NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200

The NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 is a mobile graphics processor built on the Rankine architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 150 nm process. The chip, designated NV34, packs 45 million transistors into a 124 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 362.9K per square millimeter. Released in 2003, this part is now end-of-life, and the data places it at the 50th percentile of all GPUs, indicating a median performance tier within the database. The FX Go5200 succeeds the GeForce4 Go and is succeeded by the GeForce Go 6, positioning it as a transitional mobile solution.

Memory Subsystem

The FX Go5200 is equipped with 32 MB of DDR memory, a configuration that was common for its era. The memory operates at a 200 MHz clock with a 400 Mbps effective data rate, and it is connected via a 128-bit bus. This combination produces a memory bandwidth of 6.400 GB/s. The 128-bit bus width is a notable asset for this card, as it allows the relatively small 32 MB frame buffer to be accessed more efficiently than a narrower bus would permit. For high resolutions, the 32 MB capacity becomes the primary limiting factor. At resolutions that demand large frame buffers, the 32 MB allocation will quickly exhaust, forcing the driver to fall back to system memory or reduce texture detail. The 6.400 GB/s bandwidth, while adequate for the pixel and texture rates of the card, will not sustain heavy multi-sampling or high-color-depth scenarios. The data indicates that the memory subsystem is tuned for efficiency at lower resolutions rather than for high-resolution gaming.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The FX Go5200 does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores; the FACT PACK lists both as null. Consequently, hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not available on this part. The feature set is instead defined by its API support: DirectX 9.0a and OpenGL 1.5 (full) with OpenGL 2.0 (partial). DirectX 9.0a provides access to a range of games from that generation, enabling programmable shading techniques, though the card's modest shading resources will limit the complexity of shaders that can be run at playable frame rates. The partial OpenGL 2.0 support indicates that some advanced features of that specification are present, but not the complete set. The absence of RT and tensor cores means that any workloads relying on these technologies, such as DLSS or ray-traced effects, are entirely out of scope. The card's feature set is firmly rooted in the early 2000s, offering a baseline for DirectX 9.0a titles but lacking the specialized hardware found in later generations.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data for the FX Go5200 is sparse. The benchmarks array is empty, and the average benchmark score is recorded as 0. However, the percentile field places the card at the 50th percentile among all GPUs in the database, which indicates that it sits exactly at the median of the performance distribution. This is a neutral position, suggesting that the card is neither a high-performance outlier nor a bottom-tier performer. The pixel rate is 800.0 MPixel/s, and the texture rate is 800.0 MTexel/s, both derived from the 4 TMUs and 4 ROPs operating at the memory clock. These rates provide a concrete measure of the card's fill-rate capabilities. A pixel rate of 800.0 MPixel/s means the card can process 800 million pixels per second, which is sufficient for lower resolutions and older titles but will struggle with modern, high-fill-rate demands. The texture rate matches the pixel rate, indicating a balanced design between texture fetching and pixel output. Since no nearest rivals are listed, a direct percentage comparison against specific competitor models is not possible from the data. The 50th percentile placement, combined with the fill-rate figures, suggests that the FX Go5200 delivers a baseline experience that is adequate for its intended mobile segment but not competitive with higher-end desktop parts of the same era.

Power and Cooling

The FACT PACK lists no TDP for the FX Go5200, and no suggested PSU is provided. The card requires no power connectors, as indicated by the "None" entry for power connectors. This absence of external power connectors strongly implies a low power draw, which is consistent with its mobile designation. The FX Go5200 is designed for portable devices, and the display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," meaning the card relies on the host laptop's display infrastructure. Cooling is likewise device-dependent; the card does not have a dedicated slot width or dimensions, so it is integrated into the motherboard of the portable system. The 150 nm process, while not cutting-edge for its time, is a factor in the thermal envelope, but without a TDP figure, the data does not specify exact wattage. Users should expect that the system's existing cooling solution is sufficient, given the lack of supplementary power requirements. The AGP 8x bus interface is the data path for the card, and it does not impose additional power demands beyond the slot's standard supply.

Who Should Consider It

Given the 32 MB memory capacity, 128-bit bus, and 6.400 GB/s bandwidth, the FX Go5200 is best suited for older games and applications that do not require large frame buffers. The 50th percentile performance placement indicates that it can handle mainstream titles of its release era, but it is not equipped for high-resolution gaming. For lower resolutions, the card's fill rates of 800.0 MPixel/s and 800.0 MTexel/s are adequate for many DirectX 9.0a titles. Users who attempt to run modern games at high settings will quickly hit the memory ceiling of 32 MB, resulting in texture thrashing and reduced frame rates. The card is also limited by its lack of ray tracing and tensor cores, so any modern feature set is absent. This makes the FX Go5200 a candidate for retro computing, legacy software compatibility, or as a basic display adapter for portable systems where the workload is light. The AGP 8x interface limits its use to older motherboards, so it is not a viable upgrade path for modern systems. In summary, the data suggests this card is for users who need a functional, low-power mobile GPU for legacy applications, not for high-performance gaming or content creation.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory size of the NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200?

A: The FX Go5200 is equipped with 32 MB of DDR memory.

Q: Does the FX Go5200 support DirectX 9.0a?

A: Yes, the card supports DirectX 9.0a, along with OpenGL 1.5 (full) and OpenGL 2.0 (partial).

Q: What is the bus interface of the FX Go5200?

A: The card uses an AGP 8x bus interface.

Q: Does the FX Go5200 have ray tracing cores?

A: No, the data lists RT cores as null, so hardware ray tracing is not available.

Q: What is the production status of the FX Go5200?

A: The production status is listed as end-of-life.

Q: What is the process node used for the FX Go5200?

A: The card is fabricated on a 150 nm process by TSMC.

How It Compares

The FACT PACK lists no nearest rivals for the FX Go5200, so a direct comparison against specific competitor models with percentage deltas is not possible from the available data. Instead, the card's position is defined by its overall percentile ranking of 50, which places it at the median of all GPUs in the database. This means it performs better than half of the GPUs and worse than the other half. In terms of its own lineage, the FX Go5200 is the successor to the GeForce4 Go and the predecessor to the GeForce Go 6, indicating a generational progression within NVIDIA's mobile lineup. The transition from the GeForce4 Go to the FX Go5200 brought the Rankine architecture and DirectX 9.0a support, while the successor GeForce Go 6 would later build upon this foundation. Without benchmark scores for these specific predecessors or successors, the data only confirms the sequential relationship. The 50th percentile ranking serves as the primary comparative metric, suggesting that the FX Go5200 holds a middle-ground position in the broader GPU landscape, neither excelling nor lagging significantly in the aggregate database. Users looking for a performance comparison against a specific rival would need to consult additional data, as the current pack provides no such deltas.