Hi guysI'm not a techie when it comes to these things, and it's time to upgrade my Dell Dimension 8300 because I'm dissapointed with the frame rates I'm getting from my 18 month-old system. In the PMDG 737 with some AS weather dialled in it starts to struggle a bit.Here are the stats - 3.0 Pentium 4, 1GB of DDR RAM, 128 MB Radeon 9800 Pro, I'd like to put in a Radeon X800XT to make it fly. Perhaps someone with a bit of know how with Dell systems can tell me if it'd be a simple old-one-out-new-one-in jobby?Thanks guysRD

Since you already have a 9800 Pro the system has an AGP slot. Also the 9800 is already quite power hungry so the power supply should be enough for the X800XT as well.

That it's an easy swap is the good news. The bad news is that it may make little difference in the framerates. I wouldn't spend that kind of money until I'd talked to someone who has done the exact same swap and get some feedback on the results. The 9800 pro is no slouch when it comes to FS2004 and I wouldn't look for a miracle cure by simply swapping it for something newer.Doug

"...The bad news is that it may make little difference in the framerates. I wouldn't spend that kind of money until I'd talked to someone who has done the exact same swap and get some feedback on the results. The 9800 pro is no slouch when it comes to FS2004 and I wouldn't look for a miracle cure by simply swapping it for something newer."Yep.reddragon, you mention that you're unhappy with the framerates on your current system. Then you should upgrade the system and not just the video card. As Doug stated, upgrading just the video card will yield a disappointing bang-for-the-buck.Greg

Hi guysThanks for your pointers so far.The thing is this system was top of the line (and not cheap!) when I bought it only 18 months ago and as such I don't see that it's worth upgrading the whole system just yet. My last PC had 64 MB of RAM, a cheapo video card and a measly 700 Mhz processor. Getting into my Dell after that was like swapping a van for a Ferrari. The spec of the new one just blew the old one away.As my Dell is still nicely specced even 18 months later I can't really justify splashing out on a new CPU, more RAM and a new video card right now. I just felt that a new card, if it was an easy swap would be a quick fix for a few extra FPS. Maybe I should just soldier on for another year or so, then upgrade the whole thing when processor and video card technology is up there to blow a hole in my current spec.TaRD

Your system is well balanced as it is now configured. The 9800 Pro is a great card, and the balance of your system is solid. But you shouldn't expect much from the money you would spend on a new video card.Are you using FSAutostart (available here in the library)? It is a powerful tool for shutting down (and then restarting) services and programs that will rob your system of resources the sim demands. All gamers should be using it.Good luck,Greg

Hi RD and welcome to this forum. How did you make it to 1GB? How many and what kind of RAM modules are plugged? I'ld also say, if you're not using 1600x resolutions, getting a X800XT won't make much sense. Which is pretty much inline with what some have already mentioned. IMH experience, a 3GHz-P4 only lags at places like NYC, KORD or EGLL with full eyecandy/weather. Everywhere else they function fine upto 1280x resolutions (in combination with a 9800pro). Good luck and kind regards Jaap

I have exactly the same system as you, and i just bought a 6800gt vidcard, the difference is quite noticeable, not only in fps but also in picture quality, i can now give it 8*aa and 16*af with very little loss in fps.I was in the Dell hardware forum before i bought the 6800gt, and they said the powersupply on the 8300 can not handle a 6800 ultra or a x800xt.OHN

I have exactly the same system as you and its also about 18 months old! I had an ATI 9800 PRO and was reasonably happy. However, in lots of weather the fps would take a dive and become very stuttery.I just put in an ATI X800XT platinum edition. The FPS did rise, but only slightly! The biggest impact was in smoothness - so far, I have not seen much in the way of stutters even in the heaviest of weather.I am very happy with the upgrade but please don't expect a huge jump in fps, but be prepared for a smoother experience. Oh, all other games are an absolute joy with this card!Ray Keattch.

My Alienware came with the ATI XT 800 Platinum. I decided to try an ATI after many years of various nVidia cards. It isn't a "solve all problems" card (as NONE will be). It is good, and I get an FPS of 25+ with heavy weather at DEFAULT KJFK. I would not want to speak for Add-on KJFK scenery. I'M happy with it...but I wonder if it will do much for you? You have a pretty decent Graphics card, as is, and so much depends on other things (CPU speed, FSB speed, RAM type & amount, etc.). If it was me...I would not jump into the XT800 without first reviewing your system, and possible BIOS settings (THESE have been the single largest improvements on 3 seperate systems, for me!). Sometimes, just "adding things" makes no improvement. Those "things" have to go through the same system and settings, with no change. I'd hold off and try to get your present setup to work better, instead.

I have zero stutters in my system, but there are times in certain weather where frames come down to a level where you have less than optimal frames which impairs motion quality. It is a steady and predictable low frames situation, and I don't think any machine can overcome this currently. I am running at 1600x, 16AF, 4AA. Noel