Graphics card memory required for FSX..?

[Fozzer]

Hello all... ...!

System Memory= 2.3 Gb.

At the moment my nVidia BFG 6600GT O/C GPU has 128 Mb of memory fitted, which is fine for running FS 2004 flat out.... ...!

But, using it for FSX results in all the memory being used up with the sliders set 3/4 of the way (using a memory usage detector program)... ...!

In a GPU upgrade for FSX, should we be looking for a 256 Mb card, or a 512 Mb card for the program to run smoothly and problem free...?
...remembering the (large) price difference between the two (quality) memory sizes... ...!

...any recommendations......?

Cheers all......!

Paul....(if I remember correctly!).......!

[Viper22]

A 256 card should be fine if it is fast, (such as a 7900GT) but the debate is if you are looking to upgrade now or wait for DX10.  512MB cards are a bit expensive right now though.

[cheesegrater]

256MB be be fine, however 512MB is always nice.

I think the cheapest 512MB card is the 7900GTO. If you are buying a 7900GT you can pay a little extra and get the 512MB 7900GTO.

[congo]

I just bought my 256mb 7900GS for $305au when there was a 512mb 7900GS for $340au, not a big price difference.

I was tempted to buy the 512mb card, but I was worried about dodgy quality from a cheaper type generic manufacturer.

There are a string of 7900GS's out with 512mb memory on board here in Oz this week, and they start from $328 (Australian).

If you wish to convert that to your local currency, you may or may not be pleasantly surprised depending on where you live. UK buyers pay WAY too much for graphics cards while the punters in the good 'ol USA pay less.

Anyone considering one of the 512mb cards (Fozzer) should first try to get a good comparitive review of that card and check out the results over a range of software tests.

The reason I say this is because traditionally, cheap cards with lots of cheap ram fitted are inferior to their higher quality cousins with less ram onboard.

You don't want to pay more for less.

The current crop of inexpensive 512mb ram 7900GS's may be quite fine, I haven't really looked into it because by the time I spotted these new cheap cards, I had already placed an order for my own Gigabyte 256mb 7900GS.

I can vouch for the quality of the Gigabyte card.
The nVidia reference speed for the 7900GS is 450MHz core/1320MHz memory.
Using Coolbits overclock utility, it detected 700mhz core/1700mhz memory speed as optimum for my new card, so you can see that the overclock potential on the 7900GS is one of the greatest to ever grace the circuitry of a video card. This experience is being widely reported, so it looks like this card is doing what the 7900GT was supposed to, both in performance and in price.

[Fozzer]

I just bought my 256mb 7900GS for $305au when there was a 512mb 7900GS for $340au, not a big price difference.......

Edit:
Just for kicks, I ran the FSX demo (FSX coming soon I hope) and it ran like garbage on my PC even though it was heavily overclocked. I was devastated of course, but I don't know how to set up FSX properly and I'm not too keen on trying until I get the full sim.

Blimey, Congo...!

If FSX ran like garbage on your 7900GS O/C 256 Mb card, then there's not much hope for any of us.......!

Paul....in tears.... ...!

... ...!

P.S. I'm still tempted, (rightly or wrongly), to go for the nVidia AGP versions to suit my present Motherboard.......!
They are more expensive than the PCIe versions but at least they slot straight into my present set-up with no added expense.......!
http://www.overclockers.co.uk

Graphics cards...nVidia...AGP...!

[congo]

I would like to see those results using your present system, but only because it's not my money

[Fozzer]

Hi Congo....

The last time I used an Intel processor was in the 486 DX100 days, long, long ago.......!
AMD Socket A variants ever since......!

You mentioned the "Conroe 6600" processor, so not being familiar with the type number, I googled it....

Flippin' bleedin Norah...it's another one of those Intel thingies all over again... ...!
...not only that, it's priced at.....
...wait for it....
Two hundred and fifty-five pounds in English money... ...!

http://www.fastekcomputers.co.uk/shop/i ... p-504.html

...and that's without a fancy, expensive Mother board to fit it into... ...!
...and a fancy nVidia 7900 GT PCI-e GPU... ...!
..and another load of mega-bucks suitable memory... ...!

