Need some advice on system upgrade, please

[Guest cimanera]

Can someone be so kind as to give me your thoughts on an upgrade for my current system. My current computer:Motherboard: ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Toledo 2.4GHz Socket 939 Dual Core RAM: CORSAIR XMS 2GB (4 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Video Card: HIS Hightech PQS80LN-6I-ZPC Radeon X800XL 256MB x16Hard Drives: SATA (not sure what make)PSU: PC Power and Cooling 450W SLIGiven the immediate launch of FSX, I was thinking about updating one of my RAM pairs--upgrading 2 of 512MB sticks with 2 1GB sticks to increase total RAM to 3GB. I am wondering if upgrading RAM from 2GB to 3GB will show any meaningful improvement.Also, my current set of Corsair RAM has very fast timings (2-2-2-5), and one pair will remain in my system. So, do the new 1GB sticks that I plan to upgrade with need to have the same or similar timings?In addition, I am thinking upgrading my video card to an ATI X1950T, any thoughts on this card and card/system combination, or any other video card suggestion would be appreciated. I know that many are waiting for DX10 compatible video cards to come out early next year, but they only run with Vista and I think I want to wait after Vista launch until Visa gets fully "ironed out" before I make the jump from XP. I'm thinking it will be about a year, so I'll enjoy this upgrade in the mean-time.Thanks

[Guest baksteen33]

Hi Cimanera, my eneducated guess is; a fully garnished FSX will consume well beyond 1GB but under 2GB. Personally, I wouldn't mix various timings and modules. And that's also an uneducated guess! :-) Regarding your GPU; as far as I would dare to judge, it depends on the resolution and amount of monitors you use. Right now, I doubt you'll see a huge difference at 1x 1280x between a X800 and X1950. HST, I could be terribly mistaken. :-) Maybe Greg 'Soarpics' knows more about X19x0 adapters? I'ld wait until FSX surfaces and you have some first-hand experience with the app and your current machine. Hope this adds to thoughts, kind regards Jaap

[Guest lukeharvest]

Cimenera you will see a huge difference if you get the X1950 and you will also benefit if you get the new Intel Duo Core processors.Luke Harvest

[Guest baksteen33]

Hi Luke, IMHO, we should be careful with blanket statements. We for example don't know the OP's res. If you had an AMD64 system before and upgraded to a C2D, please be more specific. I'ld be interested to learn more about your experiences. :-) Cheers and kind regards Jaap

[Guest lukeharvest]

Yea i apologise so i will back up my statement...Your PC at the moment should be sufficiant for FS9 and most likely FSX but seeing as you want to upgrade i will give you some advise!I have just ordered my new PC and should have it on Tuesday here are the specs.Case: Hot New! X-Cruiser Mid-Tower Case W/ WINDOW, MultiMeter Display & Control (Black Color)PSU: Tagan 900W TG900-U25 Turbojet Quad Quiet SLI Ready Power SupplyCPU: (Sckt775)Intel

[Guest cimanera]

Thanks for your reply. Right now I run resolutions of 1600x1200x32 on a 21 inch flat screen Samsung monitor. By the way, for video card I was also looking at possibly the Nvida 7950gx2Thanks again

[Guest cimanera]

Lukeharvest, Thanks for the detailed information, much appreciated.It looks like your are going to have quite a system!Seeing whats available now makes me wish I'd waited, but that's and old story.Given that my upgrade budget is approximately. $1,000 I would be able to move to Core Duo right now since that would mean upgrade of motherboard, CPU as well as RAM, and can't forget the new video card which it the main thing I think I need to upgrade. -- Do you have any thoughts on the Nvida 7950gx2? With 1gb ram on board I'm thinking there must be some significant improvement in FSX. Also can you clarify for me what is meant by "hi" "low" on your graph. A first I though frame rates, but there are some "hi" bars that are lower than the "low" bars (?)Thanks again for your input, much appreciated.Cimanera

[Guest lukeharvest]

Ok first of all i would like to point out that 1024MB of Graphics Memory is the last thing you want to focus on (Because it's irrealative) . What you do want to look at is:Pixel shader processor Vertex shader processor Now this poses a problem because both the X1950XTX and the 7950 have exactly the same specs in relation to pixels and vertexs so you may think that you should just go on preferance but there are a few other things to establish beforehand.Now although clock speed and memory speed doesn't mean too much it's always best to take into consideration the differences... ATI X1950XTX Core Speed 650MHzMemory Speed 2.00GHzNvidia 7950Core Speed 500MHzMemory Speed 1200MHzBut you don't want to pay too much attention to that so we can focus on some of the other advantages and disadvantages of each card. The next thing that really attracts me to the X1950XTX is that it has utilised the next generation of GDDR memory. The Nvidia is currently using GDDR3 memory which is very much up to date but the X1950XTX is using GDDR4 which can bring some really good advantages when it comes to gaming.Also it has been said that the X1950XTX has much better cooling than the 7950 and can keep tempreatures down when at full load which is a great attribute to hold 'cos for us simmers it's a must. This has not yet been proven (as far as i am aware) but if you decide to go for the new Intel Duo Core E6600 it's said that ATI works better with Intel than Nvidia. I have no idea why this is but i have noticed that companied building PC's have always suited AMD to Nvidia and not ATI.If you want any more help on Graphics Cards or any other aspect of specification, just postLuke Harvest

