RAM

[Selbio]

Well I wish I had that Ti4200 to be honest. However, When I had that card, I had an AMD XP 2600 T-bred 256kb cache if I'm not mistaken @ 2.08ghz 333mhz fsb with 768mb ddr pc 2100 266mhz( unmatched fsb and memory speed) I have the ATI along with an AMD XP Barton 3000+ @ 2.16ghz and it has 640kb cache if i'm not mistaken with a stick of 512 ddr pc 2700 @ 333mhz( matched FSB and Memory speed). Both systems performed at about the same levels. With the Nvidia card I got an extra 1-2 fps with the AA and the AF disable( this does show that the ti 4200 is one heck of a card) I guess if I bought a real nice video card then I would get much better fps. I just wanted to get something different than the onboard. That was a real pain in the a$$. As long as the pc is still under warranty I am stuck the 9200 just because the PSU's 12v rail is shooting 11.19 when the cpu is idle and 11.07 when loaded, if I put a powerful v-card it'll probably blow up the psu.
Let me ask you this( sorry I just don't want to start a whole new thread).
Would you pay HP $30 for them to come to your house and install a crappy psu with 250w or would you buy a name brand PSU with about 300w for about the same price and install it yourself?

[Gixer]

Buy a decent one and fit it yourself.

What is the rest of your rig like?  and when you say plays well how many FPS are you holding?

I havnt done a re-format for ages or cleaned out FS9.  Maybe once I done that it will all run peachy.  All I know is running res 1600x1200x32  4xAA  8xAF 100%AI and everything maxxed it makes my FPS drop to 18-20 at KSEA.  It still plays smooth though no jerkiness or anything.  

If you holding good FPS with that card at those AA an AF settings your extremely lucky, my Bro has a 9800pro on practicaly the same rig as me and cant hold anywhere hear the FPS I do with the same settings I have.

[Politically Incorrect]

  It still plays smooth though no jerkiness or anything.  

That is the goal! To get it to fly smooth without jerkiness!

FPS means nothing it is a number that people get in there head that bigger is better and a argument that has been here many times past.
Over 20 FPS and you can't visually see a differance the human eye and mind won't process it, so what is the point aiming for the ultimate in frame rates?
You sit and stare at the red numbers in the upper left and pay no attention to how the sim is flying," oh crap 25 FPS this sim sucks!" is your plane acting like a slide show? no.
Try flying sometime with out the FPS displayed, you won't be able to tell if your getting 20 or 80 FPS or whatever, the only time you'll know that your FRs are way to low is when it starts to sputter.
This is a proven fact that locking your FPS at a lower number will help performance (20-25) your sim won't be trying harder to meet the higher numbers.
Looking at and reading all the "benchmark" numbers that are always posted everywhere (and guru3d is all anyone talks about) really doesn't make sense because I have yet to find any of help because no one ever seems to tell you about FS9 benchmarks, they always benchmark FarCry,Doom, Unreal etc. all of which are totally different style games on different style platforms compared to FS9. Just because a card "rocks" on FarCry doesn't mean it will "rock" on FS9 totally different in more ways than one!

Another thing people neglect to mention is computer maintenace, clean out your junk and defrag often all of this helps your computer run better. Shut down all un-needed apps and processes either buy"Ctrl-Alt-Delete" or some other utility like EndItAll. Increase your page file.

Don't ever expect that your computer will perform the same as someone who has a identical setup! No two computers work the same even if they are carbon copies!

So you now have some more ram.
Focus on a video card upgrade, Congo might slap me for saying this but try a FX 5200 not to expensive and with your PC might be great if not great a BIG improvement. (i use one and it works great and just to be like the rest can easily hang out at 39+ FPS with settings maxed, not that I would know if it wasn't for a number being shown in the upper left   )
Don't try and aim for 80+ FPS no point and it won't happen!!!!!! Try locking FPS 20-25.

Clean out all the crap off your hard drive, then defragment, then defragment on a regular basis.
Run regular virus/spyware scans.
Try lowering your settings a hair, don't ask your computer to try to do something it won't..
You'll find some of the biggest performance increases will be the ones that don't cost anything!

[Gixer]

I dunno what my new g/card will do to fs fps wise i got it locked at 25 and thats where its gonna stay. As said as long as I have smoooooth game play I am happy  ;D

I keep my PC de-fragged etc but my FS9 folder is very messy. I have installed and uninstalled so much stuff for it its untrue.  I think I will re-format soon that usually helps a lot.

[congo]

Fretnstuff, if you research you'll find that the card Selbio has now performs like an FX5200.

We don't fly around with the FPS displayed all the time. The FPS display just happens to be the only real indication of how the system is performing in FS. Without it, we would never know accurately whether a tweak has produced any improvement in performance.

The "average" human eye detects around 30 FPS, not 20, and I reckon I can detect twice that figure at least when things are moving fast across a display. The name of the game is smoothness, that's for sure, and it's percieved individually.

Benchmark figures, however, are a technical measure of performance, unhindered by human factors or perception. To deny their validity is to deny science itself.

"So what is truth? Aren't mine the same as your's?"
- Pontius Pilate to Jesus Christ in "Jesus Christ Superstar"

[Selbio]

Gixer,

I have an AMD XP BARTON 3000+
Asus A7V8-LA Mobo
512ddr pc 2700
160GB Hard Drive
Onboard Realtek AC'97
Windows XP Home tweaked with only 15 Processes running.

