Should I Upgrade My Card :(?

[lqcorsa]

Ugh... This sucks. I just read the FS-10's review and it said a good video card to run FS-10 would be something like a ATI X1900 or something. I have a ATI X800, witch, according to the review, did an "OK" job in FS2004. The X1900 is over $300.

PC Specs:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ MMX, 3DNow
ATI Radeon X800
2 Gig's of RAM
Direct X 9.0


This is dissapointing. I spent over 2500 dollars on this system (including other things like moniter and software) for flight sim, and now I find out I should upgrade. I won't settle without my bars on maximum graphics, thats what I payed for, thats what I want.

[Cobra]

DX10 is due out with Vista and also the first DX10 cards are coming onto the market. I'd wait till then, even if u dont get a DX10 card the rest will dro pin price.

[kydius]

Yep I would tell you to wait too. Especially since FSX will be a DX 10 game you should wait till the DX 10 cards become available before changing yours. Unless you dont want Windows Vista...If you plan on keeping Windows XP then you could buy an X1900 since Windows XP won't get DirectX 10.

[lqcorsa]

So that means yes? I should upgrade? Ha,

Okay okay, adding up the totals here. So if I get Vista, does that mean I'll have to buy a Vista Ready PC from here http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capable.mspx
?

I'm looking at paying either another, or close to 1K again... The sad thing is this PC is barley over a year old.

-sigh-

[-Apples-]

I know how you feel. That the sucky thing about computers is that they get updated so fast these days. I dont know if you would need a whole new computer, but i think that the dx 10 cards run off of a pci e slot. So if you have a pci slot on your mother board it should be fine, but yes youll still need vista.

[lqcorsa]

Yeah my video card is PCI Express so I have PCI slots. Doesn't anybody think an entire new OS is a little crazy? If I do get Windows Vista, what version should I get, or does it matter?

PS: Thanks for helping me out.

[kydius]

Well it's up to you. You can stick with Windows XP if you want but you won't get the cool new effects and performance increases from DX 10. If this sounds crazy for you well...:tongue:

Altough if you don't mind upgrading to Vista, I think any version should be ok depending on what you want in it. If you don't need the Aero glass module and all those fancy stuff you could get the home basic version wich is the cheapest.

Otherwise you can see a brief explanation about each edition here :
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/editions/default.mspx

My best recommandation for you would be to wait. I know you want to play FSX on full details but if you wait a bit I think you'll get much more value for your money!

[Afterburner]

Dude.....I wouldnt worry much about ur Rig. Its current and updated except that your card will better off replaced by a DX10 card in the next 6 mths or so. Vista Home Premium is about the equivalent of WinXp Pro :smile:

If you know how to Overclock your X2 3800+ (1mb total L2 Cache), you will get you an additional 700 - 900mhz (2.7Ghz - 2.9Ghz) free speed depending on CPU and Cooling and that will bring it up to Core 2 Duo playing field. Alternatively, since AMD has mega slashed prices you could get a X2 4800+ (2.4Ghz + 2mb total L2 Cache) or FX-60 (2.6Ghz + 2mb total L2 Cache) while still retaining S939 compatibility and saving cost. Unless an FO Executive can confirm that FO is Multi-Threaded (scales beyond 2 cores) then you might want to look into Quad Core CPUs out in Q4 2006. If FO is Dual-Threaded (for the time being as it is a modular SIM) then this current rig (X2 4800+ or FX-60 upgrade) and a DX10 card will do just fine :smile: