Hi simmers !First, I would like to wish you and your families a very happy new year !Now, I have a problem, and I need help...My graphics card died on last January 1st, very strange, but true.Now, I have to buy a new one but I am not totally at ease to know what is a good graphics card or not.So I ask you to help me please...My PC configuration :------------------System Information------------------Time of this report: 1/5/2012, 13:35:09 Machine name: RUI-PC Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110622-1506) Language: Portuguese (Regional Setting: Portuguese)System Manufacturer: HP-Pavilion System Model: GJ295AA-AB9 m8150.pt BIOS: BIOS Date: 06/23/07 14:43:06 Ver: 08.00.14 Processor: Intel® Core2 Quad CPU @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.4GHz Memory: 6144MB RAMAvailable OS Memory: 6144MB RAM Page File: 1605MB used, 7608MB available Windows Dir: C:\Windows DirectX Version: DirectX 11DX Setup Parameters: Not found User DPI Setting: Using System DPI System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent) DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode------------DxDiag Notes------------ Display Tab 1: No problems found. Sound Tab 1: No problems found. Sound Tab 2: No problems found. Sound Tab 3: No problems found. Input Tab: No problems found.I would like to know which Graphics card I could buy to run FS2004 or FSX. I use to fly in FS2004 because my old graphics card was too "light".Please help ! Thanks a lot in advance.Cheers from south of Portugal :)

Hi simmers !First, I would like to wish you and your families a very happy new year !Now, I have a problem, and I need help...My graphics card died on last January 1st, very strange, but true.Now, I have to buy a new one but I am not totally at ease to know what is a good graphics card or not.So I ask you to help me please...My PC configuration :------------------System Information------------------Time of this report: 1/5/2012, 13:35:09 Machine name: RUI-PC Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110622-1506) Language: Portuguese (Regional Setting: Portuguese)System Manufacturer: HP-Pavilion System Model: GJ295AA-AB9 m8150.pt BIOS: BIOS Date: 06/23/07 14:43:06 Ver: 08.00.14 Processor: Intel® Core™2 Quad CPU @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.4GHz Memory: 6144MB RAMAvailable OS Memory: 6144MB RAM Page File: 1605MB used, 7608MB available Windows Dir: C:\Windows DirectX Version: DirectX 11DX Setup Parameters: Not found User DPI Setting: Using System DPISystem DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent) DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode------------DxDiag Notes------------ Display Tab 1: No problems found. Sound Tab 1: No problems found. Sound Tab 2: No problems found. Sound Tab 3: No problems found. Input Tab: No problems found.I would like to know which Graphics card I could buy to run FS2004 or FSX. I use to fly in FS2004 because my old graphics card was too "light".Please help ! Thanks a lot in advance.Cheers from south of Portugal :)

Ola Amigo Rui. Feliz Ano Novo to you e sua familia.Not quite sure what your budget is or what the availability is like in Portugal Sul, but if you can manage to get one, you could always go for a Gainward GTX 560Ti Golden Sample 1Gb which has just received a very good review in a hardware magazine. That is the card for me but for the time being until I build my new system based on an i5-2500K CPU, seeing that my current CPU too is like yours, a Core2 Quad Q6600,I have opted for a EVGA GTX460 SE which I picked up for less than £100(not sure what that is in Euros).Hope this helps. Adeus

Hi Rick,Thanks for your reply.I would like to avoid Nvidia cards because, as per some friends told me, they have some problems and their quality is not anymore like a few years ago.I have checked the 1st you recommended to me. It costs 229€ in Pixmania website.I will check in other websites...Thanks a lot once again.Take care my friend !

Hi,I found this one with a very good price on Pixmania website. But, for me, this is like chinese...http://www.pixmania.com/pt/pt/8224042/art/sapphire-technology/radeon-hd-6870-1-gb-gddr5.htmlWhat do you think ??

Hi Rick,Thanks for your reply.I would like to avoid Nvidia cards because, as per some friends told me, they have some problems and their quality is not anymore like a few years ago.I have checked the 1st you recommended to me. It costs 229€ in Pixmania website.I will check in other websites...Thanks a lot once again.Take care my friend !

Hi RuiOnly reason I suggested the NVidia card was because it is the card that ******* Bojote has written an app to make the most of the graphics card, which is now the benchmark for all graphics cards as far as tweaking FSX goes, and it is widely acknowledged that for FSX, NVidia cards are by far better than ATi-based cards. I've had an ATi card in the past but was not quite hitting the FPS.As for the ATi card you have seen at Pixmania,do a search for a review and then make up your own mind.Perhaps there are other simmers who have that card and may be able to offer you better advice.

And what about changing my PC ?!I heard that the ASUS N73 series is a very very good computer and able to run smoothly FS9 and FSX.Anyone have any advise/suggestion about this computer please ?More information about this CPU here...http://www.asus.com/Notebooks/Multimedia_Entertainment/N73SV/

Hello RuiThat's a laptop, and for really serious gaming such FSX, IMHO, a laptop does not quite match the power,range,and delivery of the game such as a desktop PC would give you, even if the brand name is Asus. The graphics cards in laptops is the drawback here. In a desktop you can upgrade the graphics card solely without having to make major upgrades to the existing desktop;a laptop narrows that choice.Still, it's your escudos/euros, so eventually, it is your choice.

