I mainly just run FSX but I need a faster computer. I have a Dell 8400 (Pentium 4, 3.4 Mhz), 1 MB DDR2 memory, 1 TB harddrive (recent), a 320 GB harddrive and a really nice Dell 24 IN WS monitor and a geforce 7950 GT graphics card (512 MB). I have my eye on a new i7 920, HD 4850, 6 MB memory, but, not just yet.I can buy either more memory (total of 4 MB DDR2) for $80 or a better graphics card (HD 4850 or geforce 260) in the range of $135 - $150 but, not both.Question for the forum - Is this a wise choice or should I just save my money and put it toward the new i7 system? If not, which would help my system more, the extra GB of memory or the upgraded graphics card? Thanks for your help.

You should not buy anything yet for your outdated computer. Let him retire. :( You better have your eye on a i5-750 (over clocked to ~ 3.8 to 4 GHz) with a HD 5750 graphics card and 4 MB RAM memory. That might be affordable and then FSX really rocks. :(

These are always tricky questions.. The problem with peice-meal upgrades on a budget, is that you usually end up wasting money.The card you have now is/was pretty high-end. Switching to a low-end, albeit newer GPU, isn't going impress you much.. especially in a CPU hungry FSX world. In other words.. on top of an old Pentium, even a 295 would be a waste. If you DO decide to piece-meal upgrade,, start with the CPU.However, as you alluded.. it's better to wait and do an entire, first-rate build. In the long run, it's the same $$.. and is better than having one major component's strength, wasted by another's weakness.

I fly FSX with almost everthing maxxed with a system a lot slower than yours. With a limited budget, first get more RAM, FSX loves it, then upgrade the video card. Your system should be fine for a long time to come.

Please...... :( http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtopic=64276