I haven't quoted all the responses to this question, refer to earlier
posts if interested.
Your 5200 series Performa has 1MB of Video RAM soldered onto the
motherboard. It will support 640x480 at 16 bit ("thousands of colors")
and 800x600 or 832x624 at 8 bit (256 colors). You may not find the
higher resolution settings in your video control panels if you don't
change the color depth first (ie change to 256 and then look for
832x624).
The video ram cannot be changed, you're stuck with it. Changing the
motherboard to one that sat in any 5X00 or 6200/6300 series (but not, I
think, the 6400) will improve system performance overall, including
video. I would suggest the 5500 because it supports a PCI slot (one, I
think 7" or shorter). Also I believe that the 5400/5500 had more video
memory and supported millions (24/32 bit) of colors.
The bad news is that people who sell MB replacements generally want too
much money and often demand an exchange, which won't work for you as you
will be sending a 5200 instead of (for example) a 5500.
Your computer isn't worth a lot of money (the 5x00 performas have
flooded the market recently as schools across the US upgrade to iMacs)
so if you really want to change I suggest you try to buy a 5500 and sell
your 5200. If you are lucky you might be able to do it without spending
anything; try to sell yours through the newspaper and buy the 5500 off
the net; I have seen them for $200 US.
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