experienced with my 8500 from ATI.

In terms of 5200 vs 9100, the 5200 might be better with AA or AF, but the fact that either card is too slow to be messing around with such features makes the 9100 clearly the better choice.

 

[Rogodin2]

If you are worried about driver issues don't get nvidia.

rogo

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: Rogodin2
If you are worried about driver issues don't get nvidia.

rogo

I've never run into 1 driver issue with any ATI card I own.

ATI driver issues are a myth these days bandied about by Nvidia fanboys