GeForce 8400 GS -- 5 FPS !?!?!?!

[brantmacga]

I had an nvidia geforce 5200 fx (128MB); I was locked @ 20FPS and averaged 18-20 FPS.

I just purchased and installed a geforce 8400 GS (512MB DDR2).

with the same settings I was getting 3 FPS. I changed all display settings to minimal and get 5 FPS.

WTH???

Does anyone else have this video card? I has a picture of FSX on the back and says it runs it just fine, and I'm trying to use FS9.

I'm currently downloading some new drivers, but its a 73MB file and my internet connection is 220kbps, so it will be awhile before I get it downloaded.

My system exceeds all of the minimum requirements of the card.

AMD 3400+
2 Gig RAM
XP SP3

[brantmacga]

i got the latest drivers installed.

i'm getting 8.5 FPS now.

what the heck is going on?

[brantmacga]

another note;


the box says 512MB. i've been looking for help on nvidia's website. according their site, this card only has 256MB.


seems odd.

[MrRooney]

Which version of the 8400gs do you have? I've got the XFX 512mb version and can average around 18-20fps depending on where i fly and what i'm flying in.

[Wii]

Have you read Nick's tweaking thread? You should have just dropped a hundred bucks or saved up to get a better card. Cheap equipment performs, well, bad. Just go to the FSX FAQ section in the forum and tweak the game with nHancer and download the appropriate drivers. Not neccesarily the new ones.

[brantmacga]

Have you read Nick's tweaking thread? You should have just dropped a hundred bucks or saved up to get a better card. Cheap equipment performs, well, bad. Just go to the FSX FAQ section in the forum and tweak the game with nHancer and download the appropriate drivers. Not neccesarily the new ones.

My post states that I'm running FS9; i only mentioned that FSX was pictured on the box.


You said I should drop a hundred bucks; the card was $110. I don't need to save up to buy a nicer card. I only want to spend around a hundred.

The issue here is that a 128mb card outperforms a 512mb card.

Do you have any input on that subject?

[machineman9]

As far as I was aware, the 8400 is a multimedia card, not a graphics card. Might explain the low FPS as it isn't designed for this task.

[brantmacga]

i returned that card and got an ATI Radeon 2400 HD Pro (AGP).

anyway, i had serious driver problems with it which ended in me erasing my bios a couple of nights ago.


soooooooooooo

i called the computer tech. he is now setting me up with some type of nvidia board w/ a P4 2ghz Duo processor and 2 gig of ram (800mhz he said; i guess that's fairly sufficient?). and it has PCI-E slots, so now i'm going to attempt to return that AGP card for one that works in pci-e slots. all for a stinkin' game. oh well, its not the first time and certainly won't be the last.

a question though; which i can ask the tech i was just curious now;

i have 2 gigs of ddr2 ram (533mhz??); do you suppose i could use that in addition to the 2 gigs of 800mhz or would that just be a cluster****?

[machineman9]

i have 2 gigs of ddr2 ram (533mhz??); do you suppose i could use that in addition to the 2 gigs of 800mhz or would that just be a cluster****?

If I remember right, RAM slows down to the slowest type you have. The 800Mhz ones would work at 533Mhz, which as you can see if a fair bit slower.

Also, 32 bit operating systems (I suppose you could say the 'standard' type. 64-bit is always defined such as Vista 64-bit) won't be able to use 4GB - That is, if the motherboard can take 4GB. I believe it can only use up to 3.5 - 3.75GB. Any more just isn't used. If you want to use the full 4GB or more, then you will need to buy a new operating system which is 64-bit.

Hassle? Yeah probably. You could use one of those sticks and get it up to 3GB, but it would cause the other ones to slow down.

[brantmacga]

oh okay.

thanks for the tip!