New Computer Time!!!...well maybe.

[LSmedley92291]

I'm tired of seeing amazing shots from people running FSX on great computers, and I'm ready to concider my own...however my budget is very limited. what i have now is ok, but I'd like some advice on how to upgrade it so I can avoid going out and getting a brand new computer. I'm looking to spend no more than $500 (US). Here's what I have now:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/gene ... R1002_USEN

Thanks,
LSmedley92291

[drummer_tom]

Processor is fine at 3.0GHZ. Spend the money on more RAM (4GB would be great) and a good video card PCI-E 512MB one. Then save the left over money and save up then eventually you can upgrade processor.


My 2p



Tom

[jimcooper1]

Looking at the Spec you provided it doesn't mention a PCIe slot or an AGP slot so it looks like you can't do much with this box!!

Also WinXP can't handle more than 2GB (I assume you don't have a 64-bit OS installed).  Up the RAM to 2 GB by all means...but you won't be able to do much with that PC I'm afraid.  It certainly not an FSX contender.

Regards

Jim

[LSmedley92291]

I know it's only been a hour or two since i posted this, but it's not looking good...at this point i would be happy just to get FS9 without the jaggies i have now...so i'm changing my request to ask for a way to eliminate jaggies in FS9...

Thanks,
LSmedley92291

[Triple_7]

Well...I'm not much into upgrading a stock computer after all my store bought disasters :-/  Not saying anything about a PCI-E or even a AGP slot...guessing your running on the on-board graphics.  Regular PCI cards are about a joke as I found out.  PCI-E is the new way to go.  $500 may not even get you where you want.  This rig I just built cost just under $1000 and runs FS9 maxed out, add-ons, ect, locked in at 30 FPS and never see them drop.  As I learned from the past...deal with the stock computer till you can afford to build a quality system from scratch.  Seemed like all the upgrades I used to do with my stock computers just burned the money away and didn't get any real results other then a new hole in the wallet :-/

[Brett_Henderson]

I have to agree with Triple_7..  about making an FSX computer out of that. But (and I'm no hardware expert), if that's a 3.0ghz Pentium, running on-board graphics.. You most certainly will get your money's worth out a decent v-card upgrade and anothe gig of RAM.

PCI-E  7950  graphics cards aren't much over $200 right now, and will make a HUGE difference in that computer...

[waspiflab]

I think you better do more hours on your paper round

[john_uk]

looking at the hardware spec of it, it doesnt mention an AGP slot, just PIC, meaning you can only use a PCI card (that is not PCI-E btw PCI-E is differant to PCI) and i think the best PCI card out their is the Nvidia 6100/6200 something like that, but its a pants card and not worth the money.

2gb of ram is sufficent, bacuase as said, XP will only see 2gb unles you are running a 64bit OS (operating system)

but waspi has the best idea, get a bit more cash together and then look at building or buying a new system, because your current is office grade fodder.