I have a couple of questions.I currently have a P4 2.5 GHZ w 768 MB RAM w/ TI 4200 w/ 128 MB RAM. Motherboard is the Intel D845GBV, which has been a solid performer. Right now with Meridian and / or other complex panels, I drop to 13 FPS, which to me is on the stuttering boarderline.What is the best upgrade path?(1) New Faster Video Card (See Below)?(2) New Motherboard and Processor, more and faster memory. What about Hyperthreading and FS 2004, etc?(3) Faster and More Memory (PC 2100 currently) Will one GIG or 1.5 GB drastically improve performance.What about video card? Will the TI 4200 do an adequate job with the new motherboard and processor?Would like some feedback on the Matrox Parhelia? Does it drive three FS 2004 views adequately? Or does the FPS drop too much with driving the other views?Feedback Please!Thanks!Barry

From everything I've seen in these fora, the best thing you can do is a better video card. Those 256MB cards are quite the deal, they all say...

Barry,(1) Definitely. If you can stomach the wait, we should be seeing ATI's new R420 and NVIDIA NV40, which will be around 180% of the current Radeon 9800XT, in Q2 2004. That is what I am planning. Definitely go for 256mb video ram.(2) Hyperthreading--I don't think you will get much. Can you overclock your CPU a bit? I am running the 2.53/133mHz FSB P4. I am able to run it at 3.0GHz/158MHz FSB by overclocking. I do have dual-channel DDR so get around 5GB/sec internal memory transer rates. If you can bump up to 2800 or so, I kind of wonder if you will get much by upgrading your CPU subsystem. I would hold out for late 2004 and pick up a nice new .09 micron P4 at 3.8GHz. You will undoubtedly get over 4GHz for this, and you can nail down some fast dual channel memory, and run your new video card on the PCI Express bus. The new video cards I mentioned will support PCE Express which will increase bandwidth between the video card and CPU and memory subsystem. You will DEFINITELY know you done the upgrade if you wait until you can pick up this system. Upgrading now will only get you a few more FPS. (3) Upgrading to a full GB of PC2100, or any other ram, will get you very little IMO. Just take a look at how much free ram you have even now during a long flight in complex weather and terrain. IMO very little need for ram greater that what you already have. And as for high internal bandwidth of the CPU/memory subsystem, ala dual channel DDR or RAMBUS solutions, I still am not convinced this bottleneck affects FS2004 very much at all. Others might have tested this. I still have times when FS2004 gets bogged down, but as long as I don't put cloud density up to max i'm usually very smooth. I flew the Meridian tonight in lots of weather, and stayed between 23 and 25 fps 85%, and the other 15% made dips down to as low as 17 on final into KSMF with traffic, hi res mesh, Active Sky 2004, and ActiveCamera.I think in your case you will see very significant improvement with a video card upgrade--however if can afford it you may want to wait til the next stuff comes--PCI express compatible too. I'm guessing a PCI compatible video card can go into a standard AGP slot, then when you upgrade your CPU to 3.6 to 4.0 you will be good to go with a mainboard capable of PCI Express. Good luck!Noel

Agreed, go with the video card if doing an upgrade, I went from a Ti4200 to a Radeon 9800 and its night and day difference. I had the opportunity a few months back to play with CPUs.. my 2.4 at 2.88 ran just as good as a 2.8 running at 3.2Chris

Aha,so dear Sirs, you think that upgrade from my nVidia ti4800 SEto an ATI radeon 9800 XT would make the difference?Cool, I wanted to make sure before I spend 500 bucks...On another note, my P4 2.4B is maybe too weak.Regards

I have P4-2.4 w/ 1GB of RAM and a Radeon 9800XT - FS2K4 has no problem at all. 1280x960x32. With full detail, complex skies, dense scenery, PMDG 737 panel, and lots of AI traffic - I get about 13-14 fps at its very worst. On average about 20-25 fps on the ground. Easily > 30 in the air.

Dunno if your into overclocking at all but a 2.4 can easily be pushed to 2.8.Chris

I would agree that a new video card will make all the difference for your system. I have the 9800PRO and it gives me amazing performance on my P4 1.8GHz machine. I have terrain detail maxed and just about everything else to the limit, except weather, and I am averaging in the mid 20's with AI at 100. I would hold out on a new processor or any other major upgrade. The 64 bit systems will be huge once everything else catches up.

Is there any major performance advantage between ATI RADEON 9800 128 PRO and 256 MB? What about PRO vs XT?About $150 between the Pro and XP?Is the Pro Memory upgradable to 256MB?Thanks!Barry

Yeah, the Pro comes in a 256MB configuration. Bang for the buck, I'd go for the pro over the XT. The only reason I went with the XT is because my CC company refunded the full purchase price of my old GeForce4 Ti4400 which went up in smoke on me after a year.