Simviation Forums

is there any add on to enable the water refelections with older video cards on low end computers

Hi, and welcome to SimV!

Sadly, the short answer is no. You need a video card that is DirectX 9 compliant. The good news is however, that you can find all kinds of inexpensive video cards these days. Can you tell us a little more about your machine's specs?

im actually getting my computer upgraded next month to run x plane ive been wantiing to try that game for a while but how do i find out my specs my computer was a hand me down system from my sister so i dont know what it has to much, i do know it has a via video card and a intel celeron processer though

I personally use a progam called Everest Home Edition, by Lavalys. It's a good, SAFE program that will give you the skinny on all your hardware. It has long since been discontinued, but the link below will take you to a site that still has the last available freeware version.

http://www.oldversion.com/download_Ever ... 0.405.html

here is the info on my computer

Field      Value
Computer      
Operating System      Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS Service Pack      Service Pack 3
DirectX      4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name      GPCNET-TERM-5 (GPCNet Terminal 5)
User Name      Zach
     
Motherboard      
CPU Type      Intel Celeron D 346, 3076 MHz (23 x 134)
Motherboard Name      Unknown
Motherboard Chipset      VIA P4M800 Pro
System Memory      448 MB
BIOS Type      Award Modular (02/15/06)
Communication Port      Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port      Communications Port (COM2)
Communication Port      Printer Port (LPT1)
     
Display      
Video Adapter      VIA/S3G UniChrome Pro IGP  (64 MB)
3D Accelerator      VIA/S3 UniChrome Pro
Monitor      Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB]  (40061HA042221)
     
Multimedia      
Audio Adapter      VIA AC'97 Enhanced Audio Controller
     
Storage      
IDE Controller      Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
IDE Controller      VIA Bus Master IDE Controller
Disk Drive      HDS728080PLAT20  (80 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Disk Drive      Disk drive
Disk Drive      Generic STORAGE DEVICE USB Device
Disk Drive      Generic STORAGE DEVICE USB Device
Disk Drive      Generic STORAGE DEVICE USB Device
Optical Drive      BENQ DVD DC DQ60  (DVD+R9:8x, DVD-R9:4x, DVD+RW:16x/8x, DVD-RW:16x/6x, DVD-RAM:5x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:48x/24x/48x DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM)
SMART Hard Disks Status      OK
     
Partitions      
C: (NTFS)      78520 MB (53727 MB free)
     
Input      
Keyboard      Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse      PS/2 Compatible Mouse
Game Controller      Microsoft PC-joystick driver
     
Network      
Network Adapter      Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC  (157.32.89.100)
Modem      PCI SoftV92 Modem
     
Peripherals      
Printer      Microsoft XPS Document Writer
USB1 Controller      VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB1 Controller      VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB1 Controller      VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB1 Controller      VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB2 Controller      VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Device      USB Human Interface Device
USB Device      USB Mass Storage Device

Wow, a Celeron CPU with a S3 video card...

What Daube means is that it really might be time for an upgrade. Judging from your chipset, your mother board is pretty old, but NOT obsolete! It would appear you're using an integrated video adapter, but you very likely have an 8x agp slot on that motherboard. This would be good news. Even though Agp video cards aren't used much anymore since PCI Express had been introduced, that doesn't mean all is lost. You can find MANY great performing agp cards at very low prices for just that reason! (A memory upgrade would also be a good Idea, if your funds would allow for it.)

In fact, in my previous post I was lost in memories. I had a Celeron CPU with a S3-like video card a long time ago...

Anyway, I would not recommend to spend any money in a partial upgrade of this computer. It's too old. Derrek should save his money until he can buy a real recent computer, that will save him a lot of troubles, in my opinion. Don't you think ?

In fact, in my previous post I was lost in memories. I had a Celeron CPU with a S3-like video card a long time ago...

Anyway, I would not recommend to spend any money in a partial upgrade of this computer. It's too old. Derrek should save his money until he can buy a real recent computer, that will save him a lot of troubles, in my opinion. Don't you think ?

All depends on what he'll be able to afford. Fact is, I started out my FS9 days on pretty similar hardware too, but I did it the other way. One small upgrade at a time. Personally, if I had had to wait for a major upgrade, I would likely have lost interest in the sim altogether. With small, individual upgrades, at least he'd be simming while saving for that big overhaul. Do what you can, where you are, with what you have, I always say. Just my two cents.

Anyway, which every way you decide to go Derrek, be it several small upgrades, or one big one, an upgrade of some kind is warranted for the performance and eyecandy you're looking for.

what im going to get when i upgrade is a new processer, more ram and a new video card