View Full Version : Inno3D GeForce 6200A Review
Paul Zimmerman has completed a review of the GeForce 6200A from Inno 3D.
http://www.nvnews.net/reviews/inno3d_geforce_6200a/card_front_sm.jpg
The GeForce 6200A is based on NVIDIA's NV44A graphics processing unit and is an all new part that is similar to the PCI-Express based GeForce 6200 (NV43). The primary difference is native AGP support and the inability to unlock additional pipelines, which is possible with some NV43 based GeForce 6200's.
Check it out here:
http://www.nvnews.net/reviews/inno3d_geforce_6200a/index.shtml
Nice review Paul. I don't know how many budget graphics cards you've used in the past, but the GeForce 6200 looks like a very capable graphics card for the price. I would be interested in the performance in a few older games.
In a January 2004 review of Soltek's Qbic 3702, I tested a number games that were playable using an integrated GeForce 4 MX and Athlon XP 1800+.
http://www.nvnews.net/reviews/soltek_qbic_eq3702m/index.shtml
Dungeon Siege - 1280x1024 - No AA - No AF
Max Payne - 1024x768 - No AA - No AF
Halo - 640x480 - No AF
Jedi Knight 2 - 1024x768 - 2X AA - No AF
Enemy Territory - 800x600 - No AA - 2X AF
Call of Duty - 800x600 - No AA - No AF
Paul,
Do you have an HDTV? Passive cooling+newer decoder technologies+lower res gaming=HTPC.
Wow! What a tiny card! Not bad performance at all considering the price :)
einstein_314
05-08-05, 11:24 PM
Wow, that thing performs quiet well for the price. Not a bad little card.
And does anyone know why some of the apostrophe's in that article show up as diamonds with question marks in them? That's using firefox. And they show up as just regular question marks using IE...Weird.
zoomy942
05-08-05, 11:32 PM
i noticed that weird question mark thing too.
and i dont have an hdtv, but i am toying with the idea of an htpc with this card.
and it was a little trooper in the games. i was more than impressed.
zoomy942
05-08-05, 11:33 PM
and mike.. i'll toss in some of those older games and see how she does.
Do you have the ability to test 1280x1024? I'm curious as to what kind of drop in FPS you get. I am also suprised at the Swat4 benchies. Not bad at all :)
Wow, that thing performs quiet well for the price. Not a bad little card.
And does anyone know why some of the apostrophe's in that article show up as diamonds with question marks in them? That's using firefox. And they show up as just regular question marks using IE...Weird.
It has something to do with Zoomy's keyboard. He picked it up at a recent yard sale at Area 51 :zombie4:
i noticed that weird question mark thing too.
It has something to do with the format of the ' key and how the web server interprets it. I can correct it by typing over the ' with a text editor, as opposed to using Word.
http://www.nvnews.net/images/news/200505/apostrophe.gif
For example, the apostrophe on the left shows up as a ?, while the one on the right shows up as a '.
and mike.. i'll toss in some of those older games and see how she does.
Thanks! If you're interested, I can give you instructions on benchmarking Enemy Territory. It's a free game after all :)
Nice review...
At the price point it apears to be a great value... even with the 64 bit memory interface this card doesn't make me make the same yucky face I did whenever I experienced or read about a 5200, lol...
Let us know how it OC's... I'm a tad bit saddened by the "A" component of the card's name (no unlocking capability), but I'm sure that there will be a plethora of decently OC'able 6200A's with 128 bit memory interface performing in between 5700U and 5900XT in modern and older games... which really is a good way to raise the bar and roll with the times... :)
Short and sweet! good stuff!!!
cool.. this card will probably be the one for my next HTPC build.. (or at least the 6200 series if I move over to PCIe for the HTPC)
Do they make a 6600 thats passively cooled?
Rakeesh
07-11-05, 02:05 AM
Sorry to dig up an old thread, but what would it be worth it to spend $83 for a 256mb version of this card, vs $66 for a 128mb?
I am building a low budget computer for my office, and amamax (who seems reputable based on third party ratings) is offering by far the best deal of any retailer (they even give free shipping.)
http://www.amamax.com/in628xagp12d.html <-- 128mb
http://www.amamax.com/innv628xagp2.html <-- 256mb
Not sure if the extra video memory would make a difference with this card. I may occasionally play games on it, but that would be very rare.
zoomy942
07-11-05, 01:19 PM
When you say for your office, what will it be used for? I use mine in my office pc, doing a little 3d rendering and mostly administrative apps. It works perfectly. I use Dual view with 2 17" Flat panels. The picture quality is beautiful, and the card is more than powerful enough for my uses.
in regards to your question, i would say that the 128 is the way to go (depending on what you will do most of the time in the office). This card is a lower end card, therefore the clock speeds wont be able to take full advantage of the memory. Also, the the 128 memory interface (some have 64 bit memory interface, mine does) creates a bottleneck that would be more eveident with 256mb memory than with 128.
lastly, in regards to gaming, if it is rarely, the 128 will work like a champ. i was incredibly impressed with the performace of this card in modern games. you wont be able to use 1600X1200 with AA and AF, but 1024X768 is a great gaming resolution, even some games are playable at 1280X1024. Being able to play recent games at a respectable resoltuion on a sub $100 card is outstanding, no matter how you slice it.
Rakeesh
07-11-05, 02:33 PM
Yeah, I am thinking that the bandwidth might be the only bottleneck, so that leaves one last question then. I mostly skipped the AGP era (I owned a laptop throughout most of it) and that said, I don't know how well you can mix AGP speeds, and I have heard that there are some issues with it.
