Best video card for CFS 3 ??

[Conan_Obrien]

Does anyone know what the best video card to use for CFS 3 and gaming in general?

[Stormtropper]

I have a Nivida and it works like a dream

[Conan_Obrien]

storm, can you post exactly the kind of nvidia you have? I mean all the features, it's exact name, how many megabytes, does it support open gl, and all the other crap on the box. How much did you pay for you card?

[Scorpiоn]

This would probably be better answered in the "Hardware" forum...

Welcome to Simviation Conan! Just out of curiosity, does your name come from the historical fugure or the "Late Late Nite Show" host?

I have an NVidia PNY Ti4200 64MB and it serves me well.  Do bear in mind all games are different, and the simulator series (FS and CFS) are very graphics intensive.  I get good, but not stellar frame rates with frequent stutters, but this is without tweaking.  My sytem FPS only takes a hit from clouds.

During gameplay with a processor intensive game (Command and Conquer Generals: Zero Hour) I get very f'n fast gameplay.  In fact, I would go so far as to say too fast, and am looking into how to slow it down.  This is with full settings and with all available AI opponents filled (7).

I am unawares of all that OpenGL and DX mumbo-jumbo.

Hope I was of some help.

[HawkerTempest5]

On my old 2gig P4 machine I could not even get CFS3 to run with my old Kyro II based 64meg card. However a change to a G-Force 4 MX 440 128meg card that cost me less than

[farmerdave]

Hawker, how'd you get a 128MB MX 440?  I have that card on my comp but it's only 64MB.

[HawkerTempest5]

[quote]Hawker, how'd you get a 128MB MX 440?

[Stormtropper]

Gforce4 Ti-4200 64MB with TV out, I spent and extra like 50 bucks for the TV out, but I still don't know how to work it, any ideas?


Jeff

[Iroquois]

I use a Geforce FX5200 for CFS3 and FS2004. No problems but still some slow downs in some areas. I'm waiting for the price of the 6800GT to drop then they'll fly. No pun intended.  ;)

[Conan_Obrien]

I'm after Conan Obrien the talk show host.

[Conan_Obrien]

How come you guys have 5 stars and I only have one?

[Stormtropper]

We are special

[Conan_Obrien]

If I buy a video card that supports OpenGL 1.3 and not 2.0, does that mean I can't play cfs3?

Also, what is OpenGl, and is it necessary for me to buy a video card that supports the latest openGL version, or could download the openGL and install it, even though the video card specs says that it doesn't support it?

Also, same two questions regarding Dirctx??

[HawkerTempest5]

Most all modern cards will support the latest OpenGL and Direct X. According to the specs on the back of the box my MX440 came in, it has support for Direct X 8.1 and open GL 1.3, yet it ran CFS3 just fine.

How come you guys have 5 stars and I only have one?

Basically, the more you post, the more stars you get.

[Chunkey]

Don't just look for the best video card for CFS 3.  That is of course that's the only game you will ever play which I doubt.  You want a good all round card.

The best deal on the market now is the Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb version.   Goes for 300$ cnd, i think 250 american.

Too Much?  Go for the mid range cards, either the Radeon 9600XT or the FX5900XT.

The 5900 will offer you better framrate, but the radeon has much better quality and performs much better when ansiostrphic filtering is enabled, something you want when playing a flight sim.

If you are cheap, or just can't afford a better card, go for the Radeon 9200.  Make sure its not the SE version.