Graphics

[igs942]

Hi all

I am looking to buy a new desktop PC within the next few months and I need some advice on hardware specs. Ideally I would like graphics to match the piccies from the likes of the screenshot contests. Can I get away with 512Mb RAM and a 128Mb card or will I need more???

Cheers

[ashaman]

A 128Mb DX9 compliant video card is more than enough for FS9 like for the vast majority of other games around. The extra memory on some video card is in fact still unused even from the more advanced games out there.

When in the future that amount of video memory will be required to run games better, it would be a better policy to upgrade to a more powerful card with more memory than remaining with a by then underpowered albeit still memory capable video card.

For the system memory I suggest you to buy as much as you can, yes 512Mb are enough but if you can buy more it would only be good for you and your Flight Simulator.

[Delta_]

As long as the GFX card is a seperate one, like a 6600gt then you will be ok.  Don't be fooled by on-board graphics like Intel Extreme graphics as these won't benefit you at all in 3D applications.

[wji]

"Don't be fooled by on-board graphics . . ."
Right on! Couldn't have said it better myself.
Bill
P.S. go for 1G RAM

[_526th_Fireman]

If buying a desktop, buy at the upper end of the desktops from HP, Compaq, VAIO or whatever you choose. Lower end desktops are for very general use, upper end are adaptable if not already set up to go gaming.

128 MB Vid. card is plenty, but make sure it is DX9 compliant, that means a relatively newer card, not the older ones.

1 GIG System RAM is a must in my opinion. 512  MB is barely enough if using XP. It is enough, but barely.......and believe me, you are going to get 1GIG even if you start off with 512, so why not do it now!

It would also be in your interest to try and get one that already has a GOOD Sound card already installed in it. If the desktop comes with a good set of speakers, that's a plus for you, if not, look into those too.

Now remember, some of those screenshots you saw are coming off of higher resolution monitors, and probably a good portion of them off LCDs or Plasmas. So if you are getting a CRT(big box) you won't get your moneys worth from the graphics card or system. It will look good with a CRT, but man the difference with an LCD blew me away.

Just things to consider!! Good luck and happy shopping!

[igs942]

Many thanks to all who replied. I have been looking around and there is an HP model I'm interested in which is the M1190. In HP's specs it quotes the graphics card as follows:

Video graphics

ATI Radeon X600 pro
256 MB DDR memory
PCI-Express interface
I/O Ports: DVI, S-Video (S-VHS only - integrated tv encoder)

Is this gonna be ok for the job??? The processor is a Pentium 4 (3.4 GHZ) and it has 1Gig RAM.

Cheers

[Graycat8524]

Heya IGS,

Ohhh Yes!  Those specs are great for FS 2004...When I finally get my IRS refund I'm going to install the same hardware in my PC!

[igs942]

Hi all,

Thanks again for the info before. One last thing though - is there any visual difference between the NVIDIA GeForce 6200 and the 6600???

Cheers

Ian

[Tom_M]

6600's faster and MAY have more pixel pipelines (=more speed) - that's the only difference, so you can turn more settings to High.. technically it does make a difference in that way, but in terms of visual processing technology, both cards use Shader Model 3 (AFAIK).

[|| Andy ||]

This needs to be in the Hardware forum..

But X850 for money.... 6600 for money.. or 6800