thanks fellows
but honestly the last 4 posts did not contribute to the initial question of mine. infighting and trying to outsmart each other is not helpful to the ordinbary joe like me\
michaelmichael
Why not? My post was meant to directly address your original concern, seeing that you listed the 7300 and were asking opinions on it, I thought I made myself rather clear on the point, where some other posters were adding some rather "incomplete" information.
If you don't think this advice is valid, ignore it, as Gunny did.
Take Gunny's advice then, he just bought one and knows first hand just how bad some of these offerings really are.
I don't see why my efforts at trying to stop you from wasting your money are considered a waste of your reading pleasure, but I hope this prevents someone at least from getting "had" by the video pirates.
I work very hard, too hard in fact, to help people in this forum make informed decisions on what hardware to buy. I do it out of a genuine desire to help my fellow simmers.
I know Gunny well enough through these forums to know he's not thin skinned enough to take offense to another opinion, even if that opinion is a strong one, which it is.
It only takes a tiny bit of mis-information to undo all the good. The temptation to buy a budget card is very strong as money is a big motivator, but now is the worst time to buy inadequate hardware, it is simply throwing money down the toilet.....
Perhaps you could elaborate on what interface your planned upgrade will be on, seeing how you listed both common types? ( AGP or PCIe? )
Why don't you do others a favour by not flaming them when they think it's fine?
He said it runs
FINE not just it runs

Because it is not "fine", it's rubbish and a misleading statement that can only cause bad buying decisions, but hey, that's my opinion (and my reality) and not intended as a flame, but rather to set the record straight before someone else gets caught.
This forum is not a screenshot contest, nor is it a lesson on flying MSFS or many of the myriad interests that simming brings with it.... this is the hardware forum, where we blow thousands of bucks every day.
And as far as the X850 goes? It's an antique now, get over it.