[bliz]

Hi Everyone!

I was wondering if anyone could help me?

I have a very old but (I think) powerful computer.

It is a P4 (2.6GHz), 1GB Ram, 120GB HDD, and a 128mb Medion Radion Graphic card.

I want to play games like FSX, and Rail Simulator (with good high end graphics). I dont really know that much about computers but I know that I have a powerful CPU just not a very good Graphics card.

Can anyone suggest any good Cards that I could buy for under £40??? Do you have any information for me?

Thanks

[cheesepuff]

well, i hate to say it but you have a very low end CPU. that wont get you by at all...you wana play FSX on hi settings? good luck. that game is very CPU intensive since it calculates physics and such. for that amount of money you can get a 7900GS. not sure how much else, but that rig wont stand up to FSX at all. if you really wana play that game i strongly suggest you get a new CPU.

[alex]

I'd recommend a whole new pc to be frank.

With a quad core cpu and high end graphics card (think 8800GT or GTX) even at 1280x1024.

FSX is tremendously gpu AND cpu intensive. And like all flight sims you need the detail settings cranked high to get any kind of draw distance and ground detail otherwise they just look, well, crap.

If you can't go the new pc route. We need your motherboard model/make to see how far it will go in the P4 stakes. I'd also strongly recommend doubling the ram.

[cheesepuff]

you said it Alex.

[bliz]

Originally Posted by alex I'd recommend a whole new pc to be frank. With a quad core cpu and high end graphics card (think 8800GT or GTX) even at 1280x1024. FSX is tremendously gpu AND cpu intensive. And like all flight sims you need the detail settings cranked high to get any kind of draw distance and ground detail otherwise they just look, well, crap. If you can't go the new pc route. We need your motherboard model/make to see how far it will go in the P4 stakes. I'd also strongly recommend doubling the ram.

I could go down the new computer route, we need to keep it cheap like and wouldn't know were to start looking! I am on my laptop now would need to find my Motherboard setting out in the morning. Thanks for your help.

[sparky33]

Judgeing by the guy's PC spec, I think budget would be an issue here, as his current set up is a few years old, so I'd guess that spending over £1000 (at least) on a new quad core build is unlikely?

[alex]

No problem.

Post back and we'll help as much as we can.

The mobo model will also help us find out if your card is AGP or pci-e and we'll need to know that because if it's AGP it will limit your field.

[sparky33]

On a P4 2.6 he's not really going to get a processor onto it that is more than 3.2 anyway, and 2.6 is even borderline for 533/800 fsb.

[cheesepuff]

well, before we jump the gun here, lets see what the guys budget really is. and if he plans to do some actual SERIOUS gaming, or if the guy is more of a moderate gamer. cuz by the sound of his current build, doesn't really make me think he's into it all hard core like.

[bliz]

Should I be looking for a new PC? I wanted a new Graphic card because I use Auto CAD and WYSIWYG and use 3D Rendering!

[sparky33]

You only need a bells and whistles PC for high end gaming, and I'd simply recommend a PS3 for gaming, I've never used my PC for gaming, and the amount of cooling needing to do so, the whirring fans would burn my brains.

[alex]

Originally Posted by sparky33 You only need a bells and whistles PC for high end gaming, and I'd simply recommend a PS3 for gaming, I've never used my PC for gaming, and the amount of cooling needing to do so, the whirring fans would burn my brains.

You can pretty much control fan noise though Sparky; how you mount the fans, fan choice, airflow for lower rpm, fan controller etc

[alex]

Originally Posted by bliz Should I be looking for a new PC? I wanted a new Graphic card because I use Auto CAD and WYSIWYG and use 3D Rendering!

If you're doing CAD would you really want a dedicated gpu for that purpose. Quadro's are superb card's for this.

And they can game on a whim.

But you'll get by for both purposes with a decent 'standard' gpu.

[cheesepuff]

i hear the Quadro are horrible for gaming but awesome for Cad. but CAD also could use a nice new CPU tune up as well.

[bliz]

So......! hehe, i've got a PS3 (just wish you cold play such games as Rail Sim and FSX on it). I am really more into Train Sim and working with Auto CAD so would a low end computer still be ok for running these things with a good graphic card? I could go out and build myself one for around maybe £400? BTW!!!! My port is a AGP