Simviation Forums

My FX5200 graphics card fried a few days ago. Tax refund will be here shortly, so I am getting a new computer. I would like so ideas. if I go with Intel, what type/speed. If AMD, type/speed. Graphic card choices. I figure 2gig RAM. I honestly dont want to spend a fortune on it. My Store choices in my area is Walmart and Best Buy.
The current computer I have is listed below in the sig. I bought it from best buy with an extended warrenty which did pay for it self in just one of the two visits over the past 4 years.

Thanks in advance for the input.
Chris

I have an HP (desktop)
AMD ahtlon x2 2.5ghz (no OC)
3gb RAM
320gb HD
nvidia geforce 6150SE (integrated) (replacing with HD3850 soon)
1 PCIe x16 slot and smaller slots...
22" monitors (HP w2207)
$600 (black friday 4am officedepot sale ...) (Bought by a 14 yearold kid with 2 years allowance... )
vista home premium too.
Runs amazing and fast. Loves vista.
If you buy from Best Buy make sure you read the warranty terms and conditions etc BEFORE purchasing the computer because sometimes there electronics are crap. Walmart is a bigger nono. Buy from OfficeDepot if you have one.

Good luck.

Edit: The dual core processors (and FSX SP2) run great...now if the bank would let us have our money then I can get the new card...until then...

I never thought about office depot! Thanks for the insite

I never thought about office depot!

Don't.

Build it yourself.

Plenty of help in the hardware forum if you look around. Its not as hard as you think as long as you do some research. And you'll get a better machine cheaper.

As far as processors, AMD. I have a AMD X2 4200+ and it runs FSX pretty well right now.

Yes!

Build it Yourself. Get high spec system for the same amount of money for ready made system. You can buy a good Mother board and a good power supply because ready made systems has cheap items.

Build it Yourself - only thing is take care about mounting the Processor and the Memory modules and others are very simple.

Another vote for build it yourself.

I just finished my first build and it's not as hard as I thought it was.

As long as you take it slowly and carefuly and don't rush it then it is just like piecing together lots of lego.

Like others have said - be careful whenf itting processor.

And WEAR AN ANTI-STATIC WRIST STRAP (EARTHING STRAP)

Lets just assume I am an idiot and cant build it myself. I will be buying one at besy buy, office depot, stables, and or maybe circuit city. I do not want to spend much more than $700, and I want it to run better than the computer listed below. A new monitor is not a big deal. Any suggustions, such as RAM, proccessor and speed?

Definately build it yoursef. Anyway...

I have an AMD 5600+ and 2 gig 800 DDR Ram. Granted I have a 8800 and a nice mobo, etc... but I can run FSX with all setting at Ultra High with no issues. I would get vista, which can eat up to 768 MB (somewhere in there) of RAM. All I can say is RAM is very important and relatively cheap. Don't go under 2 GB.

OK, guys I think I found one that will do. Athlon duo 6000+, 3gig RAM, 500gigHD, Nvidia 6150 SE, dvd/cd read write, lightscribe. Dont remeber too much more about it. about $750
I am thinking about adding a better card though

you definately need better graphics than that (nvidia 6150 SE). For ~$100 you can get an 8600 GT from tigerdirect.com or newegg.com. I would go that rout if you decide to get that computer.