OK guys here we go. Building machines for kids (3). They like games. ages 13,10,7. They are not hard core doom types, (that's me ), but they do play simpsons, backyard baseball and stuff like that. Any beef with the GeForce FX5200 series,128mb ram for $40.
10 more dollars you can get a fx 5500 and that should be a bit better, but you'll need to look for sales from maddog multimedia.
Personally I wouldn't buy anything fx at all. if you want a low budget nvidia card buy a 6200 with turbo caching which will be supported for a couple of years to come on newegg they start at 50.00 bucks so it is a whole and I do mean a whole lot better card then any fx.
The 6200 would be a great choice. Since their not into Doom types, atleast not yet (they'll wanna be like dad), the video card is more than enough to play simpsons and backyard baseball. I know from experience cuz my nephew plays them on a low-mid range computer with a 6200. And techguy26 is right, that card will keep you going for a couple years until they get into doom types.
Geez did you all not read tbowlings post? He's building 3 machines for his kids. So when you say 10 or 20$ more thats x3.. It's just for the kids right? Then the FX5200 would be perfectly fine for what you mentioned they would need it for (Hell better than fine) Now if they want to upgrade to a better video card later then you have christmas or birthday present you can buy ;-) There is nothing wrong with that card and it will work just fine. No need to spend the extra dollars when they don't really need it. You can save them $$ and get you a really good card LOL Cheers
Em can i just say like liuanator i only recommended that he spend an extra 30 bucks i never said that he should go out and get a 6800gt at 200+ bucks, the fact that he said there not into doom 3 is a good enough reason to get the 5500 as they would not have to upgrade for a while unlike if they got a 5200 , i had a 5200 and in my opinion there not good at all. After all he did ask if any1 saw any problems with it and people are replying that’s all.
leviticus damn nice computer or u're just lying AMD Athlon 64bit FX-55 Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe nForce4 SLI 4GB Dual Channel DDR400 2x 120GB Seagate 10K RPM RAID-0 2x BFG GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB PCI Express SLI Plextor PX-708A & TDK 40x20x52x Windows XP Pro SP2
it's upto tbowling to decide as we gave our opinions which might soon degenerate so let him decide what to do but consider that the oldest kid is only 13 & video cards are always changing & we do not know what the motherboards are so can't give him fully informed opinions on cards!!!
What a very intelligent and insightful reply? You must have done extensive research and testing on all FX video cards to come to that unbiased conclusion? I am not saying the cards everyone is suggesting are not as good in fact they are better, but the question was are the fx5200 good enough for what he is doing and the answer is yes. They will work just fine and accomplish what he wants to accomplish. I have been building and repairing computers for over 10 years now (just like ddp) so we may just know a little bit about the subject. Would I build my system with that video card? Of course not but I don’t think he wants to pay 300$ to put the card I would put in my system either. The question was a simple one and so is the answer.. Yes… 
i mean if u're wanna play like some intense online game the fx series just can't handle it, but if it's little kiddie game they are alright. when i was 13 i was like 5yrs ago i think fx5200 just can't handle my gaming needs.
The only reason i was thinking the 5500 is because kids & games change all the time one day it's that game next day it's something else and the 5500 would be able to keep up with newer games better than the 5200 could, but like ddp said it's up to tbowling to decide. I would not say the fx series is rubbish after all Nivida puts out new ones all the time that makes them seem rubbish.
@ evilh0ly Nope, I am not lying about my computer specs. I built it around Computer Gaming Monthly's Ultimate Gaming Rig, last month or so.
I also have been working with computers for years and work for tech support for a certain company, driver wise and future wise I suggest spending 10 dollars more per comp for something that will be supported for a couple more years a 6200tc say one of his children want to play madden 2006, or say the next spongebob game, come dec all new games will require atleast a 6200 to run correctly, but in the end screw it this is not a debate and my suggestion was not for a 300.00 card merely a card that was 10 bucks more that will be supported for a couple more years that will play these new games in a low resolution. c,mon guys you no the geforce 5 series are ancient!
