Simviation Forums

Can anybody advise me what the best video grapics card there is to optimize or get the best out or your FS9, including the add-on scenery and best frame rates??

This really should be in the Hardware forum and will probably  be moved there.

However in answer to your question ...... If you post your current specs there's plenty of peeps here, who will be able to advise on the best course for you to head down.

Welcome to the forums

cheers
eno

airlinefly,

To figure this out ... you have to FIRST assess the REST of the computer system.

Get the best AGP cardslot card you can afford.

Video cards (or lack there of) are not unlike anything else on the planet: You get what you pay for.

It's been my experience, onboard (motherboard, that is) chips don't cut it when using FS9.

P.S. Equally important in running FS9 effectively, is have at least One Gig (1GB) of RAM

Well, I do have a 1.0 Gig of RAM and a 2.4 Gig processor. Would a ATI 9800 be the best or something else then?

I am running  a 2.4 Gig processor with 1 Gig Ram and an ATI 9250. I run FS9 with just about everything running at max, except a weather setting that is in the middle. 90% of my time is in VC mode with a TrackIR and a second monitor running for radio, gps etc.  I also fly with real weather 15 min upadate. With all that my frame rate is good and smooth.  During update it goes a bit into stutter, but nothing that upsets me. Forgot to say TerraMesh scenery and local scenery are running too.
Hope that helps with your decision.

Matt

I know several people using ATI with no problems and an equal number of others who had problems with the specific brand when it comes to games, FS included. I would go for a NV, maybe NV6800 if I wanted to setup a new system or a NV6600GT if you want something in a better price.

Personally am also a fan of Nvidia. Ati makes good
and fast cards but I had very strange driver problems in the past with at least 3 cards. (My Boss is an Ati fan so I

It's the old "ATI" vs "NVIDEA" bit again  ;D.

My experiences were the opposite of the above.  I had nothing but trouble with the two NVidea cards that I tried.  Worse... I had some terrible  customer service experiences with Nvidea support.  

So  tried ATI stuff.  Yup....... the ATI driver thing is a pain in the butt.  If you don't install them just right.... they cause you nothing but grief.  So you just make sure that you install them correctly.  

So IMHO neither one is perfect by any means.  And manufacturing defects happen.  To me the support issue is the real deciding factor.  ATI won.

best,

...john

Well looking at your system, no offence but my laptop is better (sorry bout that just had to gloat) On a more serious note if I were you I would shell out for a 3.2Ghz (530 or 630) prescott from intel. Thats going to have the most impact across the board (load times, mabe a frame more) and ontop of that I would get a X1800 XT = 6600GT PCI-E or X850 XT PE = 9600PRO AGP 4x / 8x ( deep pockets = slim wallet)

Well hope you find something sutable for what you need

Cheers
Cameron

I'll bet you are more confused now than ever right?

Ahh yes congo, but so is the X1800 XL / XT and that is a far better card my friend.  8)

[quote]Ahh yes congo, but so is the X1800 XL / XT and that is a far better card my friend.

Ill take the 2000 3DMark05 points, and 3 FPS for $60 more

Not many people can afford these cards anyway.

But for those who would like to see the results for themselves, here is xbit labs report and comparison.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/ ... 00_21.html

and an interesting summation by the xbit labs crew......

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/ ... 00_23.html

The nVidia 7800GT and the Radeon X1800XL are in the same class,

as are the 7800GTX and the X1800XT.


I think you'll find that Xbit Labs does one of the most comprehensive reports there is.

Note the frame rate difference we are talking about here, in the range of 2 or 3 fps ............ also note that some cards win in some tests, the other wins in other tests.

The discerning buyer needs to be fully aware of the facts or he is just going to be the victim of retoric and the old, this card is better than that card syndrome.

At days end, there is a lot to consider.

Price, performance, compatibilty, heat generation, manufacturer, overclockability, stability, Ram chips fitted, GPU limitations,