The strength of the 5xxx line doesn't lie in the linear performance delta between its predecessors.
It lies in the fact that the cards in the 5xxx series, when compared to earlier models can handle all the effects turned on at the same speed as those earlier models manage without. Example:
GeForce4 ti4200 -> GeForceFX 5600/Ultra: The 5600 can turn on FSAA and AF and manage the same framerate as the ti4200 can with all those effects off.
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Mt_GoatHead Cheezy KnobPflugerville (north of Austin)Icrontian
edited August 2003
Going from a 4200ti to a 5200 would be a loss of performance but would be DX9. From what I have seen the 5200's are like an MX440 with all the new bells and whistles.
To get an increase you want ti4200 -> 5600 Ultra. The 5600 Ultra is the FX-brother of the 4200 anyhow.
MTgoat is right. The 5200 is the FX-Brother of the MX460.
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Geeky1University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
edited August 2003
As already stated, the 5200 is basically a piece of crap. It can run DX9, but from what I've read, it's too slow to do it @ much more than a few fps anyhow, so it doesn't really matter.
As an upgrade from a Ti 4200, my opinion is that it's not worth spending ANY dough unless you go all the way to a 5900. You would see *some* improvement with a 5600 but not a ton, either keep saving or spend the smaller amount on ... hmm, looking at ur sig, you have about everything else (was going to suggest another stick of RAM). Save up for the 5900 if you are staying nVidia graphics Or find a decent deal on a 9700/9700Pro/9800/9800Pro. I'll add some impressions tomorrow if I find time to benchmark my Ti-4200 vs my 9600Pro, which should *roughly* compare to a 5600. But my expectation is that most numbers should be pretty similar, until I get to high IQ settings.
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Geeky1University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
edited September 2003
Although $100 is about what the 5200S usually go for, they aren't even worth half that. I'd use one if you paid me, but you'd have to pay me a hell of a lot, and let me have my 9700 pro for playing you know, real games- pong doesn't cut it anymore. And Pong is just about all the 5200 can handle. Even then, you're talking 320x240, black & white, and forget AA...
So I'm exaggerating, but not much. The regular 5600 isn't worth $150 either. It would be if the 9500 Pro, 9600 and 9600 Pros didn't exist, but they do, so it's not. The regular 5900 is an OK deal @ 250, but a 9700 Pro would probably be better. In short, the 5600 Ultra and 5900 series chips are the only decent GPUs nVidia offers.
Hmmm, maybe I should wait for the NV38 or NV40. Since I invest $10 a month in nVidia, I buy their products to support the company I invest in.
Note, I am investing $10 a month each in nVidia, Creative Labs, and AMD, thats for a total of $30 a month since Feb 28, 2002. Take a look at the approximate cumulative performance of all three of the most recent look at Sharebuilder.com
Comments
It lies in the fact that the cards in the 5xxx series, when compared to earlier models can handle all the effects turned on at the same speed as those earlier models manage without. Example:
GeForce4 ti4200 -> GeForceFX 5600/Ultra: The 5600 can turn on FSAA and AF and manage the same framerate as the ti4200 can with all those effects off.
MTgoat is right. The 5200 is the FX-Brother of the MX460.
So I'm exaggerating, but not much. The regular 5600 isn't worth $150 either. It would be if the 9500 Pro, 9600 and 9600 Pros didn't exist, but they do, so it's not. The regular 5900 is an OK deal @ 250, but a 9700 Pro would probably be better. In short, the 5600 Ultra and 5900 series chips are the only decent GPUs nVidia offers.
Note, I am investing $10 a month each in nVidia, Creative Labs, and AMD, thats for a total of $30 a month since Feb 28, 2002. Take a look at the approximate cumulative performance of all three of the most recent look at Sharebuilder.com
Maybe I'll call Sharebuild so I can recover my user name and password that I lost over a year ago, and add ATYT to my investment portfolio
ATI's performance based on my current investment level