Need your advice for a new video card

[Wolfko 0]

I have to replace my old ATI Radeon 9800 pro 128MB, due to overheating.Since I will probably buy a whole new system incl. a high end video card in a few months, the replacement card I'm looking for now does not have to be a high end card it should only match the performance of my old Radeon 9800.Since they don't sell the Radeon 9800 any more where I live, I ask you what alternative AGP card, either Radeon od Nvida, which matches the performance of my old card, can you suggest?I will need the card only for FS2004, because I will only upgrade to FSX after I have bought my completely new system.BTW I will also post this in the MSFS Hardware forumThanks in advance for your help!WolfgangMy rough sys specsPentium 4, 2.4 GHZ1024 MB RAMWindows XP Pro

[Guest wayupthere]

Wolfgang,At what resolution has the 9800 been running?.

[Wolfko 0]

Hi Davis,Many thanks for your prompt reply.in FS9 I mostly used 1280 x 960.Sometimes, when I wanted better performance I used 1024 x 768and when I was tired of oval gauges is switched to 1280 x 1024 (I have a TFT which supportes 1.25 ratio).Outside Of FS9 I allways used 1280 x 1024, but actually I need the new video card only for FS9.Maybe it is also of interest which AA and AF settings I preferred;AA = 4, AF = 8.BTW I had the impresseion that my card does not antialiase DXT3 textures correctly and was told that this is a general ATI problem. Does this problem still exist or was this more a driver's issue. If it is ATI card related, maybe I should better go for a Nvidia?CheersWolfgang

[Guest wayupthere]

Hey Wolfgang,The equal for the 9800 was roughly around the FX5700 but that wont be good for FS. Well as far as i know that current ATI's dont have those issues anymore. That said i haven't used ATI in a long time. At that resolution you might want to have a look at an NV6800 or NV7600. The hi-end of the mid-class GPU's on AGP also the last great one is the NV7800GS, but i don't think that would be worth it (over 200USD)if you go to a highend rig soon.If you still want ATI maybe you can have a look at a X1650, midrange cards, not too expensive nowadays around 150/160US that should keep u happy until your major upgrade to highend.