PCI graphics card

[peter-reebok]

time for a new PC, but probably take me 6 months to save for one!.
Have HP pentium 2.8G with 128mb radion 9550 card
MOtherboard has PCI slot for graphics, with AGP support.

For now, what graphics card should I get to make the best of what I have?
Running FSX with FTX scenery.
Have saitek pedals and logitech joystick.
Really enjoying FSX - have about 5 (real) hrs up oin a Jabiru out of Lilydale.

Suggestions?

[Mazza]

Well PCI is slow as a snail, AGP is old but Okay I guess if you can't buy a whole new System, I could try to find a PCI-E Motherboard or a PCI-E card that has been converted to AGP 


Best option, buy whole new system

[peter-reebok]

Ok, looking for new system - getting confused as to how much bang for buck I need.

I7 860 system will cost me about $1500 - out of the question at present.

I can get a core2 quad 9400, with GTX260 card and 4gb ram, 800gb sataII drive, for around $800.
Should I choose XP home, or vista,?
know windows 7 is around the corner, but expect it to take 6 months to settle down in use.

Is this a sufficient leap forward from the P4?
running FSX with FTX Blue scenery expect to run 1600 x 1280 graphics at a decent frame rate. (23fps?)

currently running 1280 x 1024 at 22fps with minor stuttering.

Thanks for your assistance - much appreciated.

[Mazza]

Ok, looking for new system - getting confused as to how much bang for buck I need.

I7 860 system will cost me about $1500 - out of the question at present.

I can get a core2 quad 9400, with GTX260 card and 4gb ram, 800gb sataII drive, for around $800.
Should I choose XP home, or vista,?
know windows 7 is around the corner, but expect it to take 6 months to settle down in use.

Is this a sufficient leap forward from the P4?
running FSX with FTX Blue scenery expect to run 1600 x 1280 graphics at a decent frame rate. (23fps?)

currently running 1280 x 1024 at 22fps with minor stuttering.

Thanks for your assistance - much appreciated.

Windows 7 has no bugs (I am running a RC copy perfectly)

I would go for a i5 system, I do not know that much, but

Intel i5
Decent Motherboard
Nice 6-8Gb or RAM DDR3
GPU: ATi 58XX

Should be around : $1500

Sorry not much info but that ^ is basically a good setup to get

[Slotback]

Get i7 860 is you want to go with the LGA 1156 platform.

Get 4gb of DDR3-1600 if you plan to overclock, DDR3-1333 if not. Don't get 3gb of 6gb, them configurations are usually for LGA 1366 platforms.

Radeon 58xx



http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3661

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/bud ... 36-15.html

If you plan to overclock with a P55 I urge you to read that.


If it is out of your budget then a GTX 260 / Core 2 Quad should do, but I would overclock it.

[peter-reebok]

LOL just gave in!.

Went to buy a Q9400 system - haggled with the shop, and ended up with a I7 860, P55 Mobo, 6gb DDR3 ram, GTX260, 1tb SataII drive and second 500gb 3gb/s hdd, 850w power supply, dvd 2L RW.

All my intentions went out the window when the I7 ended up $180 dearer than the Q9400 in total.

Thanks for the advice - I went soft and ended up with a better system anyway.
Kicker was when I pulled the original purchase info from existing PC, and found I bought it in early 2005.
nearly 5 years of use from it anyway!.

At least I should get a few years from this one as well!.
Here in Oz, W7 retail is still about 2 weeks away, so will buy XP, and wait for a while.

[Slotback]

Nice rig!

Make sure both hyper-threading and Intel Turbo boost are enabled in BIOS for some slight extra performance.

[peter-reebok]

got the new system running on weekend.
Micro$oft doesnt sell XP any more since windows 7 came out, so installed 64bit windows 7.  At a price though!.
everything except my printer works, and will spend some time on that and hope for a good outcome soon.
With FSX, FTX Blue, mesh at 1m, water x2, high graphics settings on all (havent tried the highest settings) getting 35fps framerates, no stuttering, and I am very pleased with the result.  Very smooth, almost a completely different simulation from before.

Thanx fellas - only have to pay for it now!.

[Mazza]

Good to hear all went well, except that silly printer, it probably doesn't know what Windows 7 is   

[laurits]

[quote]got the new system running on weekend.
Micro$oft doesnt sell XP any more since windows 7 came out, so installed 64bit windows 7.

[NickN]

Looks like someone would like to be removed here too...

[laurits]

U just go ahead pal, this forum is apparently only for those who  want to pucker up, and btw it would be a good idea to call it "The Forum for Arrogant Flighsim Geeks"!

Bye...

[Flight Ace]

[quote]U just go ahead pal, this forum is apparently only for those who

[NickN]

[quote]U just go ahead pal, this forum is apparently only for those who

[Mazza]

Why must most hardware related issue and or stuff with Windows 7 end like this.