[Guest baksteen33]

Thanks, cimanera. Well, with a single 1600x display, a 512MB X1950 would be my pick for the next 12 months. As you probably know, Geforces have advantages in the multi-monitorng field. Weigh which options are more important to you. :-) The best conclusion I've seen to date comes from the SimHQ (link below): As the FS2004 graph shows, the differences decrease with increasing resolutions - maybe an indicator of the GPU's importance? At 1280x, a swap from a solid AMD64 system will result in 20% maybe 30% more CPU-efficiency. http://www.simhq.com/_technology2/technology_090e.htmlHST, technically, it is unclear to me, whether SimHQ ran the tests with optimal settings (mentions about system specifics are missing). Or, why didn't they include a mainstream AMD64 CPU as well? No bashing, I hope they would be legitimate inputs. :-) I'm sure FSX is going to be the same animal for our display adapters and believe the SimHQ graphs are an excellent indicator, what to expect and what not. :-) Luke wrote: >>The reason i have gone for the new Intel Duo Core processors is because of this...<< You're right, there's obviuosly an error in the graph ...it's still human beings filling in the contents. :-) Where's it from? Kind regards Jaap

[Guest lukeharvest]

Sorry the Hi and Low bit means resolution

[Guest navav2002]

I own a HIS X1900XTX...System specs below:Athlon64 x2 4800+ (2.4ghz)Asus A8R32-MVP Deluxe mbHIS X1900XTX1gb Mushkin Hi Perf LVL2 PC3200WD Caviar SE16 250gb 7200 RPM 16mb CacheSeaSonic S12-600/SLI 600WSB Audigy2 ZS Gamer Sound CardEnlight EN-7250 Black CasePlextor PX230A CD/RWPlextor PX760A DVD/RWMitsumi 7-n-1 Card ReaderI also have the system in my sig...I prefer the XFX7950GX2 hands down over the X1900XTX...(Notice: I'm running a single monitor...The GX2 runs in SLI...SLI does not support Multi Monitor Display's)The nVidia drivers take some getting use to...However..Once you have spent some time with them...They are far more tweakable than any ATI Driver arrangement I have come up with to date...I'm still working on the ATI stuff...However I must admit..It's been a struggle...I think I'll update to the Catalyst 5.9's and ATI Tray Tool arrangement tonight or early this week...I'm presently on the 5.8 using CCC...I have been round and round..Trying to get this card to look nice like my GX2..(Or even my old 7800GTX)..So far No Joy..There are ton's of reviews avaliable on the GX2...The technical information is out there...Just *MY* Expierence/Opinion...I'd urge you to do some reserch...If your interested in a card at this level...I think another approch may be to back off a tad on the Videocard...Maybe concentrate your efforts on the hottest C2D processor you can...Choose your self a nice mb and some good RAM(As mentioned above)...Then scale back to a X1800XT or 7900GT level card or so for the moment...I'm totally happy with the GX2...I'm just not too sure how practical of a decision it was??Totally up to you...You know your situation better than I...I'm personally an Hardware-O-Holic right now...So I don't mind the fact I'll be spending allot of money on a DX-10 card one of these days...Ohh Yeah...I'll probably be doing a C2D system as well...Just waiting on the nForce5 mb's...But...If the Data I'm hearing today is true...Maybe I outta just get the ASUS P5W DH Deluxe boards and be done with it...That is a Sweet Motherboard!!Edit: Luke Harvest...When you get your system up and running...I would love to know what your videocard driver set-up is...Like I say...I'm not having any luck with my 1900...Thanks..P.S. I'm familiar with this:http://www.tweakguides.com/ATICAT_1.htmlI've just not come across the right FS set-up...

[Guest baksteen33]

Hi Chuck, what precisely would you like to improve? And what kind of resolution are you running? Pls excuse if I overread something. Kind regards, Jaap

[Guest navav2002]

"Pls excuse if I overread something."No..You didn't...I'm being vague...Because I don't know how to really explain it...I think it boils down to..I hate ATI?? I'm not sure...I don't really wanna jack this guys thread..But...There are long pauses...There is shimmering...Slow texture loads..Flickering...ect...I think I'm growing impatient...I wanna toss this card out the window..I'm doing a driver update as we speak...I'm going to install the 5.9 drivers and WMD driver but no CCC...Gonna use ATI Tray Tools instead..Then do some tinkering and see how it goes??Sorry...I really don't mean to bash ATI...It's just...I have learned my nVidia Tweaks and Tricks...I probably just need to spend some time with this 1900 to get it up to snuff...I'm at a major disadvantage I suppose..Because I have a Super Sweet nVidia card sitting right next to this...So I know how things should be...And I ain't seeing it with ATI..Yet??Sorry to Ramble..

[Guest SoarPics]

I don't really wanna jack this guys thread..Good point. I'll help out with getting the 1900 dialed in. I'll post in your thread on the subject that's in the "other" hardware forum. In the meantime remove CCC from your system (including scrubbing the registry clean of any and all remnants. Also, download the latest Omega drivers here: http://www.omegadrivers.net/ati/win2k_xp.php . You'll also need Driver Cleaner Pro (if you don't already have it) here: http://www.drivercleaner.net/ .Meet you in your thread at the other Hardware forum.Greg

[Guest navav2002]

Awesome..Thanks!!