Suggestions For Hardware Upgrades

[GE90110B 1]

Hi All,My current system is a Gateway DX4200-UB001A. System specs are as follows:CPU: AMD Phenom X4 9550 (2.2 GHz)RAM: 6GB (2GB x2+1GB x2) DDR2 667Hard Drive: 640 GB (7200RPM 16MB Cache SATA II)Graphics: ATI Radeon 3450 (One on the motherboard+One on a PCI Express Card)Chipset: AMD 780GOS: Vista Home Premium 64-bit Any suggestions to increase framerates for FSX, depending on the aircraft I get about 8-15FPS for Project Opensky Aircraft + LDS767, and 20-30FPS for Project Airbus. These go down while on the ground by 2 to 5FPS for POSKY+LDS, while they go down about 5-10FPS for pairbus. Also will switch to Windows 7 after it launches. Any suggestions for upgrades to bring those framerates up a bit, or I am already pretty much maxed out?Thanks, GE90110B

[plodgeface 0]

hey, i would say your graphics card is holding you back, to get higher frames you will probably want a new graphics card. but on the other side your processor has a fairly slow clock speed, so that might be a slight bottleneck in itself, Philip

[GE90110B 1]

hey, i would say your graphics card is holding you back, to get higher frames you will probably want a new graphics card. but on the other side your processor has a fairly slow clock speed, so that might be a slight bottleneck in itself, Philip

Do you think I should get a ATI 4850, ATI 4870, 4890?

[TechguyMaxC 516]

Your video card is most certainly holding you back, but that first generation Phenom isn't doing you any favors either... The Phenom II is vastly superior and quite cheap now. A top model Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition is only $215 on Newegg right now. The 965 should be out in another month or two as well.

[GE90110B 1]

Your video card is most certainly holding you back, but that first generation Phenom isn't doing you any favors either... The Phenom II is vastly superior and quite cheap now. A top model Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition is only $215 on Newegg right now. The 965 should be out in another month or two as well.

Best processor I can upgrade to is the Phenom II X4 940, as my motherboard is a AM2+ socket, not AM3. Also I am pretty sure I am going to upgrade graphics, to a ATI 4870 with 2GB GDDR5. Sounds like a lot but I have been running out of ram sometimes as the graphics uses a gig of the DRAM. I my upgrade processors to the 940, but I was going to get the new Logitech G940, so I think I will hold off on the processor. Also you seem to know a lot about systems so if I did change CPU's would it be straight forward, or would I also need to update BIOS, and other stuff?-Thanks, GE90110B

[TechguyMaxC 516]

Best processor I can upgrade to is the Phenom II X4 940, as my motherboard is a AM2+ socket, not AM3. Also I am pretty sure I am going to upgrade graphics, to a ATI 4870 with 2GB GDDR5. Sounds like a lot but I have been running out of ram sometimes as the graphics uses a gig of the DRAM. I my upgrade processors to the 940, but I was going to get the new Logitech G940, so I think I will hold off on the processor. Also you seem to know a lot about systems so if I did change CPU's would it be straight forward, or would I also need to update BIOS, and other stuff?-Thanks, GE90110B

AM3 chips can run perfectly fine on AM2/AM2+ sockets. All you need is a BIOS update. It is AM3 boards that do not accept AM2/AM2+ chips.

[GE90110B 1]

AM3 chips can run perfectly fine on AM2/AM2+ sockets. All you need is a BIOS update. It is AM3 boards that do not accept AM2/AM2+ chips.

Sorry to bug you, but where do you get this BIOS update as it certainly is not on the Gateway website. Thanks, GE90110B

[TechguyMaxC 516]

Sorry to bug you, but where do you get this BIOS update as it certainly is not on the Gateway website. Thanks, GE90110B

Sorry,missed the part about you having a pre-built system. It is unlikely that a BIOS update will be available but using the CPUZ utility you may be able to find out who manufactured your motherboard for Gateway and obtain a BIOS update from their site.