What Computer Upgrades Are Needed?

[Can_Sapper]

Hi all.  I've welcomed the patch and it has helped somewhat.  Before installing it I had fps of less than 10, usually closer to 1!  With the patch my fps is up to about 14, sometimes less and sometimes more.  This is with all the settings down to minimum.  She just won't take any higher settings.   So, I have no idea what the graphics are like.  With such low settings it looks the same as CFS1!  I've tried all the tweaks etc and they actually drop my fps rate!

The question is what do I need to do to upgrade my computer to make it play CFS3 the way it is supposed to be?  I've got a PIII, 500 MHz, 4 Gig, 64 Mb RAM and a Radeon 7000 with 32MB RAM.

I'll cringe waiting to find out how bloody expensive this will be.  Thanks for any tips guys.  BTW  I am in no way a computer genius, I can barely install a program!

Cheers.

[Iroquois]

System RAM definately, I don't even think you have the minimum to play CFS3. I think it's 128MB minimum to play but I recomend at least 256MB. A 256MB chip costs about $50 US.

[Navin_R_Johnson]

Wow with only 64mb of memory those are pretty good frame rates. Get youself at least a 256 stick of ram and you should see a big improvment. Check the Sunday Best-buy,CompUSA,and or Circuit City ads,because they always have a sale or a mail in rebate offer going for ram. You should be able to get one for under $30 after the rebates. Good Hunting !!!  
                                                    Navin R Johnson

[Bogey51]

Can_Sapper,
I can't even imagine how CFS3 even runs on your system. The guys are right about the additional ram, but it also appears that you need more processor, a faster hard drive and a vid card with better specs and more memory. If you are like me and can't just go out and buy a new system, start with the ram and a new graphics card (at least a GeForce 2) and worry about the rest later.

[bobc1]

Definitely more RAM as was suggested.
Then a nVidia Ti 4200, Ti 4600 or a Radeon 9700 Pro. Then you can consider upgrading your CPU to a PIII 1.4GHz. If you have a Slot-1 Check out:

http://www.powerleap.com/Products/iP3T.htm

If it's a Socket-370 then:

http://www.powerleap.com/Products/370T.htm

Like everyone has already said I'm surprised you got it to fly at all. It's no fun flying with the framerates that you're getting. It's probably time for a newer computer or an upgrade regimen.

Good luck.

[Can_Sapper]

I was afraid of all that.  Looks like I'll see if I can get some more RAM.  A new vid card is out of the question as the one I have now is brand new.  I'm not made out of money!  The rest of the upgrades are way out of my league too.

Thanks for the replies all.