heres a run down

6800GT $389 overclocks easily to a 6800Ultra ,Ultra outperforms a X800XT

X800XT $474 overclocks easily to a X800Xt PE, X800XT PE outperforms a 6800Ultra in most cases

Not to take away by any means from what cdt1983 said. He makes a valid point. With a upper range system such as what he has, games are playable on a fx5200. However, I have a gainward fx5200 that i have trtied on my rig ( a tough higher in specs... so the video card is 100% guaranteed to be the bottleneck for everything) I tested the fx5200 because when I built my computer this summer, it was harder than hell to get ahold of a geforce6800gt for less than 450 dollars, and I didnt want a stuipd pny card.

But back to the fx5200. Yes, it is playable (tested doom3, farcry, unreal tournament 2004 etc. The game could definately run things fairly smooth, and because it is still in the fx series (even though the bottom of the line) it still had the shading technology as well as everything else offered int he fx line over the geforce 4 line. When cdt1983 says I just have to question what he considers to be good quality? The games do look ok, and are very playable... but there is much to be desired. Especially once you know what is out there. Upgrading to my friends 9800 pro trumped the fx5200 severely not only in being able to have higher resolution, a few more graphic settings, but also the nice ability to hvae anti-aliasing enabled to a small degree. As I jumped up to my geforce 6800gt, as I said, it is leagues ahead. I went from being able to run at 1024x768 at decent settings (other than in doom 3, which could not handle as too high of settings and still keep smooothness to it) to the 9800pro which would do things in the 1280x1024 range with similiar settings, but having antialiasing enabled. Then with the advance to the 6800gt, I was able to run farcry with settings maxed out in everyway, other than antialiasing (which i leave at 4x, to keep the game running smoothly), in doom 3 high graphic settings with everything enabled with max settings on the high setting with an antialiasing of 4 or 8 times.

There is truly a difference in video quality to be considered, but cdt1983 makes valid points in saying that the gaming is very playable and looks decent (ok he said pretty good but it is merely ok). If you can be happy with this.. then definately find a good geforce fx5200 in the 50-80 dollar range (although i highly recommend splurging to the 9800pro for 100 dollars!!)

-JonnyBlazexx

wow man the prices are right off newegg, what are you talking about they are not right.

and those figures are if you Oc the card, you dont need to but thats what it would most likely be.

JonnyBlaze, I think you have convinced me to upgrade to the 9800pro. My friends needs a card and his PC will be fine with FX 5200. I just got Doom 3 and you make the 9800pro sound a lot better. I'll have to shop around for it.