Don't EVER buy a FX 5200. It's the worst card out there. :P It's worse than a GF4 Ti4200 64MB @ 4x AGP. BY FAR. A 5600 JUST BARELY reaches the same abilities, while a 5700 JUST BARELY reaches beyond it. If you want a GOOD card, expect to spend ~$150 - $200. Shoot for a 5900XT or better (5900, for example).
However, given your CPU, I think a whole system upgrade is in order. You're well behind the times, so you're better off building a whole new system. I can e-mail you some custom-built examples, if you'd like, and would be more than happy to give you my advice on buying computer components and/or building a new PC.
Try this on for size:
Gainward NVIDIA GeForce FX5900XT 128MB âGolden Sampleâ
That's a great card for the money. Comes pre-built with one-touch overclocking, and can be pushed even further. AND, it's the same price as the MSI variant that does NOT feature built-in one-touch overclocking (via Gainward's software, of course), and has heatsinks right on the RAM chips, another feature that most boards don't have. If you want a games bundle, check out the MSI card, but IMO the Gainward card is the best bet for your money (and I LOVE MSI products).
If that's too steep, I'd recommend one of the following, but keep in mind it's a mediocre card at best. It'll run Planetside (most definitly a graphics-intensive game), but FPS with non-Antialiasing / -Anisotropic Filtering will be about equal to my current card. Of course, full AA / AFS will be FAR better than my card could ever handle, so it's still a "decent" buy. I just think that for the small price margin of difference, you're better off with a 5900XT or 5900, but I can fully understand a tight budget (I'm working with one right now, trying to find a few small upgrades for my current computer).
GAINWARD NVIDIA GeForce FX5700 256MB - No built-in overclocjking software, but still capable of overclocking, like all NVIDIA cards.
MSI NVIDIA GeForce FX5700 128MB - Games bundle includes Morrowind, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project, and Ghost Recon, and some 7-in-1 free trial game demo disc. Also includes DVD software, among many other things. Total of 10 CDs. Less RAM than the Gainward cards, but that's not as large of an issue since both cards feature only a 128-bit bus, so extra RAM only pays off at the high-end of use (high resolution, high detail, 4x AA and 8x ASF).
GAINWARD NVIDIA GeForce FX5700 256MB - For $7 over the other Gainward card, you gain WinDVD4, so that you have DVD-playing software. Whether that's worth it to you or not, only you can tell, but I threw it in here for reference.
As you can see, I'm a hardcore NVIDIA fan. Never had a problem with ANY of my NVIDIA cards in all my years of gaming, and I push them hard (overclock to the limits). If you want an ATi card (*shudder*), they tend to be a wee bit cheaper, occasionally, but I'd have to do some research before I could recommend one for you.
For reference, check out Tom's Hardware Guide. GREAT site for all your tech needs. ANd ONLY purchase parts from NewEgg.com. Fast shipping, great customer service, and the best prices around. :)
Hope this helps! And again, e-mail me (ellis71@charter.net) with any questions. I'll be more than happy to help.
Edit:
If you absolutely, positiviely cannot afford a better card, go for this one. It's in your proce range, and will blow away either of the cards others have suggested.
MSI NVIDIA GeForce FX5600XT 128MB
It runs at 1x/2x/4x/8x AGP, so it truly is "universal". It has 128MB of video RAM, although it's "only" a 64-bit card (meaning it can only access 64MB of RAM at any given time. See my notes above. More RAM WILL help, even if it's above the bus width, but the gains are marginal over a card with RAM = bus width, and the gains only truly shine when you get into the highest settings). It will easily knock the socks off either a 9200SE or a FX5200, give you plenty of room for overclocking (to squeak even more performance out of it), and comes with MSI's usual HUGE bundle of software. Here's the website for the card:
FX5600XT-VTDR128 MSI Part No. MS-8912-240
Again, I cannot in any good conscience recommend going ANY lower than a 5600. I strongly recommend you try for a higher card, to get the most LASTING performance out of your card, but for ~$100 an "interim" card as I call them is still a good deal. And, lastly, I urge you to purchase from NewEgg. I have bought several items from them, and they have never let me down. Fast, safe shipping (no damage to any of my products), incredible prices, and unbeatable service. It's the best online shop around for computers.