The game runs very smooth except when I'm flying idfg md-11 or pmdg 737NG around KSEA with AI @ 100%.

About that PSU is there a specific one I should get that doesn't have that annoying Aux server connector and has only a few molex connectors 4-6(6 max and no SATA connectors).

[Politically Incorrect]

Fretnstuff, if you research you'll find that the card Selbio has now performs like an FX5200.

I just found that out earlier today, I wasn't sure

We don't fly around with the FPS displayed all the time.

Not everyone but there are many that I feel just sit there and watch the numbers

Without it, we would never know accurately whether a tweak has produced any improvement in performance.

I agree there, that is about the only time I'll look at it, I don't look at it as gold though as a matter of fact I don't think it is all that accurate.

Benchmark figures, however, are a technical measure of performance, unhindered by human factors or perception. To deny their validity is to deny science itself.

What I disagree with about most benchmarking graphs that compare multiple cards is the fact that there isn't any I have seen that bench mark FS9, and like I said even if it rocks on FarCry doesn't mean it will "rock" on FS9, two totaly different games, sure some similarities but far more differances.
I do look at them for information on how well cards might run but sad truth is most benchmarks are done on machines that a majority of people couldn't compete with anyway, let me run the "top of the line" card on my rig and I bet that you won't see that awesome score. That was the point I was trying to get at.
So use them for information, using them for decision to buy just because of a score without taking into consideration your machine, I wouldn't recommend. Would you buy Mach3 razors just because Dale Jr says they are awesome? OK Don't answer that!

"So what is truth? Aren't mine the same as your's?"

The truth is the above is true.
Sorry Congo I didn't realize that my statements might have appeared to be directed at you, they weren't meant to be!!
I have a high respect for the help and knowledge you have and offer. You have helped me numerous times and as a matter of fact my sim wouldn't run as good as it does on my machine if not for you!!
So I hope you didn't take anything I said personal it wasn't meant to be, if you did I apologise!

[Selbio]

Gixer,

How did fs9 run on your rig before you overclocked?
Do you really think that If I ditched this ATI 9200 and get a much better video card I can get much better performance?

[Gixer]

Main difference I have noticed since I clocked/tweaked system is load times are a fair bit quicker and game is slightley smoother.   I recently went from 512 ram to 1gig ram again this didnt really alter game play much just stops so much of my page file being used up which should make things a little faster.  Most I can get my system to use is 800meg at the moment.

My new G/card 6800Ultra replaced a GF4 Ti4600.  The difference was tremendous. On the GF4 i was playing 1600x1200 no AA    2xAF  set to performance in the GF4 settings bit.

In the game it was set as no water effects, no special effects, normal level of autogen, mimimum 3d clouds all sight distances right down.  All other graphic settings were maxxed except mips which is set at 5 to stop sparkling.

Now with my new G/card.  I can max everything and have even added some pretty water textures too  ;D  As said though AI still can effect my FPS and so can clouds if there are hundreds on view.  If I set to fair weather its fine but some real weather can still slow it a bit.  I just turn down the amount of 3d clouds to 50% that helps lots and doesnt really look much different to me??

Also on new G/card its set at 1600x1200 4xAA 8xAF and set to 'High Quality' in the graphics card settings.  The old GF4 the max was Quality setting but there is a new one on this card called 'High Quality' hehehehe.

FS2004 though just eats up whatever your PC can throw at it.  I would say 1gig ram is plenty, then get the best CPU and best G/card you possibly can.  My task is still to get in running better than it is.  I would like to see it holding 25fps anywhere at any time any condition.  

Im looking at the AMD64 CPU's at the moment.  Specially as I have a few friends in the States now  ;)  can get the CPU I would like $200 USD cheaper over there!  

[Gixer]

OOOOOOoooooer.  Just did the ultimate test.  PMDG 737-600 (Very detailed) at my Gatwick scenery (Extremely Detailed) Looks very pretty.  Weather set to fair skies.  75% AI  FPS drops down to 15 looking at the airport when taking off lol.  My poor CPU/mobo setup  :(  I know thats whats doing it now! So how many pennies can I scrape together this month  ;D

[congo]

fretnstuff,

No, I didn't take it personally, I hope you didn't.

I probly get a tad emotional in my text trying to get a point across is all. Sorry. See my new thread.

[Selbio]

Gixer,

You planning on selling that Ti 4600?

[Gixer]

The Ti-4600 is going into my g/friends PC and her current GF3 ti-200 64ddr is gonna be our reserve card.  I will be selling the following though:

MSI K7N2 Delta ILSR mobo
XP2800 Barton CPU 333MHz
512 PC2700 (1 stick) 333MHz ram
Coolmaster Aero*Somthin* Heatsink  (looks like a turbine thing)

All this will be assembled though the Heatsink could be removed for postage as it sticks up a fair bit.  Looking for about

[4_Series_Scania]

[quote]The Ti-4600 is going into my g/friends PC and her current GF3 ti-200 64ddr is gonna be our reserve card.

[Gixer]

LOL thought about this already. Live in a small flat though.