NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Engineering Sample

The NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Engineering Sample is a mid-range GPU from the Rankine architecture, part of the GeForce FX generation. Built on a 130 nm process at TSMC, it integrates 82 million transistors on a 133 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 616.5K per mm². Released in 2003, it now holds end-of-life status and sits at the 50th percentile among all GPUs in the benchmark database. The card uses the NV36S chip and is designed for the AGP 8x interface, a standard for that era.

Power and Cooling

The card draws a modest 25 W, which is remarkably low even for its time. The suggested PSU is 200 W, meaning almost any power supply from that period could drive it without strain. A single Molex power connector is required, and the card occupies a single slot, making it physically compact and easy to install in most cases. The memory clock runs at 250 MHz, with an effective data rate of 500 Mbps, contributing to the low power envelope. The 128-bit memory bus and DDR memory type further keep power consumption in check, as does the relatively small 128 MB capacity. For a system builder, this card is one of the least demanding options in terms of thermal and electrical requirements, but the presence of the Molex connector must not be overlooked—older power supplies typically have one, but modern units may require an adapter.

How It Compares

The fact pack provides no nearestRivals data, so a direct comparison to specific competing GPUs is impossible. However, the percentile vs all GPUs is 50, placing this card exactly at the median of all GPUs ever tested. This suggests it was neither a high-end nor a low-end product, but rather an average performer in its generation. Its predecessor is the GeForce 4 Ti and its successor is the GeForce 6 AGP, but no performance numbers are listed for either, so any relative positioning is speculative. As an engineering sample, this card may differ from final retail units in clock speeds or other characteristics, and its end-of-life status means it is no longer produced. The absence of rival data limits a detailed competitive analysis, but the 50th percentile rank gives a clear signal of its mid-pack standing.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The fact pack lists no ray tracing cores and no tensor cores, which is expected for a 2003 GPU, as those technologies did not exist at the time. The API support includes DirectX 9.0a and OpenGL 1.5 (full) with partial OpenGL 2.0. This allows compatibility with early DirectX 9 games and many OpenGL titles of the period, though later API features are not available. The display outputs consist of one DVI, one VGA, and one S-Video, covering common analog and early digital connections. The bus interface is AGP 8x, which was a standard for that generation, providing adequate bandwidth for the card’s memory and rendering capabilities. Without dedicated RT or tensor cores, any modern ray-traced workload is out of the question, but for its era, the feature set was typical of a mainstream GPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory bandwidth?

A: The memory bandwidth is 8.000 GB/s, achieved with a 128-bit bus and DDR memory running at 250 MHz (500 Mbps effective).

Q: What is the TDP and PSU requirement?

A: The TDP is 25 W, and the suggested PSU rating is 200 W.

Q: What power connector does it use?

A: It requires a single Molex power connector.

Q: What API versions are supported?

A: It supports DirectX 9.0a and OpenGL 1.5 (full) with partial OpenGL 2.0.

Q: How many TMUs and ROPs does it have?

A: It has 4 texture mapping units (TMUs) and 4 render output units (ROPs).

Q: What is the pixel rate?

A: The pixel rate is 1.700 GPixel/s, matching the texture rate of 1.700 GTexel/s.

Benchmark Performance

No benchmark scores are provided in the fact pack; the average benchmark score is 0, which likely indicates that no standardized tests were run or reported. Without rival scores, we cannot calculate percentage deltas or make direct performance comparisons. However, the theoretical pixel rate is 1.700 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 1.700 GTexel/s, both derived from the 4 TMUs and 4 ROPs. These figures suggest that the card can fill 1.7 billion pixels per second and texture 1.7 billion texels per second, which is modest by any standard. The 8.000 GB/s memory bandwidth is sufficient to feed these rates at moderate resolutions, but the 128 MB memory capacity limits texture-heavy scenes. Given the 50th percentile ranking, the card likely performed at the median of all GPUs in the database, meaning it was an average performer even in its own generation. The lack of benchmark data means we cannot quantify its real-world speed, but the hardware specifications give a clear picture of its capabilities.

Who Should Consider It

This card is intended for enthusiasts building a period-correct system from the early 2000s. Its 25 W TDP and 200 W PSU requirement make it easy to integrate into older or low-power builds, and its single-slot design ensures compatibility with most cases. The 128 MB memory and 8.000 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for games that were current at its release, provided the resolution and detail settings are kept low. The pixel and texture rates of 1.700 GPixel/s and 1.700 GTexel/s indicate it can handle simple scenes, but not demanding titles with heavy effects. The DirectX 9.0a support limits it to games that do not require later API features, and the lack of ray tracing and tensor cores makes it unsuitable for any modern workload. Given its 50th percentile ranking, it was an average performer even in its own generation, so it is best suited for retro gaming or as a collector’s item rather than a daily driver. Users seeking a GPU for contemporary applications should look elsewhere, as this card’s specifications are firmly rooted in the past.