Good System, Awful FS9!

[mrjake2002]

Hi guys, I just bought a new computer. This new system is a big improvement on my old one but for some reason FS9 looks crap...  :-/ Here are the specs of the new one:

# Intel Pentium D 915 Dual Core Processor
# 2.8GHz, 800MHz FSB, 2 X 2MB Cache
# Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Edition
# 1GB DDR2 RAM
# 160GB Hard Disk
# Multi-Format Dual Layer DVD RW Drive
# 512MB nVidia GeForce 7500LE Graphics
# 9-In-1 Media Card Reader
# 5 USB Connections
# 4 PCI Slots

I have everything on the card and sim maxed out and it still looks terrible... any tips? I remember hearing something about Geforce cards a while back but don't remember what. Please help!

[MWISimmer]

Did you buy this from PC World? The reason I'm asking is that some of the junk they install before selling could be slowing your system down. Also 1 Gb of RAM is a bit light for Vista..
Have you tweaked FS9 in any way yet or is it a clean install?

[mrjake2002]

At the moment it is a clean install. I bought the computer from Currys and another 1 Gig of ram is on the way. Vista is running fine and I'm getting good frames in FS9 but it looks awful... very jaggy...  :-/ I uninstalled most of the stuff they put on. It seems to me like a problem with the card.

[MWISimmer]

Currys/PC World.. both the same company  ;)
Have you gone into your graphics card settings and set your AA/AF?

[mrjake2002]

Yep... here is a pic of my Graphics card settings...

The only thing not shown is 'Vertical Sync' which is set to force on.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/5148/settingssy9.jpg

Is it possible that I'm missing Direct X or OpenGL or something?

PS - My FS9 settings are maxed.

[MWISimmer]

You can test your Direct X by clicking {Start} {Run} then type dxdiag

EDIT: easier in Vista to type it in the search box  :P

[jimcooper1]

[quote]Hi guys, I just bought a new computer. This new system is a big improvement on my old one but for some reason FS9 looks crap...

[JBaymore]

The classic "video card ripoff" by the manufacturers....... put in a lot of slow RAM and also list the "shared" RAM (oxymoron.... actually RAM stolen from the OP system) as if it was physical RAM  so it LOOKS big and fool the consumer.  Research is the name of the game in video card selection, for SURE.

Do you have a buyer's remorse statute where you live?  If so send it all back and re-buy with that you need.

best,

....................john

[mrjake2002]

I could send it back... but would it be better to buy a new graphics card? Also, my old system had only 128mb built in graphics card and 256mb of RAM and didn't look this bad...

[jimcooper1]

I could send it back... but would it be better to buy a new graphics card? ...

Only you can really answer that question..you've already spent time and effort on this PC: setting it up in your room, loading software and tweaking.

[mrjake2002]

Thanks for your info. As I am operating on a tight budget, how is the 8500GT? It looks decent enough for me and I can get it for

[JBaymore]

(EDIT: Please also consider that i don't want the computer for 'extreme' gaming, I generally only play FS9 and IL2)

Jake,

FS9 IS "extreme gaming".

[mrjake2002]

Lol, very true.

Where do I find the power supply and how can I find if that card will run with the power supply I have?

[john_uk]

personaly do NOT got for the 8500 as you ar eprobably stepping into a very similar pile of poo that you got with the 7500.
if you rae going for a 8 series then the 8600 is a good cheap card. and will max FS9, heck jayhawk jake is running FSX on one and it looks pretty good.

the 8500 will not be much of a step up however the 8600 will be, and it does not need a 6pin power connector like a 7900 or something would.

after a very quick look around overclockers i found this

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... subcat=912 its a buch better option than a 8500

if you can not afford to spend that much now, then save up or borrow some cash and buy the 8600.

[JBaymore]

Lol, very true.

Where do I find the power supply and how can I find if that card will run with the power supply I have?

Jake,

I got mine from Newegg. Good place to deal with.  Professional and VERY fast shipping.  The brand is a Rosewill.... not the best thing out there but NickN thohgt in my case it would do the job (see specs in trailer).  

There is a site somewhere on the net that allows you to enter all of the equipment in your case and it will tell you the rough power demands.  It is a cumulative deal.... each item takes a certain number of Watts of power (Amps x Volts) on a specific power buss.  The site calculates the "average" and typical ones.  Unfortunately I can't remember what it is.  There is a thread somewhere in this forum section with that posted.  I think the thread was started by NickN.... but it might not have been.  I THINK he is the one who gave the link to it though.

I'd err on the "way too big" side rather than the "maybe too little" side.

Good luck.

best,

......................john