Albatron GeForce FX 5600 256mb

[Amino]

Building a computer for a friend and we need a card that'll play half life 2. He doesn't wanna spend over $200 on the card, so I'm thinking about this 256Mb 5600, and just OC it a bit. He's not into computers that much, but he really wants to get into some more graphic intensive games.

Is this a good card? Are there any others I should look at? And why are all the Ultras with 128 Mb's so much more than their 256Mb counterparts? Some are over $50 more! Are they that much higher in clock speeds?

[Infinite Enigma]

check out a review or nvidias site. i think its more then just higher clock, but i havent read about a 5600 in a while, the ultra may have a bit better architecture, like running more textures per pass, maybe ultra shadow technology, etc, that increase its performance in addition to higher clocks.

albatron is a good namebrand from what i have heard of them recently , especially for overclocking.

[Infinite Enigma]

decent little review for your alba 5600 :
http://content.guru3d.com/article.php?cat=Videocards&id=59&pagenumber=1

"The GeForce FX 5600 (model: FX 5600P Turbo) is as stated a bit more expensive, it's equipped with Albatron's active cooling solution, faster memory and a core at 325 MHz. Basically this is a GeForce FX 5900 with two essential changes, firstly 128-bit memory and secondly a cut-down 4 pixel pipelines (8 pipes on the 5900)."

and on overclocking, "The 5600 was another story though. Remember, we don't do just one quick test-run to see how far it clocks. No, the overclock is enabled all the way and must return it's results without crashing or graphics anomalies in _all_ benchmarks properly to be called stable. We where able to boost it up towards 375-380 MHz for the core."

not too shabby. go for it.

[IR1]

I would avoid the non-ultras, the extra 256mb isnt worth having a card that is slow.

Think of it as having 512mb of memory in a 286. Sure you can open a lot more programs at once... but they will still run slow.

Especially since they Nvidia doesnt make a 5200 Ultra or 5600 Ultra with 256mb of memory. Only the non-ultras have 256mb. And even the ultras arnt worth their price tag.

See thats why the 5600 256mb costs less than the 5600Ultra 128mb. The non-ultras are really slow.

And your freind wants to play HL2? Well for one thing Nvidia and the FX cards are having some problems with Pixel Shader 2.0, its broken in drivers or something they may fix it they may not.

Id avoid any FX below a 5900, and since your friend doesnt want to pay over 200, I think he'd be better off buying a 9700np for a tad aboe $200. Its faster then any 5600ultra and also quite close in price.

If he wants to save some cash and still have a good DX9 card... go with the 9500np or 9600pro and oc it.

But if he must at all cost buy an Nvidia... then go for the 5600ultra 128mb and make sure its the revision 2. However for the price which hovers a little above $200, he might as well get a 9700np.

[Amino]

Well, I'm going to be the one to build it and he knows nothing about the whole nVidia/ATI thing, so "pisha"...

I don't really like nVidia. I just didn't know too much about any card other than the ultra high end ones, because those are the only ones I'd buy for myself (gotta have the best :D). However, my buddy doesn't wanna spend TOO much money on his new computer, but he said to get him a good card, just (quote) "not the ones that are over 5 million dollars."

So I guess I'll go with a 9600 Pro for him. I think he'll be happy.