Windows XP Home EditionDell Dimension 4300Intel P4 1.8 GHz256 MB RAMGeForce 3 Ti 200I was thinking of waiting for FS10, then buying a complete new system. But now that it seems it won't be out this year, I'm thinking of getting a new video card. So I basically have two questions.1. Will a new video card give me a noticeable increase in performance?2. Could someone suggest a video card that will give me noticeable improvement? Please though, not one that my system will not be able to take full advantage of. In other words, what card could I go up to that will give me noticeable improvement, yet won't cost me the proverbial farm?Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Your two main priorities must be to upgrade the video card and your memory. FS2004 is an immense memory hog, you need at least 512 MB. A full GB is better if you can swing it, but 512 MB for starters.As for the video card, do you know if your motherboard has an AGP slot? I went from a Geforce FX5700LE to a Geforce 6600GT and roughly doubled my frame rates. 6600GT 128MB 8x AGP cards are out there for a bit over $200 and they will be a huge help. If money is a problem, I would personally suggest going for 512 MB memory and a cheaper Geforce card like a 5900 or 5950, but if you can swing it, I think 512 MB memory and a 6600GT is a very good start.Lewis "Moose" GregoryRichmond, Virginia

That's some pretty good advice.Given a Choice with say $200 Budget, I would grab a Radeon 9600XT, ($109) and then spend the rest on more Ram.That should be a decent upgrade from what you have.Here is a link on the 9600xt, which I'm partial to, since I own one. :-)http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16814102344Let us know what kind of Ram you take and your budget, and maybe we can narrow it down for you.Regards,JoeGrab My FREEWARE Voice recognition Profiles here:[a href=http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=fs2004misc&DLID=58334]Cessna 172 Voice Profile[/a][a href=http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=fs2004misc&DLID=60740]FSD Avanti Voice Profile[/a].You will need the main FREEWARE Flight Assistant program to use it, get it here:[a href=http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=genutils&DLID=39661]Flight Assistant 2.2[/a]

"Will a new video card give me a noticeable increase in performance?"I wouldn't count on it.The simple axiom about MSFS... faster CPU yields better performance and faster video card yields more eye candy.I agree with Moose that you need more memory.Greg

Thank you for the replies,So from what I gather, I wouldn't see that much of an improvement just by replacing my video card? I'm quite surprised actually. I thought the GeForce 3 Ti 200 was quite ancient.As it is right now, here is how the settings are for FS9.The display sliders.All maxed except for autogen is at normal, and scenery one notch from all the way to the right.Shadows turned off.Aircraft slider - maxed, both for visual and AI traffic.Weather sliders.Distance and cloud draw distance at lowest settings.All others maxed.At these settings, even at the largest airports and densely populated areas I get 14-20 fps. FPS is locked at 20. I do get some serious stutters when taxiing. Sometimes I also see textures loading, and when first starting the sim up it can take a few serious seconds to load completely. Or when looking out the left and right I'll see textures load from time to time. Virtual cockpit can slow down significantly at times, as well as the panning around in the spot view.So with just a new video card you are saying I would get no significant improvement? Then I guess I'll just wait till the next FS comes out and then upgrade my whole system.I was hoping that just by spending 100-200 dollars on a new video card would gain me some noticeable improvement, but if not, it would be a waste of money.Thank you again for your help.

Perhaps we should qualify some of this.In your post above you outlined some things that are affected by the video card (texture load times, VC panning, etc.). This is referred to as image quality, and all or some of these things could be enhanced by going to a newer video card. Performance, on the other hand, entails parameters such as FPS and smoothness (the latter being the opposite of stuttering).The fact that you are seeing slow texture load times and stuttering would indicate that a simple video card upgrade will not solve all your issues. To do so would require a system-wide upgrade (that's beyond your current budget).First, you need more memory. With the amount you now have your system is hitting the Page File alot, and the PF is one of the slowest aspects of our gaming systems. Using the PF is to be avoided as much as possible.Next, your system needs bigger cajones. As in more brute power. This is the CPU. Of course, your motherboard (specfically the BIOS) would limit how fast a CPU you could install.And, yes, a better video card is also needed.So what's needed is a complete system upgrade. Exactly what you're planning next year.I see little benefit in buying just a video card right now. The limits of your current system would not allow you to use it as it should be used. And you would use it (perhaps) a year, and then certainly want to upgrade with your new build.Another 256Mb stick of memory would help things a bit, and memory is cheap right now. The memory upgrade would offer the best bang for the buck. Next on my list would be a CPU upgrade with whatever remains of your $200.00 budget (don't know if this is possible... you'll have to shop around). Finally, if there's any money left (and there won't be if you can fit the CPU into the budget) look at a new video card.A word of caution about increasing the RAM. Do so in two sticks and no more. You don't say how your 256Mb is currently configured (1 stick or 2 sticks) but if it is two sticks then trash them both and buy two 256Mb sticks. And make sure both sticks are the same from the same manufacturer. You do not need to buy Dual Channel for youir current system.Hope this helps,Greg

Thanks a lot Greg,Not only have you answered my query to the proverbial "T", but you have also educated me significantly as well. Quite a lot in just a few short paragraphs. Most appreciative of your help (and the others who replied) and for taking the time to explain things so well. You've most certainly saved me some money, and in all likelihood, some major disappointment had I just gone ahead and bought the new video card.