NVIDIA GeForce 6200 LE AGP

The NVIDIA GeForce 6200 LE AGP is an end-of-life graphics solution built on the Curie architecture, utilizing the NV44 chip fabricated by TSMC on a 110 nm process. It integrates 75 million transistors on a 110 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 681.8K per square millimeter. Released on April 3, 2005, this card targets the AGP 8x interface, serving legacy systems that have not transitioned to PCI Express. With a 128 MB DDR frame buffer and a 64-bit memory bus, its specifications indicate a modest performance envelope, and the database places it at the 50th percentile of all GPUs, signifying a median standing in the overall hierarchy.

Who Should Consider It

The 6200 LE AGP is designed for systems that still rely on the AGP 8x bus, as its interface dictates compatibility. The 128 MB DDR memory and 64-bit bus width, delivering 4.256 GB/s of bandwidth, suggest that this card is suitable for older, lower-resolution displays and light 3D workloads. Given the pixel rate of 700.0 MPixel/s and texture rate of 700.0 MTexel/s, the data indicates that the card will handle basic desktop acceleration and legacy games at reduced settings. Users running a 200 W power supply will find the card's requirements modest, as it has no power connectors and is a single-slot design. However, the lack of shading unit data and the absence of any benchmark scores in the database mean that precise performance estimates are unavailable; the 50th percentile rank suggests it sits exactly at the median of all GPUs tracked. For those seeking to revive a vintage AGP system for 2D tasks, office applications, or very old DirectX 9 titles, this card offers a baseline level of functionality. High resolutions and modern effects are out of reach, as the memory capacity and bandwidth are limited. The card's output options—1x DVI, 1x VGA, and 1x S-Video—cover standard analog and digital connections for monitors of that era. The 110 nm process and 75 million transistors provide a baseline for understanding the card's efficiency, but without power consumption figures, the thermal and power characteristics remain qualitative.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The GeForce 6200 LE AGP does not include any ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as these are absent from the FACT PACK data. This means hardware-accelerated ray tracing is entirely unsupported, and any such effects would be handled by software, if at all. The feature set is defined by its API support: DirectX 9.0c with shader model 9_3, and OpenGL 2.0 with full support, plus partial support for OpenGL 2.1. Vulkan support is not listed, so the card predates that API. The Curie architecture, while capable for its time, lacks the dedicated hardware units found in modern GPUs. The 2 TMUs and 2 ROPs provide the basic pixel processing pipeline, and the 700.0 MPixel/s pixel rate indicates the maximum fill rate for the card. Without tensor cores, there is no AI acceleration, and without RT cores, there is no hardware ray tracing. For users of legacy software that relies on DirectX 9.0c or OpenGL 2.0, the card provides the necessary API surface. The partial OpenGL 2.1 support may limit compatibility with certain applications that require the full 2.1 specification. The absence of Vulkan means that any modern titles utilizing that API are entirely inaccessible. The memory subsystem, with its 128 MB capacity, further restricts the feature set, as larger shader programs and higher-resolution textures cannot be accommodated.

How It Compares

The database lists no nearest rivals for this GPU, and the benchmark score is 0, so direct comparative analysis against specific competitor cards is not possible from the FACT PACK. However, its generational placement is clear: it succeeds the GeForce FX series and precedes the GeForce 7 AGP series. Within the GeForce 6 AGP generation, it carries the 6200 designation, indicating it is a low-end variant. The 50th percentile rank places it at the median of all GPUs in the database, meaning half of the tracked GPUs perform better and half perform worse. This is a neutral position, reflecting a card that is neither a high-performance part nor a complete entry-level failure. The lack of any benchmark data means that the percentile is derived from the database's overall distribution, but the average benchmark score of 0 suggests that no actual performance measurements have been recorded for this specific model. Consequently, any comparison must rely on the theoretical fill rates and memory specifications. Compared to its predecessor, the GeForce FX, the Curie architecture likely offers architectural improvements, but without specific scores, this remains qualitative. Compared to its successor, the GeForce 7 AGP, the 6200 LE is expected to be slower, but again, no numbers are available to quantify the gap. The 50th percentile serves as the only quantitative anchor, positioning the card as an average performer in the broader GPU landscape, though the absence of rival data prevents a more granular assessment.

