I have one old machine with CPU: Athlon64 2800+, RAM:1GB DDR1 400Mhz, VIA K8 chipset motherboard, GFX: 128bit 256mb fx5200.It has now become my hobby of watching realistic ai traffic more than just flying from here to there. I have added plenty of airlines but using high quality freeware planes instead of light ai models. At the level of detail I am happy at, the framerates keep between 15-20 as long as I watch planes landing. I avoid facing the terminals as then my frame rate dips to a slideshow with 3fps due to large number of planes. Now I am thinking of upgrading my card to something like 7600gs.will that solve my problem or is there something else choking my system?

RAM will always be a bottleneck on slower systems with a limited bus speed, so adding another Gig wouldn't hurt, only 1 Gig of RAM for FSX is asking a bit much of it. Also note that souping up your graphics card might put a strain on the power supply unit as it draws more juice, so be aware that if your system goes unstable with a faster graphics card, the limited capability of your current PSU might turn out to be the culprit. Also, do not neglect the possibility that your current cooling fans might struggle with the increased heat output of a faster graphics card.Since you may find that you need to add a Gig of RAM, and a graphics card, and possibly a new PSU, and maybe additional cooling to see any benefits, I'd think carefully about the total cost of that lot, as you might be hitting the law of diminishing returns. Personally, I'd weigh it up against the cost of putting in a newer motherboard, one that could still use your older components, and then perhaps build it up over time with better bits and pieces, to spread the cost. You may not need to do that right now, but at some point you probably will have to do so, which means it's worth careful consideration.

>I have one old machine with CPU: Athlon64 2800+, RAM:1GB DDR1>400Mhz, VIA K8 chipset motherboard, GFX: 128bit 256mb fx5200.>It has now become my hobby of watching realistic ai traffic>more than just flying from here to there. I have added plenty>of airlines but using high quality freeware planes instead of>light ai models. At the level of detail I am happy at, the>framerates keep between 15-20 as long as I watch planes>landing. I avoid facing the terminals as then my frame rate>dips to a slideshow with 3fps due to large number of planes.>Now I am thinking of upgrading my card to something like>7600gs.>will that solve my problem or is there something else choking>my system?>Save money for new computer!

ok, but what improvements will I get to see in FPS and graphics if I manage to keep up to the power and cooling, and add the 7600gs keeping rest the same?

yeah, I don't think a new video card is going to help you.....are you running FS2002 or 2004??? The AI planes will benefit from an increase in CPU power...ie a new CPU...It's hard to say, a new video card might help a little....If you can't get a new PC, the video card would be next logical update...

I m using fsx. so doeas that mean I should forget about upgrading my card?

well no....I just can't believe you run FSX and enjoy the performance with that PC....I spose we all have different definitions of performance heheLike I said, if you only have a couple bucks to blow, might as well upgrade it, at very least it should look better :)

>ok, but what improvements will I get to see in FPS and>graphics if I manage to keep up to the power and cooling, and>add the 7600gs keeping rest the same?Not much improvement at all.You need a faster cpu. As was said by others, save $$ for a new computer. That would be money well spent.On the other hand, just getting a 7600 by itself would be waste of money if you ask me.RhettAMD 3700+ (@2585 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2gb Corsair XMS 3-3-3-8 (1T), WD 150 gig 10000rpm Raptor, WD 250gig 7200rpm SATA2, Seagate 120gb 5400 rpm external HD, CoolerMaster Praetorian

Well if it were me I wouldn't bother upgrading the gfx card, but sure, you would see a little improvement, but not much since FS is cpu-bound. But 2 generations of advance (5xxx series to 7xxx series) would give you a small improvement. I did a similar upgrade in the past.I just think you'd be better off saving money for a new cpu and motherboard. Then you could re-use your hard drive(s), etc. and save some money that way.RhettAMD 3700+ (@2585 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2gb Corsair XMS 3-3-3-8 (1T), WD 150 gig 10000rpm Raptor, WD 250gig 7200rpm SATA2, Seagate 120gb 5400 rpm external HD, CoolerMaster Praetorian

yeah hehe I agree with you Rhett but I think if the OP is not planning on upgrading to a new PC any time soon, they might as well make their screen look better....or yeah, just save the money...that's what I would do...it sounds like you (OP) really wants to upgrade though....your money :)

maybe then I think I should be patient until my next big upgrade.but then, as of now, what would be the best sensible choice of CPU and GFX card for fsx?

>maybe then I think I should be patient until my next big>upgrade.>>but then, as of now, what would be the best sensible choice of>CPU and GFX card for fsx?CPU:Intel Core2 Quad G0 stepped Q6600. about $300Alternatively, an Intel Core2Duo E6850 about $300Third alternative, Core2Duo E6750Fourth alt, Core2Duo E6600 about $220.GFX CARD:nVidia 8800GTS 640mb.RhettAMD 3700+ (@2585 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2gb Corsair XMS 3-3-3-8 (1T), WD 150 gig 10000rpm Raptor, WD 250gig 7200rpm SATA2, Seagate 120gb 5400 rpm external HD, CoolerMaster Praetorian

Or if budget is a concern and you are happy with around 2/3 of performance the components Rhett recommends above for less than 1/2 the price:CPU: E4400 (~$115)GFX: 7600 GT (~$90) or 8600 GT (~$120)Also get 2G RAM (~$75), which will let FSX freely fly!Gary