This computer at my office is using an asus a7v266 motherboard, which has an AGP Pro (not sure what the pro is for as it looks like a regular agp slot) 4x slot, whereas this video card is AGP 8x. Will there be any issues with the inno3d 6200a on this motherboard?
BTW, I am currently using a geforce ti4600 128mb on this computer, but it is overheating. I don't think I want to bother replacing the heat sync as this video card has always been kinda faulty, unless of course the ti4600 is faster than the 6200a in any respects?
zoomy942
07-11-05, 02:56 PM
Yeah, I am thinking that the bandwidth might be the only bottleneck, so that leaves one last question then. I mostly skipped the AGP era (I owned a laptop throughout most of it) and that said, I don't know how well you can mix AGP speeds, and I have heard that there are some issues with it.
This computer at my office is using an asus a7v266 motherboard, which has an AGP Pro (not sure what the pro is for as it looks like a regular agp slot) 4x slot, whereas this video card is AGP 8x. Will there be any issues with the inno3d 6200a on this motherboard?
BTW, I am currently using a geforce ti4600 128mb on this computer, but it is overheating. I don't think I want to bother replacing the heat sync as this video card has always been kinda faulty, unless of course the ti4600 is faster than the 6200a in any respects?
what do you mean by AGP speeds?
The agp pro slot you have is just a slot that is capable of higher voltages in case a card needs it, and this one will work perfectly. I have used mine is several differnt machines and it hasnt giving my any problems.
I would say, replace the 4600 with the 6200. The 6200 may not be leaps and bounds faster but you will gain 3 distinct advantages.
1. you have a cooler running ship. mine is passively cooled and she sits at 46C all the time.
2. it supports a whole list of new features over the 4600 (SM3.0, DX9, Ultrashadow II, etc)
3. this last one is just a preference for me.. it is silent. with passive cooling that works perfectly, it makes no noise.
Rakeesh
07-11-05, 03:13 PM
What I mean by mixing AGP speeds is that this is an AGP 8x card, and my motherboard is 4x AGP.
From what I understand, AGP 4x (and less) is 1.5v, whereas AGP 8x is 0.8v. What I have read is that some video cards are dual compatible with 8x and 4x, but others will fry both the card and the motherboard if they aren't. I can't find any information on whether or not this specific card is dual compatible.
zoomy942
07-11-05, 03:45 PM
What I mean by mixing AGP speeds is that this is an AGP 8x card, and my motherboard is 4x AGP.
From what I understand, AGP 4x (and less) is 1.5v, whereas AGP 8x is 0.8v. What I have read is that some video cards are dual compatible with 8x and 4x, but others will fry both the card and the motherboard if they aren't. I can't find any information on whether or not this specific card is dual compatible.
haha, i didnt even think i that, 4x vs 8x. yeah, it will work perfect. most mobos have, in the firmware, auto voltages on the AGP slot. my pc at work is a pro slot, but i just decides what voltage is best for my card. So, you'll be safe in that regard. you card will run at 4X instead of 8x, and your motherboard will automatically do that. It wont affect performance though. 4x and 8x run just the same. (which is my pci express is overrated at the moment.)
spasmonaut
07-13-05, 11:05 AM
Anyone have any thoughts on OC'ing this chip? I just ordered an MSI card built like this and it's arriving today, earlier than Fedex estimated (joy!) to replace my GF4 MX420...I'm gathering I'll see a bit of a difference between the two :)
I was considering OC'ing this new card by upgrading to active cooling and heatsinks on the RAM (although I'm gathering that on most of these cards that memory's running at top clock already) and see how she does. My particular interests will be how this helps improve my experience in NFS U2 (I'm obsessed with this game) in addition to actually being able to run MOHAA: PA now that I'll get hardware T&L that I've had since Christmas.
zoomy942
07-13-05, 11:09 AM
overclocking the one i have has been great. i'll have to go and chack on the speeds i was getting, since it has been a little while since i overclocked it. its a smaller chip, so it creates less heat and oc'ing is a little less nerve racking. you'll have good luck with the core overclocking, but the memory is a little different. it depends on what speed memory MSI uses. i couldnt get a whole lot out of the meory, btu i got a little.
but in your situation, where hardware T&L are used, it makes a larger difference to speed up the core than it does the memory.
and compared to your GF4, this thing is going to blow your mind. i have a 6800GT and i was honestly impressed with how well this card allowed to game at common resolutions.
spasmonaut
07-14-05, 03:12 PM
The card is indeed awesome as it came in last night and I was so psyched to start using it...notice I said "was"...
Well, all was well and I began to beef up the settings which didn't even appear with my GF4 MX in NFS Underground 2 and then my PC rebooted on its own...odd. Tried again, and same flop. Starting to get a little concerned. I haven't attribituted it to any particular setting but nearly without fail, even at 640x480 when I try to push AA beyond the halfway setting in NFS (haven't tried when it's forced through display settings) the system reboots. WinXP SP2 with the 77.72 drivers from Nvidia (which added 6200 AGP support) gives me its cute little "serious error" screen and the path for the dump.
Just wondering, since I run a 300 watt supply on a Duron 750 MHz with 512 MB PC133 (yeah it's aging fast...I don't have much in the way of $ hence the cheap card) and two ATA-100 hard drives and CDRW plus a NIC using onboard sound if I'm just taxing the PSU too much. I tried unplugging juice to my secondary hard drive and toggling settings and didn't notice much of a difference, if any. Think it's a driver issue or power? Kinda contemplating a beefier PSU but hate to spend any more $ on an aging machine (what little I have to spend) and find it still reboots.
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