HiI'm currently running fs9 on a P4 1.7ghz 512mb Dell. The card is a standard Radeon 9600 (non-pro).FPS is just about acceptable -- lowest around 10fps over busy airports with GA-Traffic, ActiveSky, Active Camera and FsForce all running, on medium Display settings. But I'd like more. The obvious choice is a Radeon 9800 PRO -- which someone's offering for a decent price. Can anyone advice on the likely benefits. Is it worth it, given the slower processor than ideal for Flight Sim.I can't easily make a case for a new PC because its fast enough for everything else it does. Its a Dell Dimension 8100 P4 with the old-style 423 socket so upgrading the processor is difficult. Advice urgently needed folks!

I have the same PC. I really don't think upgrading your card is going to give you much more FPS. I came to the realisation when FS9 came out that I need a significantly larger processor but unfortunately it is something I simply can't afford right now....That said, and after literally a couple months of tweeking, I am very happy with FS9 and my FX5600 card.Best RegardsBoone,[email protected]"Flying a plane is no different from riding a bicycle. It's just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes."

Well you may see larger improvement by a faster CPU. I would recommend a P 4 2.4c and overclock it but you own a Dell which mean you are pretty much sold out.There wouldn

I can get up to 2.4ghz apparantly with a PowerLeap upgrade adapter, but it didn't feel entirely worth either.I thought RAM wasn't much help for FPS.

>That said, and after literally a couple months of tweeking, I>am very happy with FS9 and my FX5600 card.What sort of settings do you use -- and what performance do you get. Useful to know as you have the same PC.

OK Think I'm going to go for a processor upgrade from 1.7ghz to 2.6ghz using the Powerleap adapter for Socket 423 boards. This will give me P4 Northwood 2.6ghz, 400FSB, 512 Cache512 mb RDRAMRadeon 9600 Non Pro (will go one day)Best I can do without shelling out for a new PC.As mentioned I want to use FSForce, ActiveSky, ActiveCamera and GA Traffic, mid-range settings plus perhaps mid-high Autogen. Anybody got any FPS predictions?

btw what do you think about the FSForce... Got a Saitek Cyborg force stick...Message edited forget all the time you are on a Dell...

"Btw what do you think about the FSForce... "Its very good. I've got a Logitech 3d which is a bit notchy, but with FSForce its easy to trim -- and feel the pressure backing off. The stick stays in the position you left it -- rather than with the MS system where it centres. You can actually trim correctly in one go, with practice, which you can never do with the default MS force feedback options.The Dell's not that terrible. I can go to 2 gig of RAM, and with the adapter, 2.6ghz of Processor for less than a new motherboard+CPU. Enough to keep me in the air until its time to get a new system -- hopefully.

I have heard a lot of stories where Dell occupied all 3 RAM slots with a system with 512 mb of RAM and such.About FSForce that sounded good. Was really annoying flying the 737-600/700 with it since when flying on AP if I release the stick the AP disengages since the stick don