One step at a time.

[caveman16]

     Hey Guys,      the rest of that sentance is : BUT - - - I'm about ready to get started with the PC  

     AS Congo said to do - - - keep my eye on newegg and the parts that were out of stock.     Also I'm always doing my homework.   It seems to me newegg has the following items in stock  now,  and I wish your input to help me decide which to buy   - - - GPUs .

     7800GTX      $439.00      Item # N82E16814130248

     7900GT        $319.00      Item # N82E16814130281

     I don't get it      Why is the 7900GT  less cost.   And would I still need two of whatever  ?   It appears to have more of the " stuff " that's needed in a card  ?    Would you take a look-see.  

     I'll wait until this is answered before I continue with another question as the answers may be in  your post.     Keep in mind my purpose - - FSX  and [perhaps] Vista.

       Thanks much  [think the world of you guys]  - - - caveman

   

[congo]

Hi Caveman,

The 7900GT is a better card. They are cheaper to produce so the savings are passed on to you.

The 7900gt will run cooler and use less power and perform slightly better.

The EVGA card you chose has a slightly slower clockrate than some of the competitors but that shouldn't be an issue, if you ever need more speed, it will probably overclock well.

You don't  need 2 cards mate, that card will handle anything you can throw at it.

[caveman16]

     Thanks Congo,   That's  my thoughts also ,   but am so unsure of myself  I've just got to ask.   Saved me a lot of money too.      It wasn't long ago [just two weeks]  I didn't even know what  a  "GPU"   was .  And "you guys" haven't  thrown anything at me yet - - - no boulders  - - - not even a small stone.          So nice to have teachers that don't  "give-up" .      

    Wishing you all a nice day.                   caveman

[caveman16]

     

     Good Morning Guys and Ladies,     The 7900GT  is on the  "list" of parts I'll be getting.       Will you  "re-vise"  my other needed parts.     I wish to be able [allowed] to up-grade in the future to" SLi  "  and   [allowed] to install as much RAM as I can  - - min of two GB fo starters with more later.

     Is it possible to use that 7900GT in the up-grade of SLi  ?   and   [in the future ]  would I need another 7900GT  in the up-grade  ?

     I'm stumblin' over my feet  - - - not knowing  " HOW " to ask the right questions.    I appreciate your help  and hope I give you a smile  at my "stumblin'  ".  ;D

    caveman

[congo]

Q. I wish to be able [allowed] to up-grade in the future to" SLi  "  
A. All you need is an SLI mainboard then.


Q. and [allowed] to install as much RAM as I can  - - min of two GB fo starters with more later.
A. 2gb is an enormous amount of ram, the new mainboards will take more, 4gb in the case of nForce4 chipsets.


Q. Is it possible to use that 7900GT in the up-grade of SLi  ?  
A. Yes

Q. and   [in the future ]  would I need another 7900GT  in the up-grade  ?  
A. Yes


You can get a more powerful card of course, but why would you when the 7900GT is going to run your software brilliantly.

Consider the 7900GT a throw-away card, good for 2 yrs at best as newer hardware will soon be available with DX10 support.

A 7900GTX would be more powerful and expensive, and later on you'll probably get one at a pretty good price. But will you want an old DX9 based system by then? Not likely, and I don't advise it.

Quite honestly, I believe a much cheaper 7600GT is adequate to see FS9 to it's death and also usher in the new Vista era if such a thing happens and if you buy into that OS at all.

The 7900GT is overkill on it's own, let alone SLI'ing two of them together.

If you plan to use SLI mode with 2 cards..........

First, it won't work in FS9.

Second, by the time you need the extra performance, the 7900GT cards will be outdated.

Some people may have current games that will benefit from the extra graphics power, it really depends on your software.

[caveman16]

      Hey Congo,       I hope my  "thoughts"about using a sledgehammer instead of a tackhammer  gave you a smile.    See what mess I would get into w/o your help  ;D

     Appreciate your help and patience.      caveman

[congo]

My advice wouldn't be the same for everyone caveman.

If you were a 16 year old diehard gamer after a machine that would blow away everything at LAN parties, and you were not concerned about budget or replacing the cards in a year or two, I would say go and grab a couple of 7900GTX's.

The spec is based on what I know of your requirements, with a desire to reduce your costs and still provide a good level of performance.

I don't ever pretend to know about performance of future releases or the performance of current hardware in the future. I say wait and see. I don't waste my time researching future product as I have enough to do in the present. My PC specifications are always based on the present or known imminent releases. Future proofing a PC with the rapid technological advances of today is a recipe for disappointment.

Say I advised you to go out and buy the top shelf stuff and you spent all your available cash on it, only to find that in 12 months you have a PC that won't do what is required, would you still ask me for advice? I don't think so.

On the other hand, if you have a $10,000 PC budget, just let us know and we'll come up with something I'm sure.

[caveman16]

      Hey  Congo,  - - -  This last post of yours ,  - - -   You  could  never know how much you and Cameron are appreciated  in my house.    My Lil' wife always tells me how lucky I am to have others helping me so much.  [This  I know].    

     I am like so many others that watch  "the budget"   and try to keep the PC in it's proper place  so  [the bills] can be paid.    What would "hurt" is to not have others to ask  for advise to keep from making really bad mistakes.     I still have a ways to go but am almost ready to order all my PC parts.  

     Just wish to take this moment to thank you "GUYS" very much.    

    caveman

[Fozzer]

Caveman conjures up a vivid picture in my mind of a bloke crossing a very large lake by jumping from one Crocodile's back to the next... ...!

.....I await with baited breath for him to safely reach the far shore...or not... ...!

The suspense continues... ...!

LOL...!

Paul... ...!