eVGA FX 5200, or other video card

[wrewing73]

I currently have my main pc as my HTPC with a 6800 GT video card. I am making a standalone HTPC and I am using some older parts from a spare PC that has a 5200 video card. I was wondering if I will see any noticeable difference in video quality. Thanks.

[paulbeers]

A lot depends on how you plan to connect the video card. If you were using S-video and plan to use S-video again, you probably won't notice a whole lot of difference (the 6800 has a few extra bells and whistles that may help a little), but if you were using component before then there will probably be reduced image quality. If you are using DVI/HDMI, you shouldn't notice much difference either. Also, are you just outputting SDTV or both HDTV and SDTV? Obviously the 5200 will not be able to handle HDTV. I used to use a standalone PVR (now a client/server setup), and used a 5200 PCI card as my output, and it worked fine for SDTV.

[wrewing73]

I am using S-video to a SDTV (27” Sony). I was also wondering if it would be worth upgrading to a 6200? I can get a good deal on this one - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130008
Or is it better to get a 6600? Thanks.

[Fluffdaddy]

For 39 bucks you get what you pay. I went with the plan jane 6600 and I was mostly happy with it, I was doing SD and HD. For just SD a 6200 will work but a 6600 will give you some growing room.

You will not find any 6600's on the cheap so a 6200 is great for the budget buyer

[AtariJeff]

I use a 6200 to drive a 61" Sammy DLP in HD. No complaints.

[wrewing73]

Ok. I guess now my decision is between these 2 cards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130008

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130262

[paulbeers]

If it were me, I would go with the 6200. Simply becuase it is silent. My old 5200 had a fan on it, and it annoyed the heck out of me. It was just one more fan (oh and the fan died taking my 5200 with it meaning I had to go buy something new). You would probably be better off if you eventually go to HDTV, to buy new with a PCI-E video card (since AGP is getting harder and harder to buy for). Just my .02 worth.

Here is the vid card I bought, but who knows if it will ever come back in stock?

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=322276

[paulbeers]

You know, you never mentioned how powerful of a processor this "old computer" has, and so it may not even be worth going to a geforce 6600 because it may not be powerful enough to drive HDTV.

[wrewing73]

It is a 2600+ XP with 512 MB RAM. It will only be used for SDTV. I went ahead and got the 6200.

[paulbeers]

You probably made the right decision. The XP 2600+ is powerful enough with a decent video card to run HD, but by the time you step up and buy an HDTV, you will want a PCI-E vid card (I have a machine I am trying to decide right now what to do with, it is an "older" box with an AGP slot and I am having a hard time find passively cooled 6600 or better for it).