GeForce FX 5200LE vs GeForce3

NVIDIA

GeForce FX 5200LE

2025Core: 2017 MHzBoost: 2407 MHz
Similar parts
·······
VS
NVIDIA

GeForce3

2015Core: 928 MHzBoost: 941 MHz
Similar parts
······

GeForce FX 5200LE vs GeForce3 Performance Spectrum

About G3D Mark

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce FX 5200LE vs GeForce3 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce FX 5200LE vs GeForce3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce FX 5200LE

2025

Why buy it

  • +40% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • Costs $456 less on MSRP ($43 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
  • Delivers 1524.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 0.2 vs 0.0 G3D/$ ($43 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
  • 693.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (512 MB vs 65 MB).
  • Better long-term bet: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • 1642.4% higher power demand at 575W vs 33W.

GeForce3

2015

Why buy it

  • Draws 33W instead of 575W, a 542W reduction.
  • Measures 165mm instead of 168mm, a 3mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark G3D performance (5 vs 7).
  • Less VRAM, with 65 MB vs 512 MB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2015 hardware with 65 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 1060.5% HIGHER MSRP
    $499 MSRPvs$43 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.0 vs 0.2 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $43 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce FX 5200LE is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 40% in PassMark G3D (7 vs 5), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce FX 5200LE is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 512 MB vs 65 MB of VRAM, a 5nm process instead of 28nm, 170 vs 0 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2025 generation instead of 2015. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce FX 5200LE makes the most sense to buy today. It is $456 cheaper on MSRP at $43 vs $499, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 1524.7% (0.2 vs 0.0), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce FX 5200LE vs GeForce3 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

NVIDIA

GeForce FX 5200LE

The GeForce FX 5200LE is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 30 2025. It features the Rankine architecture. The core clock ranges from 2017 MHz to 2407 MHz. It has 21760 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 575W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 170 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7 points. Launch price was $1,999.

NVIDIA

GeForce3

The GeForce3 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 13 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 928 MHz to 941 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 33W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce FX 5200LE scores 7 versus the GeForce3's 5 — the GeForce FX 5200LE leads by 40%. The GeForce FX 5200LE is built on Rankine while the GeForce3 uses Maxwell, both on 5 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 21,760 (GeForce FX 5200LE) vs 384 (GeForce3). Raw compute: 104.8 TFLOPS (GeForce FX 5200LE) vs 0.7227 TFLOPS (GeForce3). Boost clocks: 2407 MHz vs 941 MHz.

FeatureGeForce FX 5200LEGeForce3
G3D Mark Score
7+40%
5
Architecture
Rankine
Maxwell
Process Node
5 nm
28 nm
Shading Units
21760+5567%
384
Compute (TFLOPS)
104.8 TFLOPS+14401%
0.7227 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
2407 MHz+156%
941 MHz
ROPs
176+2100%
8
TMUs
680+2733%
24
L1 Cache
21.3 MB+11111%
0.19 MB
L2 Cache
96 MB+9500%
1 MB

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureGeForce FX 5200LEGeForce3
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
NVIDIA Reflex
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce FX 5200LE has 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce3 carries 65 MB. GeForce FX 5200LE gives you 693.7% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce FX 5200LE and 64-bit on the GeForce3. L2 Cache: 96 MB (GeForce FX 5200LE) vs 1 MB (GeForce3) — the GeForce FX 5200LE has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce FX 5200LEGeForce3
VRAM Capacity
0.5 GB+694%
0.063 GB
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Bus Width
128-bit+100%
64-bit
L2 Cache
96 MB+9500%
1 MB
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 9.0a (GeForce FX 5200LE) vs 8.1 (GeForce3). Vulkan: None vs N/A. OpenGL: 1.5 vs 1.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.

FeatureGeForce FX 5200LEGeForce3
DirectX
9.0a+11%
8.1
Vulkan
None
N/A
OpenGL
1.5+15%
1.3
Max Displays
2
2
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: No (GeForce FX 5200LE) vs None (GeForce3). Decoder: No vs None. Supported codecs: MPEG-2 (GeForce FX 5200LE) vs MPEG-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce3).

FeatureGeForce FX 5200LEGeForce3
Encoder
No
None
Decoder
No
None
Codecs
MPEG-2
MPEG-1,MPEG-2
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce FX 5200LE draws 575W versus the GeForce3's 33W — a 178.3% difference. The GeForce3 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce FX 5200LE) vs 350W (GeForce3). Power connectors: Legacy vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 168mm vs 165mm, occupying 1 vs 1 slots. Typical load temperature: 65°C vs 85.

FeatureGeForce FX 5200LEGeForce3
TDP
575W
33W-94%
Recommended PSU
350W
350W
Power Connector
Legacy
PCIe-powered
Length
168mm
165mm
Height
111mm
100mm
Slots
1
1
Temp (Load)
65°C-24%
85
Perf/Watt
0.0
0.2
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce FX 5200LE came in at $43, while the GeForce3 launched at $499. On MSRP, GeForce FX 5200LE was 91.4% cheaper ($456 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.2 (GeForce FX 5200LE) vs 0.0 (GeForce3) — the GeForce FX 5200LE offers 100+% better value. The newer card here is GeForce FX 5200LE (2025 vs 2015).

FeatureGeForce FX 5200LEGeForce3
MSRP
$43-91%
$499
Performance per Dollar
0.2
0.0
Codename
GB202
GM108
Release
January 30 2025
March 13 2015
Ranking
#3
#810

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.