Good luck with your decisions, and let us know how it goes.
However, given your CPU, I think a whole system upgrade is in order. You're well behind the times, so you're better off building a whole new system. I can e-mail you some custom-built examples, if you'd like, and would be more than happy to give you my advice on buying computer components and/or building a new PC.
Try this on for size:
Gainward NVIDIA GeForce FX5900XT 128MB âGolden Sampleâ
That's a great card for the money. Comes pre-built with one-touch overclocking, and can be pushed even further. AND, it's the same price as the MSI variant that does NOT feature built-in one-touch overclocking (via Gainward's software, of course), and has heatsinks right on the RAM chips, another feature that most boards don't have. If you want a games bundle, check out the MSI card, but IMO the Gainward card is the best bet for your money (and I LOVE MSI products).
If that's too steep, I'd recommend one of the following, but keep in mind it's a mediocre card at best. It'll run Planetside (most definitly a graphics-intensive game), but FPS with non-Antialiasing / -Anisotropic Filtering will be about equal to my current card. Of course, full AA / AFS will be FAR better than my card could ever handle, so it's still a "decent" buy. I just think that for the small price margin of difference, you're better off with a 5900XT or 5900, but I can fully understand a tight budget (I'm working with one right now, trying to find a few small upgrades for my current computer).
GAINWARD NVIDIA GeForce FX5700 256MB - No built-in overclocjking software, but still capable of overclocking, like all NVIDIA cards.
MSI NVIDIA GeForce FX5700 128MB - Games bundle includes Morrowind, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project, and Ghost Recon, and some 7-in-1 free trial game demo disc. Also includes DVD software, among many other things. Total of 10 CDs. Less RAM than the Gainward cards, but that's not as large of an issue since both cards feature only a 128-bit bus, so extra RAM only pays off at the high-end of use (high resolution, high detail, 4x AA and 8x ASF).
GAINWARD NVIDIA GeForce FX5700 256MB - For $7 over the other Gainward card, you gain WinDVD4, so that you have DVD-playing software. Whether that's worth it to you or not, only you can tell, but I threw it in here for reference.
As you can see, I'm a hardcore NVIDIA fan. Never had a problem with ANY of my NVIDIA cards in all my years of gaming, and I push them hard (overclock to the limits). If you want an ATi card (*shudder*), they tend to be a wee bit cheaper, occasionally, but I'd have to do some research before I could recommend one for you.
For reference, check out Tom's Hardware Guide. GREAT site for all your tech needs. ANd ONLY purchase parts from NewEgg.com. Fast shipping, great customer service, and the best prices around. :)
Hope this helps! And again, e-mail me (ellis71@charter.net) with any questions. I'll be more than happy to help.
Edit:
If you absolutely, positiviely cannot afford a better card, go for this one. It's in your proce range, and will blow away either of the cards others have suggested.
MSI NVIDIA GeForce FX5600XT 128MB
It runs at 1x/2x/4x/8x AGP, so it truly is "universal". It has 128MB of video RAM, although it's "only" a 64-bit card (meaning it can only access 64MB of RAM at any given time. See my notes above. More RAM WILL help, even if it's above the bus width, but the gains are marginal over a card with RAM = bus width, and the gains only truly shine when you get into the highest settings). It will easily knock the socks off either a 9200SE or a FX5200, give you plenty of room for overclocking (to squeak even more performance out of it), and comes with MSI's usual HUGE bundle of software. Here's the website for the card:
FX5600XT-VTDR128 MSI Part No. MS-8912-240
Again, I cannot in any good conscience recommend going ANY lower than a 5600. I strongly recommend you try for a higher card, to get the most LASTING performance out of your card, but for ~$100 an "interim" card as I call them is still a good deal. And, lastly, I urge you to purchase from NewEgg. I have bought several items from them, and they have never let me down. Fast, safe shipping (no damage to any of my products), incredible prices, and unbeatable service. It's the best online shop around for computers.
Good luck with your decisions, and let us know how it goes.
Roland *The Gunslinger*