NZFF

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2011 5:09 pm**

Have been having a few issues lately that I am fairly sure relate to the current video card, which was only meant to be a stop-gap but has struggled on
for a while now. I've decided to replace it but am struggling technically with the complexities of the subject.

Current card is an ATI Radeon HD4600, a pretty budget type of card...

System is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.21GHz. I have 3 GB ram. Again not earth shattering but it's gonna have to do or find another hobby.

What I would like is some informed comment on what might be suitable so I can close down the research. I realise that opinions differ on these cards. It has
been suggested that the ATI and AMD would be compatible but had a GEForce Nvidia in the past that worked OK until it "sucked the Kumara."

My accountant (SWMBO) has indicated a that a request for reasonable funds would be looked at favourably so I'd better get A into G before the climate changes..

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2011 5:33 pm**

So, you wan't to know a suitable replacement card? and the Pros and cons of AMD and Nvidia?
If this is what you are asking, could you please give a price range. Also your motherboard model and Power supply would be helpful

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2011 5:49 pm**

I run something like this Radeon HD 5770 1GB DDR5 PCIE which is pretty low end for gaming but works well for me in FSX, the price and what you get is pretty good around $200
other link is about the same performance i think or better than the one above correct me if im wrong guys haven't looked at cards for awhile now
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Compone...n-408091763.htm

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2011 5:57 pm**

I've got the EVGA GTX580 and runs FSX fine. Can't wait for Battlefield 3.

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2011 5:58 pm**

Depending on your power supply, an HD 5770 is perfect. I had one and it ran fine. Does require decent 400W as a minimum though.
Also, if you don't trust Trademe these two sites are great for PC parts:
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/
and
http://www.pp.co.nz/

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:25 pm**

Thanks for your prompt replies guys, just what I needed to focus me in the right direction....

Motherboard (according to Belarc Advisor as I seem to have lost my documentation) is MSI MS - 7309 1.0
Bus Clock shown as 200 Megahertz. You may have a better idea where to scope this out than me....?

Power when googled is 89 watt power, socket AM2, and somewhere I saw 600 Mh.

From the two suppliers mentioned by Don't Copy, I see something like the ATI Radeon HD6850 series at
about $300-00, again depending on advice and suitability. I can't see much point in spending a lot more than this,
considering the rest of my set-up.

Something similar from another Brand may do just as well, I have no preference other than the suggestion that
ATI and AMD are compatible in this case.

My present card is 1GB but only 400Mh.

Any further advise greatly appreciated.

Bazza.

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:28 pm**

From my experience NVidia Cards tend to go better with AMD Motherboards and CPUs.
I tried ATI once and paid a fortune for the top of the line card at the time that was supposed to be all singing all dancing and could handle FSX no probs. Wrong.
It lasted less than 2 months and when into my partners PC for office applications and web browsing, in fact sheâ€™s still using the same card with multiple monitors now,
and I ended up getting another NVidia.

Personal opinion, but I have had less hassles with NVida for sims.

Posted: **Tue Sep 20, 2011 10:01 pm**

I'm on my phone at the moment, so please excuse if I stuff something up. The HD 6850 is a great card and is a good choice, it will require a minimum power supply of ~450W. Unfourtunately I cannot tell the size of you Power Supply by what you told me. You will need to take the side off your case and check (ask if you need to know how to find it) One more question, what case do you have? I ask because the 6850 is longer than your current card, and it might not fit.

Posted: **Wed Sep 21, 2011 12:23 pm**

Back again...

OK, had the side off the box and can report as follows :

Only printed matter on the MoBo is : K9N6SGM - V

This Googles up but is a bit over my head in relation to what I am trying to achieve .. can you assist here...?

The video card currently installed has quite a bit of space free behind it (i.e. the end away from where it extends thru the case where the monitor
plugs in. Probably about 8 Cms clear. (2 inches.) I am assuming that the pins etc would have to be in the same place on both the old and the new
card and that any extra length would have to be "inboard."

The Power Unit states 500W.

Posted: **Wed Sep 21, 2011 12:43 pm**

Bazza wrote:
QUOTE (Bazza @ Sep 20 2011,5:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Current card is an ATI Radeon HD4600, a pretty budget type of card...

I know how you feel. I've got an H4650 in my calculator. Every time it gets cloudy (overcast), it brings frames down into the single digit range. Really winds me up.

