Thanks for taking a look at this post! I'm new to the board and new to FSX. I'd like to upgrade my gpu and was wondering if anyone was willoing to help me pick the right card. Here's my setup:

 

Dell Inspiron 530s (SLIM)

Intel Core 2 Duo E8300 @ 2.83 GHz

Dell 0RY007 Motherboard P35/G33/G31 Chipset

3GB DDR2 RAM

G33/G31 GPU 128 MB

 

I'm pretty sure I have a 250w PSU. I also know that I need a slim card.

 

Quadro 600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133354

Palit GeForce GTS 450 Low Profile 1GB Video Card http://www.palit.biz/palit/vgapro.php?id=1393

GT 640 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150633

 

Radeon 7750 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202002

 

Two issues:

1. Do I need to go with nvidia?

2. Can I get a card that exceeds 250w? I've read that this is possible, but want to confirm, if possible.

 

Many thanks!

Hi mate

 

250w is the total amount of system power consumption, not just your graphics card..

Just your CPU alone at max will hit 65watts.. You also really would not want to run your PSU at 100%, its only rated at 80% anyway, so 200watts max is what its certified for..

 

That PC sells for £30 to £50, but you want to spend more than 3 times that for a graphics card...

You would be better off spending that same money on replacing your PC to something better like this:

 

http://www.ebay.com/...=item4abddd255a

 

At least with a normal sized case, you can swap out the graphics card later if cash is tight, and you would double your GPU memory instantly.

FSX is CPU crazy, so if your budget is small, checking out ebay for a better rig for the same money might be a better option, as I think you would be really pushing it to do anything decent with FSX on that PC.

 

I had one of those PC's once, and they really are designed just for surfing the web, email and light/occasional office use..

My wife tried to install the sims on it, and it just fell over constantly, it was unplayable, so it would be a huge shame to waste $150+ on a specialist GPU for such an underpowered PC..

 

It would be like taking a mini to a drag strip and swapping out the seats for the biggest seats you can get in the hope it will be a better race car..

 

Personally, I think, from experience, you would be better off with a better platform with which to start from, so if you picked up a better PC for the same cash, you have an instant win, and something you can work with should you want to swap out anything later.

<br />That PC sells for £30 to £50, but you want to spend more than 3 times that for a graphics card...<br />You would be better off spending that same money on replacing your PC to something better like this:<br /><br />http://www.ebay.com/...=item4abddd255a<br />

 

The CPU in his rig is an e8300 core 2 duo which is significantly better than the P4 in the rig linked to on ebay, so please don't go out and buy something like this.

 

Thant being said I agree that you may want to think about saving for a new PC or if you are looking for a modest GU upgrade try to grab something cheap off ebay. I wouldn't bother spending in the vicinity of what you'd linked to.

 

Your upgrade options are limited seeing you need a "slim"/"low profile" card, but these could be some options.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMD-ATI-Radeon-PCI-E-video-card-2GB-Low-Profile-for-HP-Dell-Slim-tower-Hdmi-2-GB-/230712726192?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item35b78cd2b0

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMD-ATI-Radeon-PCI-E-HD-6450-video-card-2GB-Low-Profile-for-Slim-tower-Hdmi-Win7-/230731379505?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item35b8a97331

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/nVIDIA-GeForce-2GB-Low-Profile-Half-Height-PCI-Express-x16-Video-Graphics-Card-/221133138764?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item337c8feb4c

 

If I had to go with any of these I'd go for the Nvidia card, but you will need to check your PSU is up to it.

The CPU in his rig is an e8300 core 2 duo which is significantly better than the P4 in the rig linked to on ebay, so please don't go out and buy something like this.

It was used as an example, to demonstrate, not as "matter of fact"....

That listing is advertised as "Pentium D Dual Core" and I showed him merely as an example of what he could do with almost the same cash..

Identical machines are $200 or less for Dual core CPU's, 4GB ram, bigger PSU's and GPU's included that are more powerful than he has now....

 

The entire point was, spending $150+ on a mini GPU card for such a low spec machine would be money wasted when you don't have the horsepower or room for upgradable options to start with.

Your showing him cards that require, and I quote "350 Watt or greater power supply recommended" which are not available for his slimline PC..

 

Why spend $100 or $150 on a GPU card for a $30 PC when he can buy a $150 PC and have an all round better system?

 

I wasn't saying "Here, you must do this".....

I was simply saying "Have you thought about this as another option that would benefit you both now, and long term?"

 

Just laying out some options, from experience mate...

<br />You would be better off spending that same money on replacing your PC to something better like this:<br />

 

No problems I just read the above, in particular when you said "to something better like this" and linked to the P4 system to be quite literal, in that you actually meant that specific system was better than what he already had.

 

I agree that spending in the range of $100.00 to $150 on a GPU for that rig would be pointless, but if he can pick something up for maybe $50 to tide him over until he can afford to get a better all round system then why not?

 

The specs for the Nvidia GT630 do say it requires a 300W power supply, but you may be ok with your 250W. Best bet would be to buy from somewhere with a good return policy so you can return it if it doesn't work in your box.

 

On the whole though what Richard has said is 100% correct. You really would be better off with a better base system as the one you've got quite heavily limits your upgrade possibilities.

 

Something like this could be on option if the price doesn't shift much from where it is, $62.00 currently:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Gaming-PC-w-Intel-Core2Duo-E8500-3-16GHz-4GB-mem-ATI-HD4680-1TB-HDD-/160957683550?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item2579d3575e

 

CPU wise though it's not much different to the e8300 you've got..

linked to the P4 system

Its listed as a dual core, but the owner has put in the description a P4, so chances are he has no idea what he is doing, and possibly what it actually is, but I searched for a Dual core, and picked an expensive one at random just as an example..

 

As for that Antec... Take it... Good find Anthony :-)

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