Hello,I am hoping someone here can point me in the right direction with the issue I am having.I just bought a new Compaq system:P4, 2.5G512MB DDR RAM120GB HDI installed a new video card, the above 5200FX, from Asylum. I needed a PCI card, and that seemed to pack the most punch among the available options. Before I did that I tried my old card in there too, a GeForce MX440 w/64MB.This issue came up with both cards. I'd start FS9, and everything looks OK; frame rates pretty good with most sliders about 1/3 to 1/2(on the newer card, with it locked at 25fps, I'd be pretty close to 25 most of time), and pretty stable too. Take off and start flying (using fairly heavy duty POSKY jets), and a strange problem comes up that doesn't seem connected to scenery complexity because I tried that - even full complexity clouds or zero clouds doesn't make a difference. It also seems to follow a rhythm of every 5 seconds or so, the fps starts dropping, down as far as low single digits, and the sound gets very staticky and jerky too - it mirrors what the video does, or vice versa(?). Then it will come back up, then sink back down again, following this cycle.Now the funny part - hit Q to turn off sound and frame rates come back up - 25 to 30 easy at cruising altitude. Turn sound back on, problem returns immediately, etc...What is going on? Is there some weird interaction between my new video card and the machines integrated sound controller? Do I need a good sound card to get rid of this problem? At the recommendation of the card manufacturer I trried switching slots for the card, but I don't think it helped much.One other point; my power supply may be marginal - 300W is recommended, I have 250W in there.Thanks in advance!John

John,I take it you don't have a AGP slot on your system? If not have you downloaded and installed the latest chipset drivers for your MB? Also, are the latest drivers for the onboard sound up to date?One other thing you may try is to go into your sounds properties and turn hardware acceleration down one notch and see if that helps with the problem. You may have to also see about manually setting the IRQ's for sound and video.It's a start.Bobby

Bobby, thanks.I tried the hardware acceleration reduction, can't say that this made much difference. Downloading the latest sound driver from Realtek seems to have helped though. I don't get the sound breaking down into staticky, jerky rythyms now, and the fps doesn't drop off as far. But the basic problem is still there, and it is still linked to the sound, somehow! With sound on, the fps still drops away every few seconds, following a pattern, and under 10fps it starts to get jerky. Hit "Q", and I pretty much get a consistent 20 to 30 fps, and smooth This is very frustrating; I can't see why I shouldn't be able to enjoy this with sound! I will try downloading the latest Intel chipset drivers tonight...does anyone think the marginal power output (250W against a recommended 300W according to the card manufacturer) is invovled in this?Thanks again.

John,You need to realize that the PCI bus runs at 1/2 the speed of the AGP bus. The AGP bus is dedicated whereby the PCI bus is carrying the load of all your onboard peripherals.Adding a dedicated soundcard would probably make a difference as the CPU on the SC would be doing the majority of the audio processing instead of your CPU saving cycles for better use.Is your power supply marginal? Yes. I wouldn't and don't build a system with less than a 350 Watt PSU. Although it will not cause the problems your suffering it can lead to stability problems.The best way to solve your problem would be an upgrade from your current MB to a MB that offers an AGP slot along with an AGP VC. This may not be possible so that leaves the second alternative which is stick with the card you have but upgrade your audio to a dedicated SoundCard.Keep me posted.Bobby

Thanks for the input, Bobby.Well, the sound card seems to have done the trick. Nothing fancy, but a Sound blaster Live 5.1 went in, and now I get a smooth high 20s to around 30 fps most of the time, down to around 15 landing in heavy scenery. Negligible difference at most, with or without sound activated. Now I can really start to enjoy the sim and some of the cool features!Interestingly, I tried to upgrade to an Antec 350W power supply at the same time, but the computer refused to start - power was on, but nothing else. Compaq tech support seemd to be saying the mobo would not accept the higher power level. Back it went.thanks again,John