Greetings everyone,I'm considering buying a new computer (like, next week) because my current one has a video card that isn't even worth mentioning here! It's got an Athlon 2600, 512 MB RAM, 120 GB HD but here's the problem (apparently): the video card is a GeForce4 MX440, 128 MB. I've seen several rather negative comments elsewhere on the forums saying that this card poses problems with reflections and other graphics features in FS2002, so here's my question: is this card really that bad? The thing is, this computer I'm considering is a brand name one, so if I go for a machine with a GeForce4 Ti 4200 128 MB (that I would be at one of those small shops), the price would go up from 1250$ to 1900$ (Canadian, of course). I'd very much appreciate your thoughts on this!Thanks!

The price difference for the GeForce4 MX440 and the GeForce4 Ti 4200 certainly is not $650 in any currancy? Search www.pricewatch.com for comparable prices. I'd also look elsewhere. See Custom Built Computers http://www.progresssystemsinc.com/ .

I believe that your MX video card would become a bottleneck to your processor speed (at least in FS 2k2). That's to say that you would have wasted $$ on the processor speed as far as frame rates are concerned.Like someone else posted: That price differential is really high. You can pick up a Ti4200 for several hundred $$ (and most likely less at some of those sites quoted, it's been a while since I checked). And you're swapping an MX for a Ti4200, so there should be at least some offset.Good luck,Bruce.

Hi there,that price difference is outrageous - in this case I would buy the $1250 machine and a Radeon 9700 Pro, and that would still be less than the $1900 computer...Having said that, I would carefully check out the rest of the specs on the pre-made computer, particularly with regards to upgradeability later on - a lot of them use motherboards specifically manufactured for them, and although they're brand names like Asus or Gigabyte, they come with limited functionality. It may be those components that explain the price difference.Cheers,Gosta.http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/images/wxrebeta.jpg

Thank you all for your comments,I realize that I really should have noted that the price difference is explained by the fact that the computer with the GeForce4 Ti4200 has an Athlon 2700, 1 GIG RAM compared to an Athlon 2600 and 512 MB RAM for the other one. Anyway, I remain under the impression that computers in small shops nowadays are less of a good deal than what you can find at huge (well, big) electronics stores - but I have no idea if that impression is founded, it's probably a purchasing power factor. The Athlon 2700 with the aforementioned specs sells for about 1400 USD whereas the Athlon 2600 (with the MX card) sells for 900 USD. Knowing the difference in specs, do you think the price differential is justified (I've been out of the market for a few years)? Still, "1 GIG of RAM" is music to my ears...Thanks,Nicolas from CYOW but currently at CYQB

Hi Nicolas,I would take the offers from the big stores with a pinch of salt - as far as I know, the Athlon 2600 was also available with 266MHz FSB speed, as opposed to 333MHz. Although you'll have a hard time finding a 2600 with 266MHz on its own now, chances are this will be installed on the PC from the big electronics store. I found you generally get more 'honest' computers from smaller stores, but I have stopped buying ready-made computers altogether - if you build your own, you'll get excellent value for money with system specs at a price that even the best and biggest discount store can't match...Cheers,Gosta.http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/images/wxrebeta.jpg