This was moved from the main MS FSX forum, as the Admin locked it up for sake of a better location. Sorry, 1st post.I mainly just run FSX but I need a faster computer. I have a Dell 8400 (Pentium 4, 3.4 Mhz), 1 GB 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 GB memory, but, not just yet.I can buy either more memory (total of 4GB 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 3 GB of memory or the upgraded graphics card? Thanks for your help.

You shouldn't need more than 6GB RAM for FSX so go for the better graphics card. Odd graphics card options though. Do you have any others? The GTX 260 is the fastest card of the two, but there are faster and newer cards available.

You shouldn't need more than 6GB RAM for FSX so go for the better graphics card. Odd graphics card options though. Do you have any others? The GTX 260 is the fastest card of the two, but there are faster and newer cards available.

The graphics card choices are anything in the under $150 range. Those meet that criteria. Thanks.

It all depends in what time frame you will buy a new system; if it is in year, i would understand the need for a slight boost on your present system, i would then go for more memory, with the Pentium, your video card is not the bottleneck, just for the heck of it, i tried a 8800 GT 512 in my old Pentium 3.2 and it didn't gain ANY fps compare to the x1950xt that was there before.... Do not forget that the DDR memory you need for this system will not be compatible with the I7 motherboard, you will be able to reuse the 1to hard drive and that's it !Alain from Montreal

It all depends in what time frame you will buy a new system; if it is in year, i would understand the need for a slight boost on your present system, i would then go for more memory, with the Pentium, your video card is not the bottleneck, just for the heck of it, i tried a 8800 GT 512 in my old Pentium 3.2 and it didn't gain ANY fps compare to the x1950xt that was there before.... Do not forget that the DDR memory you need for this system will not be compatible with the I7 motherboard, you will be able to reuse the 1to hard drive and that's it !Alain from Montreal

Yes, the monitor and hard drives will be the carry overs to the new system. I am thinking within 6 months for the new system. I think I have decided to buy the extra 3GB of memory this evening. It is actually only $70 after a rebate. It has to help. The 7950 GT was an earlier u/g from the basic 8800 that came in the pc. I have been using a TweakFPS program today and it makes it easy to see the effects of different settings quickly. There must be a sweet spot just waiting for me to stumble across it. thanks.

Yes, the monitor and hard drives will be the carry overs to the new system. I am thinking within 6 months for the new system. I think I have decided to buy the extra 3GB of memory this evening. It is actually only $70 after a rebate. It has to help. The 7950 GT was an earlier u/g from the basic 8800 that came in the pc. I have been using a TweakFPS program today and it makes it easy to see the effects of different settings quickly. There must be a sweet spot just waiting for me to stumble across it. thanks.

HelloThat 7950GT is not an upgrade from a 8800 even if it was a 8800gts 320

HelloThat 7950GT is not an upgrade from a 8800 even if it was a 8800gts 320

Sorry, type, the original graphics card was a 6800 not 8800.

Sorry, type, the original graphics card was a 6800 not 8800.

Well gang, I added the additional memory but, must say I can not tell any difference what so ever. Must be the tweaks are not there yet.