Posted: **Wed Sep 21, 2011 3:58 pm**

QUOTE

Only printed matter on the MoBo is : K9N6SGM - V[/quote]
Checking that now, it appears at first glance to be PCIE 1, which means you might not be using the 6850 to its full potential. Can't confirm this at the moment though.

QUOTE

The video card currently installed has quite a bit of space free behind it (i.e. the end away from where it extends thru the case where the monitor
plugs in. Probably about 8 Cms clear. (2 inches.) I am assuming that the pins etc would have to be in the same place on both the old and the new
card and that any extra length would have to be "inboard."[/quote]
That's good, looking at computer-lounge, the Asus card is 26cm long, so you might wan't to measure, even though its not really a big card.

QUOTE

The Power Unit states 500W.[/quote]
Sweet, just checked, the minimum power requirements is 450W, so as long as its not a budget brand PSU, you will be fine.

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:54 pm

by Bazza

Thanks again, watching out with interest.

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 6:19 pm

by Dontcopy

At most, that motherboard has PCIE 1.1. Which means you will not get "full" performance out of that card.
The good part is, its an X16 slot so the performance hit is not likely be massive.
Your call.
Only other option is a full Mobo/RAM/Video card upgrade.

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:33 pm

by wairoaboy

Bazza wrote:
QUOTE (Bazza @ Sep 21 2011,5:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks again, watching out with interest.

To SLI with x2 EVGA 560ti or not to SLI with x2 EVGA 560ti? Using a 2600K What are your thoughts.....

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 1:15 pm

by AndrewJamez

If you have the coin for two 560i's then get a 580 instead. SLI normally does nothing for fsx but does help for multiple monitors at high res settings.

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 5:55 pm

by gdavies

Be a bit careful going with a big grunty graphics card. FSX is more CPU constrained than GPU constrained. It not the that GPU doesn't matter, but it's a case of deminishing returns. The other thing to consider is that all the high end cards, and a lot fo the mid range cards require two slots.

If you want a good camparison website try http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/.

Graeme

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:49 pm

by Ian Warren

Also watchout for Kiddies recommends .. for FSX TODAY , all the PC updates wont really do any real change , Flightsim is so old .. the measure is for your shootem up games , i see 30 FPS as the kiddies show off there new systems , shite i get the same .. completely MAXed out ... its not a Hardware Competition ... yes i was at the fore front 4/5 years back .. but you look at the end product and what you use FSX for ... me .. now were is my list .

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 10:50 pm

by wairoaboy

Ian Warren wrote:
QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Dec 23 2011,7:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Also watchout for Kiddies recommends .. for FSX TODAY , all the PC updates wont really do any real change , Flightsim is so old .. the measure is for your shootem up games , i see 30 FPS as the kiddies show off there new systems , shite i get the same .. completely MAXed out ... its not a Hardware Competition ... yes i was at the fore front 4/5 years back .. but you look at the end product and what you use FSX for ... me .. now were is my list .

Hi Ian, with all the information available online regarding FSX and its short comings......is there truly a faultless set up that can be custom built to run FSX 'super smooth'? May I ask what equipment your running? I currently have a 560ti, I can add another but it then becomes x8....Im not too sure on all the x16 and x8 jargon, concentration leaves much to be desired most nights to search

Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 10:13 am

by Ian Warren

Following up om the FSX requirements , over the years what people buy and the limitations .. the Limits - For Flight Sim i run everything to the MAX , if that dose not work i go and buy a new PC .. All you need around hi density scenery is good frames (we all no that) Microsoft Flight Simulation has now come to its max level in what it can do ( forget all the tech jargon ) .

This by today standards makes it easy if all you want is to fly Microsoft Flight Simulation X , I have not upgraded my FS computer simply because i don,t need to , the system will run and equals any higher end system simply again FSX design core has done its limits .. we will still find answers get better results .. the big joke is the competition ... Ooo look at what i can achieve syndrome , last couple months back was a classic .. Quote - I only get 30/40 FPS , I bet 3/4 thousand dollars later most still get that BECAUSE its in the flightsim framework .

My System

Intel Quad 9650 @ 3.00Ghz .... Not overclocked ... never do that
8.00 GB off ram .. Baaaaaa
GTX 480 , 1536MB graphic card

now this is getting old by my standards but it works with all the Bell and Whistles and with all the huge payware addon,s

End off the day .. Its not a Competition whos bigger and better ... thats to some people out there , but how well all your FS works

Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:46 am

by Rotordude

Yip you are correct in that aspect Ian. Go to any flight sim forum and the biggest problems are the Johnson's and Jones's

NZFF

Video Cards again...