Sod that for a game of soldiers, that's more than I've ever spent on a computer build....ever.... ...!

It's time I dusted off my Sinclair Spectrum 48K again, and played Gunship.......!

Bleedin' Norah....these expensive computer upgrades are getting daft now.....no more just adding a faster processor, or faster GPU, or a bit more memory...
...it's throw everything away, rob a Bank, and start all over again......!

Life is too short for all this complication and expense... ...!

Cheers, Congo. You've put me off computers now... ...!

LOL......!

Paul.......!

...by the heck, I'd almost forgotten just how good the Spectrum Gunship looks and runs...on a Zilog Z80, 3.5 Mhz processor, and 42K of memory....WOWZERS... ...!
...Good old days......!

[Stratobat]

Hi Guys,

Tell me, will an XFX GeForce 7950GT running on an AMD Athlon64 X2 4600+ (AM2 Socket) be sufficient?

Regards,
Stratobat

[flymo]

Hi Guys,

Tell me, will an XFX GeForce 7950GT running on an AMD Athlon64 X2 4600+ (AM2 Socket) be sufficient?

Regards,
Stratobat

that would probably get you some good performance if you put it with (OMG i can not believe i am about to type this) the intel e6600 CPU and 2 gig of RAM you would probably pull somethign decent out of FSX

and paul

if you can go with a 512mb card just for that little bit extra video memory,  but 512mb AGP cards are rather pricy from what ive seen

john

[congo]

Bleedin' Norah....these expensive computer upgrades are getting daft now.....no more just adding a faster processor, or faster GPU, or a bit more memory...
...it's throw everything away, rob a Bank, and start all over again......!

Life is too short for all this complication and expense... ...!

Cheers, Congo. You've put me off computers now... ...!

Maybe this is my new calling ?

[Fozzer]

Maybe this is my new calling ?  

...... and just as I was starting to learn about them....

...Tee-Hee.... ...!

I think I will have a brain storm instead....

Keep what I've got, my lovely Gigabyte Socket A Motherboard, with its 2.3 Gb of memory, (2 sticks of 1 GB dual thingy, and 1 stick of 256Mb), and look out for a faster nVidia GPU card with 256Mb of memory, for my AGP slot.

The card is going to be a bit expensive, but it's cheaper than throwing everything else in the bin, and starting all over again......!

If you are still in a teaching mood, Congo, tell me what you think of that idea...
...answers in a plain brown envelope......!

LOL......!

Cheers, Sport......!

Paul....just programming a spot of Z80 machine code assembly for my Sinclair Spectrum.....  8)...!

[NicksFXHouse]

512

I run a 7900GTX w/ 512 and it does the job quite fine. FSX is designed for cores that have not even been released yet so consider that before spending. March will be the time to start looking at DX10 hardware.

[Fozzer]

512

I run a 7900GTX w/ 512 and it does the job quite fine. FSX is designed for cores that have not even been released yet so consider that before spending. March will be the time to start looking at DX10 hardware.

7900 GTX 512....

[congo]

512

I run a 7900GTX w/ 512 and it does the job quite fine. FSX is designed for cores that have not even been released yet so consider that before spending. March will be the time to start looking at DX10 hardware.

I was going to suggest the same thing, only in a 512mb 7900GS, just wait a little longer until you see them cheaper.

Right now they are 133 british pounds over here Fozzer, so don't pay more than 150 over there. They should drop further unless christmas demand keeps the price up.

Oh, Fozzer,

drop that 256mb stick out and run the memory in dual channel mode, it'll give you a nice boost, whether it's immediately apparent or not.

To test it, run everest's memory bandwith read test with and without the 256mb stick installed and note the difference.

[wealthysoup]

if your planning on getting a dx10 graphics card next year then you should probably only get a 256mb graphics card...if the next upgrade wont be till the year after next (2008) then get a 512

or save up till next year and buy yourself a whole new computer--dx 10 graphics card fast processor and fast memory