NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 NPB 64M

The NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 NPB 64M is a mobile-oriented graphics processor built on the Rankine architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 150 nm process. It integrates 45 million transistors on a 91 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 494.5K per square millimeter. The GPU belongs to the GeForce FX Go 5 generation and is the successor to the GeForce4 Go, with the GeForce Go 6 following it. Its production status is end-of-life, and it was released on February 28, 2003. The card uses an AGP 8x bus interface and features display outputs described as "Portable Device Dependent," indicating its design for laptops or embedded systems.

Benchmark Performance

The FACT PACK provides no benchmark scores for this GPU; the benchmarks array is empty, and the average benchmark score is listed as 0. Consequently, no direct performance measurements or frame-rate data are available for analysis. However, the percentileVsAllGpus field places the FX Go5200 at the 50th percentile of all GPUs in the database. This percentile indicates that the GPU sits at the midpoint of the performance distribution, meaning it is neither exceptionally fast nor notably slow relative to the entire catalog of GPUs tracked by the benchmark database. Without specific scores, the percentile serves as the only quantitative performance indicator. It suggests that, in the aggregate, this GPU's performance is typical for its era and class, but the absence of individual benchmark results limits any granular comparison. The lack of data also means that no exact percentage deltas can be computed against any rival, as the nearestRivals list is empty. Therefore, any statement about relative performance must rely solely on the percentile ranking and the inherent characteristics of the hardware, such as pixel and texture rates.

Memory Subsystem

The FX Go5200 is equipped with 64 MB of DDR memory, connected via a 128-bit bus. The memory operates at 250 MHz, which translates to an effective data rate of 500 Mbps per pin, yielding a total memory bandwidth of 8.000 GB/s. This bandwidth is a critical factor for rendering at higher resolutions, as it determines how quickly texture data and frame buffers can be accessed. With a pixel rate of 1.000 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 1.000 GTexel/s, the memory bandwidth provides exactly 8 bytes per pixel per second, which is sufficient for 32-bit color at a fill rate of 1 gigapixel per second. However, the 64 MB capacity is modest by modern standards, and it limits the amount of texture data that can be stored on-chip. At high resolutions, larger frame buffers and more detailed textures would require more memory, potentially causing the GPU to exceed its capacity and resort to slower memory accesses. The 128-bit bus width helps mitigate bandwidth constraints, but the relatively small VRAM pool remains a bottleneck for demanding workloads. For the era of this GPU, the combination of 64 MB and 8 GB/s was adequate for typical resolutions of the time, such as 1024x768 or 1280x1024, but it would struggle with high-definition textures or anti-aliasing that require additional memory overhead.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The FX Go5200 does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores; both fields are null in the FACT PACK. This absence means that hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not supported, and any ray-traced effects would have to be computed on the CPU or via software fallbacks, which would be prohibitively slow. The GPU's feature set is defined by its API support: it supports DirectX 9.0a and OpenGL 1.5 (full) with OpenGL 2.0 (partial). DirectX 9.0a is an early revision of the DirectX 9 API, which introduced programmable shaders (Pixel Shader 2.0 and Vertex Shader 2.0) but lacked some later enhancements. OpenGL 1.5 full support means the GPU can handle the core OpenGL 1.5 specification, while the partial OpenGL 2.0 support indicates that some features of that later version are implemented, but not all. This partial support may include certain shader model capabilities or buffer objects, but the specifics are not detailed. The lack of RT cores and tensor cores aligns with the GPU's 2003 vintage, as ray tracing hardware did not become mainstream until much later. The feature set is therefore limited to the fixed-function and programmable pipeline capabilities available in DirectX 9.0a and OpenGL 1.5, which are sufficient for early 2000s games but not for modern titles that rely on advanced shading or compute features.

Power and Cooling

The FACT PACK does not list a TDP (thermal design power) for the FX Go5200, nor does it provide a suggested PSU rating. The powerConnectors field is "None," meaning the GPU does not require any auxiliary power cables. This absence indicates that the card draws all its power from the AGP 8x bus slot, which is typical for low-power mobile GPUs of that generation. The lack of a TDP figure means that no thermal dissipation estimate is available, but the fact that no external connectors are needed suggests a relatively modest power draw. In a portable device, cooling would be handled by the laptop's own thermal solution, which is not detailed in the FACT PACK. The slot width and dimensions are also unspecified, reinforcing the notion that this is an embedded or mobile component rather than a standalone expansion card. The production status of end-of-life implies that the GPU is no longer manufactured, and replacement units would only be available through secondary markets. For a system integrator or user, the key takeaway is that the FX Go5200 does not impose additional power supply requirements beyond the AGP slot's standard power delivery, and it does not need dedicated cooling beyond what a laptop chassis provides.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals list is empty, so no direct comparison data is available for this GPU against other specific models. The FACT PACK does not provide names, scores, or deltaPct values for any competing products. Consequently, any comparative analysis must be based on the GPU's own specifications and its position in the overall database. The percentileVsAllGpus of 50 indicates that, on a global scale, the FX Go5200 sits exactly in the middle of the performance distribution. This median placement suggests that it is roughly on par with the average GPU in the database, but without rival data, it is impossible to state which specific GPUs it outperforms or trails behind. The predecessor, GeForce4 Go, and the successor, GeForce Go 6, are mentioned in the FACT PACK, but no performance metrics or deltas are provided for either. Therefore, while the lineage is known, the quantitative relationship between these generations is not documented. In the absence of rival scores, the only reliable statement is that the FX Go5200 occupies the 50th percentile of all GPUs, which implies a typical performance level for its time, but no further granularity can be extracted.

Who Should Consider It

The FX Go5200 NPB 64M is a product from an earlier era, and its specifications dictate its suitability for specific use cases. With 64 MB of DDR memory and a 128-bit bus delivering 8.000 GB/s, the GPU is capable of handling basic 3D rendering tasks at resolutions that were common in the early 2000s. The pixel rate of 1.000 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1.000 GTexel/s indicate that it can fill a screen of moderate size with textured polygons without severe bottlenecking, provided the scene complexity is within the memory capacity. The lack of ray tracing and the limited API support (DirectX 9.0a, OpenGL 1.5 full, OpenGL 2.0 partial) mean that it is best suited for games and applications designed for DirectX 9.0a or earlier. Titles that rely on shader model 2.0 features are likely to run, but games requiring later DirectX versions or extensive use of OpenGL 2.0 features may not be fully compatible. For users who need a legacy GPU for a vintage laptop or a retro gaming setup, the FX Go5200 could serve as a functional component, provided the software is from its era. It is not recommended for modern high-resolution gaming, as the small VRAM pool and modest bandwidth would quickly become limiting factors. The end-of-life status also means that driver support may be sparse, and the GPU should be viewed as a historical artifact rather than a current solution. Ultimately, the FX Go5200 is best considered for those who require a basic, low-power graphics solution for older operating systems and applications, where its specifications are sufficient and its lack of power connectors simplifies integration.