Graphics Cards - So Many to Choose

[karldenton]

Hello,

I have purchased a new XPC Shuttle machine with Vista, Core2Duo E6600 and 2Gb Ram for FSX. I was wonderin what the best graphics cards are around

[Fozzer]

Karl....

At your affordable specifications I would suggest that you forget all about FSX! and concentrate on FS 2004*.......!

Your existing specification (with slight upgrades if required) would be sufficient to run FS 2004 reasonably well...

I suspect that upgrading to FSX will be well beyond your finances... ....!!

Paul...(FS 2004).... 8-)...!

* ...or even FS 2002...(very nice)... ...!

[DizZa]

You NEED a new power supply. No FAST videocard will need anything less than 350watts, and to be save get ATLEAST a 450watt one. They come really cheap now.

As for the new videocards the ones you wrote are not very good to say the least. The 7300GS is plain slow and overpriced. Once you get a new power supply (which is ESSENTIAL), go grab a Radeon HD 2900XT or if that stretches your budget you can wait a month and see how the Radeon HD 2600XT pans out. If you want it now then go grab something like a 7900 series videocard or alternatively a Radeon X1900 series videocard.

Again, get a new powersupply 250watts is NOT enough. Get a new one then we can talk. Other than the power supply that computer sounds awsome. I want one.

P.S: Fozzer with Sp1 my computer runs FsX amazingly:
http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2 ... 1179395020

[Fozzer]

P.S: Fozzer with Sp1 my computer runs FsX amazingly:
http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2 ... 1179395020

I suspect that Karl's new computer has already cost him an arm and a leg, and as a newcomer to Flight Sims? he may be unaware of the overall cost of building a computer to fully cope with the demands of FSX.

I have just had to replace my 550Watt PSU (exploded!) and nVidia 6600GT Card, with a high grade 700 Watt (

[DizZa]

I understand.

Karl, I think you should either upgrade your videocard and power supply to what I suggested above or just get fs9.

Foz, I'll raise my frame lock and then show you a frame rate of atleast 20 over a citiy with maxed out special buildings with clouds.

P.S: The only advantage of my computer over yours is a slightly faster processor, other than that it's about the same.

[karldenton]

Hi guys,

Thanks again for your help.

I have recieved the processor and RAM but not actually ordered the case yet. Space is slightly tight so was going to get a shuttle with a 300W PSU, however, from your advice i might look for a small form factor case with a larger 400W PSU.

In terms of graphics cards, i have been running FS2002 now for a few years and enjoyed every minute of it so looking forward to the new FSX with a new graphics card. Money was just a rough estimate, i would happy spend

[DizZa]

About the power supply and case, it's usually best to order the power supply seperate from the case as power supply bundles with cases are often very low quality. Wattage? Wattage is only a rough guide to how much power a power supply can put out. To find out more just google the model power supply that you have and find out how many amps it has on the +12V Rail and then compare it with the amps the videocard requires (find that out my google too).

Provided your motherboard has a PCI-E slot, I think you should get the Nvidia 7900GS which usually costs

[Fozzer]

Karl...!

Another tip....!

If you are prepared to spend money on a good card upgrade, dont forget to obtain the best quality Power Supply Unit you can/afford with loads of Watts!!

My previous, excellent quality, 550Watt PSU could not cope with the demands of my existing system, and finally burst into flames... ...!!

You need all the Volts, Amps, and Watts you can get hold of to run your Computer, and cope with the demands of various Games, etc, reliably.....!

..in the end it all comes down to what you expect, and what you can afford... ...!

Paul....(Flight simming since 1979).......!

[Brett_Henderson]

My type of flying, at low level (500 to 1500 Feet AGL), requires the Scenery to be set at MAXIMUM, and that puts terrific demands of FSX!

Buzz along at 1000agl from the virtual cockpit of the Maule in FSX .. If that's the type of flying you relish, and will enjoy the hardware investment for at least a few years, and it's within your budget.. then do it. That E6600 mated to a

[Fozzer]

..Buggar.... :-?...!

I've just noticed that I have stepped into the FSX Forum, which I swore I would avoid at all costs... ...!

...Arse!...So much grief and aggravation...I cant cope with it!.. ...!

LOL... ...!

Paul....Just getting my Sat-Nav doobry out, to guide me back to the safety and tranquility of the FS 2004/CFS 2 Forum....as we do... ...!

[Brett_Henderson]

LOL

[karldenton]

Update:

Whilst quiet at work today i found a Shuttle XPC SD37P2. It has a 400W PSU with twin 12Vsb rails offering 17A each.

Hopefully this should be good enough although 17A is adiquate.

[reider]

I`ve had a shuttle for a long time now.  They run brilliantly and seem to get by on the lowly 250 watt PSU that most have.  However, with a video card for FSX you will need the extra power.  It has been suggested, this size and that size, you cannot as you know just place any PSU in there-unlike the traditional desktop there is not enough room.  One approach some individuals have taken is an external power supply.

Right, with that out the way we go on to your next problem. HEAT. You have a very small, condensed area with some very powerful components all creating there own share of heat.  Place this in a room with people and more electrics around, you get more heat.  Overwork the internal components with FSX and you generate even more heat.  The cooling systems in these things are usually a chiller arangement with silver pipes taking both the intense heat from the processor along them, sucked by usually an 80mm fan to a vent and outside.  Air from the room will enter at the front of the case, pass over the components (which is well pressurised) and enter those same pipes at the processor, finally exiting with the processor heat from that same 80mm internal fan.  

To be realistic, you need to add a hard drive fan and either a case fan (PCI) and/or a double sided fan that does the case and the video card.  Memory chips need to be high quality and preferably have heat spreaders because of the extra heat in these cases.  I added a 120mm fan externally to my SN45G shuttle and just used it in the summer when the ambient temperature was higher.  Think about the complexities of the shuttle before you go down that route, brilliant little machine but it needs care.  You will need to monitor the temps at all times.  I use an external LCD module for this, which is also handy to display ILS settings and so forth for airports.

Because these shuttles are nice to look at people don`t put them on the floor, but higher up where they can see them.  This is especially nice when they have an internal LCD Module or some have a 3-5" LCD screen they add on themselves.  Now, the one problem with all this is, the closer it is to you the noisier it becomes.  Think about this when adding extra fans and get good quality quiet technology wherever possible.   A few more coppers will make life a lot more bearable for you.

Shuttle Info-Sudhian
LCD Modules-CrystalFontz

Reider

[GuitarFreak]

If you want the best, go with an 8800GTS. $360 (

[DizZa]

Whilst quiet at work today i found a Shuttle XPC SD37P2. It has a 400W PSU with twin 12Vsb rails offering 17A each.

Hopefully this should be good enough although 17A is adiquate.

17amps should be enough if they run through a single PCI-E slot however a 17amps by itself won't be enough. I do not know much about Power supplies so you'll have to ask Nick N or "Counter Terrorist Joyce  ::)" about PSU's.


Foz:
http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/2 ... 12-296.jpg