FAQ

Q: Does the NVIDIA GeForce 6200 LE AGP support ray tracing?

A: No. The FACT PACK lists no ray tracing cores (RT cores) and no tensor cores, so hardware ray tracing is not supported.

Q: What is the memory configuration of this card?

A: It has 128 MB of DDR memory on a 64-bit bus, with a memory clock of 266 MHz (532 Mbps effective) and a bandwidth of 4.256 GB/s.

Q: Which APIs are supported?

A: The card supports DirectX 9.0c (shader model 9_3) and OpenGL 2.0 (full) with partial support for OpenGL 2.1. Vulkan is not listed.

Q: What is the production status and release date?

A: The production status is end-of-life, and the release date is April 3, 2005 (2005-04-03).

Q: What power supply is recommended?

A: The suggested power supply is 200 W, and the card has no power connectors, indicating low power draw.

Q: What display outputs are available?

A: The card provides 1x DVI, 1x VGA, and 1x S-Video outputs.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data for the GeForce 6200 LE AGP is sparse. The average benchmark score is 0, and the benchmarks array is empty, meaning no actual performance tests have been logged. The percentile ranking, however, is set at 50, which places the card exactly at the median of all GPUs in the database. This suggests that, in the absence of direct measurements, the card's theoretical capabilities position it as an average performer among the entire population of GPUs tracked. The pixel rate of 700.0 MPixel/s and texture rate of 700.0 MTexel/s are the only concrete performance metrics provided. These rates indicate that the card can process 700 million pixels per second and 700 million texels per second, respectively. With only 2 TMUs and 2 ROPs, these rates are consistent with a low-end design. The memory bandwidth of 4.256 GB/s, derived from the 64-bit bus and 266 MHz DDR memory, is a limiting factor. For comparison, a modern GPU would have bandwidth orders of magnitude higher, but since no rivals are listed, no exact deltas can be stated. The 50th percentile suggests that when benchmarked, the card would likely perform in the middle of the pack, but the absence of data prevents a definitive analysis. The 110 nm process and 75 million transistors provide a baseline for understanding the card's efficiency, but without power consumption figures (TDP is null), the thermal and power characteristics remain unknown. The 200 W suggested PSU and lack of power connectors imply a low-power part, yet the exact wattage is not specified.

Memory Subsystem

The memory subsystem of the GeForce 6200 LE AGP consists of 128 MB of DDR memory, connected via a 64-bit bus. The memory clock is 266 MHz, which translates to 532 Mbps effective data rate, yielding a total bandwidth of 4.256 GB/s. This is a narrow and slow configuration by modern standards, but it was typical for entry-level cards of its generation. The 128 MB capacity is sufficient for low-resolution textures and basic 3D scenes, but it will quickly become a bottleneck at higher resolutions or with larger texture sets. The 64-bit bus width halves the memory bandwidth compared to a 128-bit bus at the same clock speed, limiting the card's ability to feed the 2 ROPs and 2 TMUs. For high resolutions, the data indicates that the card will struggle, as the bandwidth is insufficient to sustain high fill rates. The pixel rate of 700.0 MPixel/s is directly tied to the memory bandwidth; the card can theoretically output 700 million pixels per second, but only if the memory can supply the necessary data. With 4.256 GB/s, the card is constrained to lower resolutions and reduced texture quality. The use of DDR memory, rather than DDR2 or GDDR, further emphasizes the entry-level positioning. The lack of a TDP figure means power draw is not quantified, but the 200 W suggested PSU and absence of power connectors imply a low-power part. Overall, the memory subsystem is the primary limiting factor for this card, making it unsuitable for modern high-resolution gaming but adequate for legacy applications.