Name: stanshear Date: January 5, 2008 at 17:42:11 Pacific Subject: Suitable Video card for FS2004 OS: XP CPU/Ram: 3GHz/2GB Model/Manufacturer: IBM ThinkCentre
Comment:
I need a LOW-PROFILE, PCI, 256MB card under $100 for FS2004. My PC has an onboard 32MB card, and although my graphics on FS2004 is not bad, I feel I should upgrade to get the best that I can within my price range. The EVGA GeForce 6200 Video Card - 256MB at $58 looks good, but many people consider the NVidia card to be inferior to the ATI for Flightsimming. THe next, ATI alternative, but more expensive, is the HIS Radeon X1550 256MB Card at $85.
Is it really worth paying more for this card? Any advice? Thanks Stan
No, whoever told you that ATI is better then Nvidia in 3D rendering is wrong it's the other way around. ATI is better in Video rendering while Nvidia is better at 3D rendering.
Get atleast an Nvidia 7600GT or ATI Radeon 1650 Pro. These cards are now both under 80 bucks now you can find these cards at newegg.com
This the best AGP 8x/4x graphics card for under 100 bucks. Keep in mind AGP now cost more then PCIe, because AGP isn't massed produced anymore and the only graphics card company that still supports AGP is ATI.
AGP 8x/4x ATI Radeon 2600PRO DX10, 128bit, 512mb DDR2, $89.
Oh ok I guess I didn't read that correctly in the first post. I'm so used to people asking about PCIe, but since you have a PCI slot only, the best PCI graphics card you can get is an ATI Radeon 1550PRO, 128bit, 256mb DDR2 $89.
You're welcome. It's like I said i'm so used to people asking about PCIe graphics cards. We rarely come across people asking about PCI graphics cards anymore.
This card is the best PCI graphics card you can get. You're not going to find anything better for PCI.
Phew, got there! So, finally, as a last question, is this card better than the EVGA Geforce 6200 or Radeon X1550 256MB I originally suggested? Thanks so much for your perserverence - much appreciated. Stan
Yes because the Nvidia Geforce 6200 uses 128bit video memory vs 64bit video memory found on the ATI Radeon X1550.
It's hard to even find a PCIe or AGP low profile graphics card with 128bit video memory, let alone a PCI low profile graphics card with 128bit video memory.
BTW was the PCI low profile X1550 PRO 64bit video memory or 128bit video memory that you first mentioned? Because I couldn't find any that were 128 video bit memory especially being PCI.
IF you think there's not a heck of a lot of difference between this card and the NVidia GeForce 6200 you suggested, I could save some money by going with my original choice.
Oh boy, have we got ourselves confused. The card you suggested is the ORIGINAL one I suggested (EVGA, is NVidia). which you said was garbage. We've gone a complete circle and now I'm TOTALLY confused. See the site http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...
Well that's before I realized that you had a PCI slot only and a PCI low profile version which are two strikes right there in terms of getting a good graphics card for the money.
The best you can do is the 6200 I gave to you and that is as about as close to good of a low profile pci graphics card that you are going to get. The 64bit video memory versions are def garbage and you should avoid them.
The 128bit memory is highly recommended over the 64bit bit memory. The wider the memory bus, the larger the GB's throughput.
This will give you a better idea into why you should get the 128bit video memory version.
I wouldn't worry about what someone says in their review, because other people in that review didn't have a problem or else they would have said something about media player too not working right either. Seems like it's an isolated incident regarding his pc only.
Thanks again. I think I'm gonna go for it. But TigerDirect in Canada is half the price of NewEgg, who, incidentally don't ship internationally and I reckon this includes Canada. By the way, I don't know where you are, but I'm typing this at 11pm. Don't you sleep? Cheers Stan
Yup agreed. My only problem is that newegg don't supply to Canada, and they were the only company who seemed to supply this card, so there doesn't seem to be anywhere that I can get this card here. Pity. But thanks for your perserverence.
You're darn right. That looks ideal. Trouble is its not only over my budget but I've got to add another $10 for the bracket, and including shipping its gonna come to about $150. That's heavy. I'm going to have to think VERY carefully about this one. But I must admit, you guys just don't give up. Thanks.
Well here is another one for $99 dollars. It's the PCI low profile ATI Radeon X1300, 256mb DDR2, 128bit video memory. Same features as the X1550 but clocked lower.
Actually this looks more like it. I don't need the higher speed really because my computer bus speed is lower. Its still a little on the pricy side for me, but its certainly a possibility.
The ATI Radeon PCI X1300 low profile I mentioned is about as good as you are going to get under 100 dollars that uses 128bit video memory and 256mb of ram.
The list below shows all 256mb PCI low profile cards. The 6200 that sells for $45 is 64bit video memory while all the rest use 128bit video memory, but like I said the cheapest one that uses 128bit video memory is the X1300.
Yup. Looks like you're right. Gotta stretch my pocket. Final question - D'you think it will really make an appreciable difference to running FS2004 with my onboard 32 Meg? The graphics I'm getting is not bad at all, particularly when I'm flying. It's only noticeable in the speed with which new scenery appears as I fly into it, which is very noticeable, and flying into busy scenery areas where there is very noticeable jitter and reduction in frame rates. Makes your eyes boggle a little. I have heard that a card doesn't really influence frame rates, but maybe the bus width is the factor. What will the effect be of 256 MB against 32 MB?
That's good news. I wouldn't go for anything less than 256 MB. The only BAD news that has NOW come up is that the X1550 PRO requires a power supply of 250 Watt, which REALLY sound excessive, and my power supply is 65 Watt. I think I need to rather consider getting a computer upgrade. It just looks like one thing is leading to another to another. Or else, just stick with my computer until it is due for an upgrade and make the best of things. As I said, my graphics is not so bad, but I have to tolerate the stutter when I get into heavy scenery or objects. I should have stuck to playing marbles!!
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