Hi Rui,If I may comment, I have the previous model of the Asus laptop you are talking about. Mine is the G73. I was very pleased with it. It also had an Intel i7 CPU and a good AMD Radeon video card. I could run FS2004 maxed out or FSX with good mid-range settings and get a good, smooth experience. I really bought it for design work when I travel. For serious flight simming I always use my desktop PC.So if you have the budget for FSX go for a model with the best Intel CPU you can afford like an i7-2600K (or in that range). and be prepared to overclock it to at least 4GHz for good FSX simming (don't worry, they easily OC to 4ghz... not sure about OC in a laptop though). 2nd most important would be a good video card. Because FSX (and even FS9) are older games they do not take advantage of the GPU as much, hence why the CPU is most important. I have both Nvidia 580 card and AMD Radeon 6970 card. Both are very good, high end cards but both require some tweaking to get the best out of them when using flightsim. Though I like AMD Radeon best, I have decided to go with Nvidia as it looks/works a little bit better in my opinion than AMD cards when flight simming. Newer games outside of flightsim I hear they are better. It really boils down to a personal choice as well.Hope that helps,Clutch

Hi Rui,If I may comment, I have the previous model of the Asus laptop you are talking about. Mine is the G73. I was very pleased with it. It also had an Intel i7 CPU and a good AMD Radeon video card. I could run FS2004 maxed out or FSX with good mid-range settings and get a good, smooth experience. I really bought it for design work when I travel. For serious flight simming I always use my desktop PC.So if you have the budget for FSX go for a model with the best Intel CPU you can afford like an i7-2600K (or in that range). and be prepared to overclock it to at least 4GHz for good FSX simming (don't worry, they easily OC to 4ghz... not sure about OC in a laptop though).2nd most important would be a good video card. Because FSX (and even FS9) are older games they do not take advantage of the GPU as much, hence why the CPU is most important. I have both Nvidia 580 card and AMD Radeon 6970 card. Both are very good, high end cards but both require some tweaking to get the best out of them when using flightsim. Though I like AMD Radeon best, I have decided to go with Nvidia as it looks/works a little bit better in my opinion than AMD cards when flight simming. Newer games outside of flightsim I hear they are better. It really boils down to a personal choice as well.Hope that helps,Clutch

Hi ClutchA nice, well-thought out reply to Rui's dilemma. Could not agree more with you.

Well well... The choice will be difficult...In one hand, I know that PC desktop are better for FS, but in the other hand, as I will probably change my job and I will probably have to travel a lot, a laptop could be very practical.Upgrading my old PC (graphic card + eventually, CPU) should cost cheaper than a new laptop, even if I found a Asus N73 for "only" 884€Let me think... but I really do not know what to do :(Thanks for your replies guys !

Good morning guys,I haven't slept during the night because of my dilemna...Dinally, I have decided to buy the laptop. I know it's a risk because maybe I will not be able to fly in FSX, but I think I should be able to fly with FS2004... I think this N73 by ASUS is a good computer, and I really need a new one and a practical one...If you have another computer in mind, please fell free to let me know.Thanks in advance...

 

Hi Rui,If I may comment, I have the previous model of the Asus laptop you are talking about. Mine is the G73. I was very pleased with it. It also had an Intel i7 CPU and a good AMD Radeon video card. I could run FS2004 maxed out or FSX with good mid-range settings and get a good, smooth experience. I really bought it for design work when I travel. For serious flight simming I always use my desktop PC.So if you have the budget for FSX go for a model with the best Intel CPU you can afford like an i7-2600K (or in that range). and be prepared to overclock it to at least 4GHz for good FSX simming (don't worry, they easily OC to 4ghz... not sure about OC in a laptop though).2nd most important would be a good video card. Because FSX (and even FS9) are older games they do not take advantage of the GPU as much, hence why the CPU is most important. I have both Nvidia 580 card and AMD Radeon 6970 card. Both are very good, high end cards but both require some tweaking to get the best out of them when using flightsim. Though I like AMD Radeon best, I have decided to go with Nvidia as it looks/works a little bit better in my opinion than AMD cards when flight simming. Newer games outside of flightsim I hear they are better. It really boils down to a personal choice as well.Hope that helps,Clutch

Dear Clutch,As I wrote in my previous post, I have decided to buy the N73.According with your informations, the N73 should be able to run FS9 and even FSX.The N73 has an Intel Core i7-2630QM CPU and the video card is an NVIDIA GeForce GT540M. I heard that the "ideal" VC is at least the GTX560 but maybe the GT450M could offer me a good quality.If you have another computer in mind please let me know, so I can check if I found this PC in Europe at a good price.Take care my friend, and thank you so much for your informations.

 

I think it will be a sound choice for your needs. Good build but portable. If possible, I would read other user comments on that model who actually own it, and/or take it for a "test drive" in a retail store if that is possible. You want to be happy with a purchase that you will use daily for years to come.Let us know how it works with FSX/FS9 after you get it all hooked up and running.Clutch