Please help me get better performance!

[mohrj]

Here is my current setup:

p3 1Ghz
512mb SDRAM
128 MB G-Force FX 5200 pci

What is the most important thing to upgrade to get a solid 17-18 fps w/ most graphics sliders maxed?  I have an AGP slot, and I can still exchange the video card, only a week old.  I would have to get a new case for my PC, which isnt a problem.  Do I need more RAM?  Does my vid card suck?  Is my processor too slow for this software?

One other issue - my console doesnt appear in some planes, just a black panel where the gauges should be, although they are visible in virtual cockpit mode.

I'm new to this,  and I am very excited about this game, but I can't enjoy it due to the poor performance of my machine.  ALL HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED

[Iroquois]

Your system is very similar to mine. I'd say your processor is the bottle neck here. Unfortunately for you is that the Pentium 3 is quite obsolete. The fastest I could find is 1.13ghz with a 133mhz fsb. My AMD Duron 950mhz is faster at 233mhz fsb.

If you have the money, you may wish to get a Pentium IV or AMD Athlon XP motherboard and processor. I'd just learn to live with it though.

[mohrj]

Is it true that the only AGP cards that give superior performance to the pci cards are the high end (several hundred dollar) ones??

Also, can you explain the missing console?

[Daz]

no pci video cards are not as powerful as the agp.. the fx5200 agp will chew the fx5200 pci card and spit it out. agp is the only way to go if you want good performance and seen as though u have an AGP slot get the pci card exhcanged for something more powerful that is agp...